World of opportunity awaits

Are you looking for something to do next summer?  Do you have a desire to get out and explore the world and earn academic credits while doing it?  Then you should try one of USM’s summer international programs is all you need to have an unforgettable summer.  Here’s a breakdown of the four programs slated for summer 2010:

Religions of India
Curious about the religions of the world?  Want to be immersed in an exotic culture with numerous religious sites and fabulous cuisine?  From May 10 to June 1, you can do just that in India with Daniel Capper, director of the program. Capper said India houses one of the world’s oldest and richest cultures. Students will visit sites like the sacred locations of Mother Teresa; Bodhgaya, Buddha’s place of enlightenment and the Taj Mahal, located in the old Muslim capital of India.

“The Religion in India program provides a rare, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for students to immerse themselves in this vibrant culture and to learn personally from the practitioners of many religions,” Capper said.

Center for Writers Workshop at the Abbey
Have you ever imagined yourself spending the day sipping coffee at a café and browsing priceless works of art at the museum next door?  You’ll do exactly that from May 15 to May 31 in Paris and in the gorgeous Loire Valley at the historic Abbey of Pontlevoy.  You’ll first spend a week exploring Paris, the city of love and lights. The next week, you’ll travel by train to the rustic Loire Valley, where you’ll read and write in a small group workshop geared toward any genre you like, whether its prose or poetry.  Whatever writing style you prefer, prepare to be inspired by the breathtaking landscapes and historic beauty that will surrounds you.

Music or German Language Studies in Vienna
Sprichst du Deutsch?  Love Mozart and Beethoven? Then spend May 20 to June 5 in Vienna, Austria, where you will walk in the footsteps of famous composers and explore the historic Ringstrasse, a wide avenue that encloses the entire city.  Students in the music program will travel to local culture venues and take classes at the First Viennese School. German students will take language classes at the ActiLingua Academy in the heart of Vienna during the day and will explore the city during the evening.

“When you walk in the footsteps of the great masters and hear music performed in its original venues, you remember it for a lifetime,” said Dr. Edward Hafer, director of the music program. “Ultimately, the goal is to learn something about music history, but also, even more importantly, to learn about ourselves and how we fit into the world around us.”

Spanish in Spain
¿Hablas español?  If not, do you have the desire to learn a second language in small classes, visit famous museums, and feast on tapas? From May 21 to June 26 you’ll live with a host family in Spain and experience all its cultural facets while learning the Spanish language.

“I love Spain,” said Carmen Carracelas-Juncal, a Spanish native and Spanish professor at USM. “The center of the city is where everything is, the museums and nightlife.  There is so much to do, and at night people are out and going to the cafés and having tapas and going to concerts, so you never really feel isolated or scared.”

Christopher Miles, director of the program said, “It’s a great way to become familiar with ways of being that are different from our own. It’s intense, but in a good way. You don’t have a language, you live a language. It expands who you are and enriches your life.”

The application deadlines for the programs in India and Austria are March 12, 2010 and March 22, 2010 for the Spain and France programs. For each program, financial aid is available and academic credit will be awarded. For more information on and costs of these programs, visit www.usm.edu/ip.