Study Abroad: Experience world through different cultures

The International Education Program is more than a small office in the Student Center. It is a family consisting of individuals who travel to and from the U.S., who come together from all over the world and share common interests, hobbies and ideas about their cultures. "I like to compare International Education to this aquarium that is full of different fish," said Therese Tendick, director of the International Education Program. "People always ask, 'What is International Education?' It's really hard to define because there's so many different things that go on."

From international students coming to study at SCC to students going away to study in different countries, from clubs and events to new families and friends, International Education is a window to new people, things and places.

STUDY ABROAD

People study abroad for different reasons. Some want to learn a different language, some go to experience the culture and others to make new friends and memories for themselves. Whatever the reason, the first step is research.

Jen Sydow, Education Abroad adviser, is there to help students find the perfect program to fit anyone's needs and desires.

"Students can pick up informational packets at the International Education Office and make an appointment with me to discuss some options," said Sydow.

Information sessions are held in October. Deadlines to apply for a particular trip offered through Maricopa range between February and March.

"Currently SCC has two trips that are being offered," said Sydow. "One is to Australia and the other is a cruise to the British Isles."

Each trip has a limit of 16 participants that can attend. Each student has to fill out an application to be eligible to go and the interested individual must be enrolled at SCC. Along with the students, one or multiple faculty members are required to go.

"The faculty member is the instructor, adviser, parent and chaperone," said Sydow.

Most trips usually take place during the summer but there are some that occur during Spring Break.

"When you go to a different country," said Sydow, "The classroom is not only a classroom, but the walls are broken down."

In the summer of 2007, Spanish instructor Albert Shank took a group of students to Costa Rica.

Throughout the Costa Rica trip, students studied the language in a different environment and were able to fulfill the Spanish 201 course.

"Studying abroad can be potentially a life changing experience," said Shank. "It truly opens up your mind to other cultures."

The deadline to apply for another Costa Rica trip is approaching. Students can stop in and talk with Sydow or Shank for any additional information.

Paul Weser, professor of Geography and Social Science, has worked at SCC for 23 years. Since then he has participated in five Study Abroad trips; all cruises.

"This is one of the best ways to learn," said Weser. "To go there, visit and experience the environment."

This year Weser is taking students on a cruise to the British Isles. In June the students will take a three-credit course that teaches them the basic, physical, cultural, historical and geographical aspects of the region. For 12 days the group takes in different areas of the British Isles as well as ports of call in Scotland, France and Ireland.

"Interested students have until April 4 to fill out an application," said Sydow.

The trip to Australia, an 18-day discovery of the "country down under."

Here they will interact with the Aboriginal communities.

"This trip is very popular to the American-Indians that attend SCC," said Sydow. "Native-American students and our American students interact with the Aboriginal communities as well as one another. They share each other's culture, traditions and language."

Manual Pino is very involved with the Native-American students and the Australian trip. In 2006 he participated as a faculty member and hopes that this year enough students will apply so the group can go again.

"It was a life-changing experience for the participants because they get to interact with the Australian people, in particular the Aboriginal people of Australia. They got to visit some of their Aboriginal homelands that are now in the hands of the Australian government," said Pino. "Many of our students were Native American so many of our students could relate to some of the issues of land loss and colonization. It made it that much more interesting to them."

If there is a Study Abroad program that interests you but is not offered through SCC or any other Maricopa College, Sydow can help with that too.

" It doesn't have to be through Maricopa," said Sydow. "One of these programs may not be of interest or you want to go for a longer period of time. I have all the resources that will help you find the program you are interested in."

Money and time are two obstacles that tend to stand in the way of students studying abroad. The trips start around $600 and escalate up to several thousand dollars.

"Don't let money or time distract you or keep you from checking out an opportunity because there is a program out there for you and there is always money to be had," said Sydow. "There are a lot of scholarships that are never used because no one applies for them. How do you know if you don't try?"

Students can stop into the International Education Office and pick up an informational packet or make an appointment with Sydow and discuss the different options that SCC, Maricopa or any other group has to offer.

