Seize The Chance For A Summer Abroad! By Jasmine Saksene Staff Writer
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new journey awaits students as this summer approaches. A trip to Paris, Provence, and Barcelona can allow students to step into a new world of exploration.
Break out of the suffocating sense of familiarity while earning 3-6 credits with this experience. All students with any major are welcome to join the study abroad program as it fulfills major or elective requirements such as Humanities, Social Phenomena II, and Global Knowledge. The previous study abroad trip dates back to 2019, with students who enrolled in the HUM 119 course traveling to Portugal and Spain. Students this year are now able to enjoy this 10-day trip with a packed itinerary. For those who may be hesitant about COVID, there are precautions set in place with traveling rules. “Given the pandemic, it is safe to assume that the travel portion of the program will be different from past trips; however, the program has always been very well planned with all precautions taken into consideration. I am very confident that this will be a very safe experience. Travelers will need to follow the travel requirements set by France and Spain. For our safety and to avoid infection, all participants must be vaccinated before traveling,” Professor Jamilet Ortiz, the group leader for these trips, said. The price is estimated at $4,305, not including tuition, although this is subject to change. There is a $95 deposit to enroll in the program and secure your spot. A payment plan is also required. However, people should keep in mind that there are monthly payment plans and scholarships available. “I was very surprised when hearing about the program. I did not know that this was available at HCC. I have always been interested in possibly studying abroad. After finding out that I could receive credits, I was even more interested,” Kadeshe Taylor, a student in her first semester at HCC, said. Jailene Cuevas, a former HCC student who is a part of the graduating
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HORIZONS Spring 2022
class of 2017, has been on three study abroad trips. She put in the hard work and determination to save up for these trips. She noted, however, that other classmates used scholarships or extra financial aid money to pay as well. Her first trip was in 2015 to Spain, which was followed by her 2016 journey to Italy and the final adventure to Greece in 2017. “I honestly had the most fun on these trips. My takeaway from all of these trips was learning about the different cultures. I remember writing my essay on the gelatos of Italy and seeing flamenco dancing in Spain. Just being able to see all the history in person was truly amazing. It is also something you can cross off of your bucket list,” Cuevas said. She had chosen to participate in the program because she felt as though she was missing out on the opportunity to learn in a different country by not attending a four-year college. However, she learned that these trips gave her the experience that she yearned for. Kenn’ya Stewart, who is also attending HCC for her first semester explained that “ it is exciting that there is a trip this summer but I had some concerns with the pandemic and the financial aspect. I still wanted to do some research on what the program had to offer and the types of activities that students would be able to participate in. When thinking of going to a community college, a program like this did not cross my mind. So, I think more students should know of this opportunity.” On the Housatonic website for the study abroad program, there is a detailed explanation of the trip and what it has to offer. Students should take into consideration that the cost covers the full package. It includes roundtrip airfare, hotel accommodations, transportation to all sites, daily lectures from local experts, travel insurance, daily breakfast, and 3 dinners. As well as entrance to all sites including but not limited to the Louvre, Papal Palace, Dali Museum, La Sagrada Familia, etc. “I would 100 percent recommend the program to students. People may think that it is a lot of money, but it isn’t. In the long run, you are paying for the precious memories, and it makes you want to go again. If you didn’t go with a travel group, you would be spending a lot more money. Although the trips may seem short at first. It actually feels like
