FOCUS: All Abroad!

Wharton junior Stephanie Packer woke up in the middle of the night to the sight of a strange, 300-pound naked man last semester. Travelling alone by train one night in Russia, Packer awoke to this unseemly sight after a night in a four passenger sleeping cabin. Where in Philadelphia is this possible? For many students each year who leave the urban academic surroundings of Philadelphia for trains winding through the Russian countryside, academics are only part of the experience known by all as studying abroad. University officials are trying harder than ever to push study abroad programs in hopes that students will be more well-rounded when they graduate. For students, the opportunity equates fun, sightseeing and a chance to learn with a unique academic environment. And everyone can easily find a reason to get away from Locust Walk, whether they are studying European economics in Belgium or Ayurveda, India's traditional medicine, in its country of origin. · While studying abroad is described by most to be exciting and worthwhile, the process of studying abroad is not as easy as buying an airplane ticket, and even if students enjoy the experience, they may encounter problems. Semester study abroad programs allow University students to travel to the far reaches of the globe, but only if they are willing to go on a University-sponsored or accredited program. The new International Programs Policy, voted on last April by School of Arts and Sciences faculty, will go into effect next semester. The largest part of the policy will streamline the transferring of SAS course credit from study abroad programs to the University. At the same time, students will only be allowed to go on University study abroad programs or affiliates. As of this semester, about half of the students who study abroad travel via University-sponsored programs and the remaining half study on other programs, taking a leave of absence for a semester, and apply for transfer credit. The second option will no longer be feasible as of next semester, said International Programs Director Joyce M. Randolph. "The faculty decided to change [the study abroad process] because the departments want a greater familiarity with the programs and courses that students take," Randolph said. Next year, students will need approval from related departments to go abroad. To make the process easier, the College Office is beginning to list department-approved courses available in foreign countries on a database. Eventually, students will only have to check if the international program they are interested in is on the database. While the policy creates some problems, it does manage to prevent others that have proven difficult in the past. College junior Eve Greenspan studied in Prague last semester, but only one of her four courses was taken for credit, so as to avoid any problems. "The Sociology Department was pretty lenient [regarding the course she took for credit], but I didn't dare ask the History Department for credit, because their requirements are pretty stringent," Greenspan said. Packer, the student who inadvertently slept with a quite large and naked Russian man, also compromised her abroad experience so as to conform to University procedure. Packer travelled to Moscow last semester, but not under a program she would have chosen given the choice. She did not want to deal with the problems surrounding a non-University abroad program. "I went on ACTR, the only Penn-sponsored program," Packer said. "I would like to have had other options." Packer said the the ACTR program was too regimented, adding that there was too much "hand-holding". College senior Amy Kaufman loved going abroad so much that she went twice. She enjoyed her experiences in Madrid, and more recently in Prague. "I think everybody should go abroad," Kaufman said. College junior Geoff Gussis described his experience in Belgium as "amazing." Gussis added, "The nightlife there kills [University] nightlife." · University students do not have to cross an ocean to go abroad, though. Programs exist which enable them to study just within the Beltway. Aside from traditional study abroad programs, students can now study in Washington D.C. for a semester under a new program designed by Political Science Department Chairperson Oliver Williams. Now in its first semester, the program is designed to give students exposure to the policy making process, Williams said. Students take two courses for two credits, which are taught by University faculty who go to Washington every week. Students must also obtain internships in agencies related to the program's theme, such as working for a Congressman or for political parties or interest groups. "Students have to participate in the search for internships, but we help with the obstacles and with offering leads," said Williams. While there are only six students studying in Washington this semester, Williams hopes the number will increase to 20 next year. "The larger the program gets, the more variety it will offer, but this is a little down the road, though," Williams said. · For those who do not have the time to go abroad during the school year there are many options available for summer study abroad. The Summer Abroad Program, a part of the College of General Studies, offers twelve different sites at which to study this coming summer. Four different programs at the University go to different areas of France with separate academic concentrations. The trip to Bordeaux centers around anthropology, as some of the oldest remains of early civilization are located there, while the program to Cannes revolves around the study of film. College sophomore Paul Shore enjoyed studying in Cannes last summer around the time of the International Film Festival. "It was a good experience for me," said Shore. "I was able to see 30 films in two weeks." Shore added that the program is not for everybody because of its lax nature. After attending the "required meetings," entitled Perspectives on International Cinema, for a couple of weeks, Shore said he realized that the seminars were lacking in substance and stopped going. "I would get to the meeting, and the teacher would ask what we wanted to talk about," Shore said. "I got a lot out of the program, but it's not for people who don't have previous knowledge of film." Another summer program is Penn In Prague, which has two tracks of study, Sachs said. One program involves the study of the language and the politics of the region. With one of the greatest Jewish museums located in Prague, Jewish studies are the second mode of study, Sachs said. Like the semester abroad programs, many students found the summer abroad programs as enjoyable, if not more. "I learned a lot, but at the same time I had fun," said College senior Lori Brand, who travelled to Alicante, Spain last summer. She attributed much of her enjoyment to Ignacio Lopez, Spanish department chairperson. She applauded the two classes he taught, but at the same time his laidback persona. Likewise, many students applauded the organization of the summer programs. A new addition to the array of summer programs is the Penn In India program. Set to run for the first time this summer, the program will center around the University of Poona in Pune, located 120 miles from Bombay. Students who go on the program choose two of four available courses. The first course is titled the Legacy of India. The second studies the performing arts of the area, and students can learn about India's economic development and corporate world in the the third. The last course offers an in-depth look at India's traditional medicine, the Ayurveda. Along with the available courses, students will be able to intern at institutes of their choice, said South Asian Languages and Linguistics Senior Lecturer Surendra Gambhir, director of the Penn In India program. "The basic intention of the program is to internationalize [University] curriculum as much as possible," Gambhir said. "The program also provides intercultural and international exposure to students at [the University]." The program will also provide informal language instruction in any major Indian language. While only twenty people will be allowed to go this semester, 18 have already applied. Even with the apparent attention the new program is already receiving, Gambhir hopes that the program will eventually grow into a full semester program in two or three years.

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