Broaden your horizons with Study Abroad Club
By Tiffany Towles
A new Study Abroad Club surfaced at Delaware Technical Community College, Owens Campus and met on Sept. 9 to discuss its focus on spreading awareness on the processes of studying abroad.
The new club is hoping to establish a firm foundation so it will stick around for years to come, said Club Advisor and International Education Coordinator Amy Russell.
The club had an excellent turnout, with not only students returning from trips, but new students and faculty members in charge of trips this year attending to show their support, Russell said.
The group met essentially to see how the members defined themselves and the club; they decided they wanted to share travel experiences with other students who were interested in the courses. They also want to eventually provide fundraisers and trips, and a variety of activities were proposed in consequence.
One idea was a plan to fund a unique Study Abroad Club Scholarship to help students fund their expenses going abroad. While still in the planning stage, members agreed that this would be a good way to give something back to the students, Russell said.
Other ideas included a trip to the Cherry Blossoms Festival or the EU Embassy Day, both in Washington, DC, to potentially bring the club into the culture of other countries, Russell said.
As for the Study Abroad Program in totality itself, Russell credited most of the work and dedication to the instructors and faculty members who planned months in advance to make sure trips went smoothly.
"They [Instructors] love traveling, they love taking students to experience new places," Russell said. "So then you go and you love it and you want to share your experience with others; and that's why we made this club, so that you can do that."
Taking a trip to the airport to learn how international travel customs work was another proposed plan, to hopefully alleviate the stress of first-time travelers by educating them, said Club Co-Advisor and Delaware Technical Promotions and Communications Graphic Designer Christina Caasi.
Caasi has traveled to Italy and Japan, and advocates for students interested in going abroad. This year, she has her eyes set on Australia, and she looks forward to the proposed airport trip.
"I know for me when I first started flying, I had no idea what to expect. So for those who've never been on an international flight, this would be a way to help them quench any fears; and just go ahead and jump ship," Caasi said.
Student Christina Huck had traveled to Spain in high school and was excited to participate in the study abroad Ireland trip last summer. Having night classes the previous semester, she was surprised to find that such programs existed when her instructors of the next semester advertised for the programs.
"I hope it [the club] grows, and brings more attention to the study abroad trips," Huck said. "I'd love to see more people involved."
The Study Abroad Club's next meeting will be held on Oct. 16 at 3 p.m. in room 535 D of the Carter Building, where elections for the club officer positions will be held. The club plans to meet monthly, and will hopefully be involved in campus affairs for many semesters to come.If anyone is interested in attending, please contact Amy Russell (amy.russell@dtcc.edu).