Before you start planning anything, make sure you have a valid passaport. The U.S. Postal Office is the place to go for a new passport. The cost for a student over the age of 16 is $100. Make sure to order three weeks in advance to have it ready before your plane takes off. For more information check out the official website, http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

They come to get educated and experience what the U.S. has to offer. While some have families or friends here, some start new families and find new friends.

Currently there are 127 international students who are here on student visas. They come from Mexico, Korea, Japan, Lithuania, Croatia, Ukraine, Dubai and many more.

"We maintain those students and make sure that they are taking the right classes and helping them with the cultural adjustments," said Sydow.

Daniel Pavlovic came to the U.S. in May 2005 to learn English. He enrolled at SCC and started off by taking ESL classes.

"When I came here my English was very broken," said Pavlovic. "I chose Arizona because I have family here that escaped the war in Bosnia and started a new life. I have always wanted to learn a new language and see how it is here on the other side of the world."

Pavlovic graduated from SCC with an associate in general studies and is currently waiting for his work permit that will allow him to work off campus.

"After that," he said, " I plan on going back to school and getting my nursing degree."

Two years ago, Aysha Faisal, from Dubai, came to Arizona and attended ASU. After spending some time at ASU she decided that being there was not for her.

"I went back home and got a job and then as that progressed, I knew I had to get my degree," said Faisal. "Being that I liked Arizona, I decided to try for another school in the state. I stumbled on SCC and emailed Jennifer Vinca. She was so helpful and great that I decided that SCC was the right school to get me back into school mode."

As a psychology major she is on her way to completing her degree and transferring to ASU to receive her bachelor's degree.

"Coming back to Arizona was the best thing I ever did," said Faisal. " The staff at SCC has been great. I have had some amazing professors, and its because I chose to come back to Arizona, I met my fiancé!"

Irina Falyush came to the U.S. from Ukraine to study medicine.

"I would like to get my pharmacy degree in Arizona and work for a year in the pharmacy field to gain professional experience."

She encourages all students to study abroad. ?

"It is a totally new and wonderful experience," she said. "You will have a chance to learn about a new culture and make new friends."

ACTIVITIES

From the International Community Club and Global Leadership Retreat to International Education Week and World Languages Week, there is always something going on through International Ed. You don't have to be an international student to enjoy these activities; you just have to have the desire to learn new things.

The club is open to all students who attend SCC. There is no limit or deadline to apply for the club.

"The more the merrier," said Therese Tendick, director of International Education.

The group holds different events like the Valentines Day fundraiser bake sale and construction of paper cranes, which each year, are shipped to Japan where they get spread out at the Peace Memorial in Hiroshima.

An event that has taken place three times at SCC is now in the process of becoming an annual function. The Global Leadership Retreat is a weekend camp held in Prescott during the fall. This year the trip is planned between September and October.

"We bring 100 students, 50 international and 50 American," said Tendick. "We do a weekend full of activities that have to do with cultural simulation games and conflict management. They learn about other cultures and they also make their own culture."

The cost is from $10 to $20. International Education budget covers the rest.

The adviser for the club is Kathleen Lueppker.

International Education Week is a day celebrated throughout the nation during the month of November. It started in the Clinton era in order to celebrate languages, cultures, international studies and study abroad.

"It is open to everyone," said Tendick. "We have guest speakers, play movies and learn about the different cultures."

In April, World Language Week takes place. This year the event will take place during the week of April 6.

"This is a home-grown event," said Tendick. "We have foreign films, salsa dancing and displays in the library and the foyer of the Student Center. It is also free and open to the public."

ANDREW HEISKELL AWARD

This year International Education won the Andrew Heiskell Award from the Institute of International Education. Each year the institute recognizes schools for some innovation in international education.

"This was a new category that was created for study abroad at the community college," said Sydow.

The award recognized SCC for the "Connecting Communities: Sharing Cultures" program that takes place in Australia and New Zealand.

"We were the first ones to receive it which is super exciting," said Sydow. "It was a lot of work to write the nomination form."