By Brandon Lachance
IV Leader Staff, March 19, 2009
It has been noted many people become tired of routines.
Every day, every month, every year people go to the same school buildings, the
same nine to five job and see the same people they have seen since they were
born or moved to the Illinois Valley area.
Illinois Valley Community College is offering an opportunity
to change the mildewed boring pattern of life some live with the Study Abroad
program. The Study Abroad program gives students a chance to go to another
college in a different country with an entire new culture and people never known
unless met on Myspace.
Books, online articles and images only do so much for the
imagination. IVCC allows students to attend college as they our already doing in
a distinct way many people never had the opportunity to try.
According to Steve Alvin, IVCC’s Study Abroad Coordinator
since 2002, the destinations are offered in two packages: summer and semester.
During the summer Sydney, Australia; San Jose, Costa Rica; and Dijon, France are
available for three-to-five weeks worth seven-to-nine credits.
Fall and Spring semesters could bring students to Canterbury,
England; Carlow, Ireland; Seville, Spain; or Salzburg, Austria for three-to-four
months worth 12-to-15 credits.
“The Study Abroad program allows students continued
education,” Alvin said. “It also opens their eyes. They have the opportunity to
see new places not seen in books or pictures.”
Alvin, who kicks himself for not taking the opportunity when
he attended Southern Illinois University or University of Minnesota, said it is
something to seriously think about for students at this point in their
education.
“They are out on their own with no friends or family,” Alvin
said. “The experience teaches them independence and helps them mature as a
person. It is a good idea at this point. Students are not involved in their
major classes, so they can be young footloose and fancy free as they complete
their general education.”
Melissa Shalter, 25, a 2003 IVCC graduate from Utica and IVCC
utility clerk, said her trip to Salzburg, Austria, was a great time and
recommended it to anyone who could afford it. “Salzburg is a beautiful city,”
Shalter said.
“The people were really friendly, open and laid back. The
program was organized real well. We went on field trips and did things you
wouldn’t normally get to do or see.”
One field trip Shalter enjoyed being a part of was a trip to
Vienna, Austria, to see an opera.
While she was in Austria, Shalter stayed with a host
family. A host family is a residential family who accommodates students during
their stay. Some programs have these families while other programs have student
housing with some meals provided. These details all depend on what program is
participated in.
“I loved the family I stayed with,” Shalter said. “They had
relatives who stayed close to them, so I got to hang out with them and see more
of their culture. I stay in touch with them, if I email them I know I will get
one back in no time at all.”
The only downsides Shalter mentioned was the lack of the
German language. She said Salzburg is set for Study Abroad programs. It is an
international school attended by other students from different countries, not
Austrians. According to her, the only German she would speak or hear was in
school or with her host family.
The only other awkward adjustment for Shalter was being away
from her twin sibling for four months. She said it was difficult but her host
family and the program made it as painless as possible.
Alvin is currently speaking with students interested in
studying across seas and taking part in the various trips including a visit to
the Rhyne River in Germany and watching kangaroos hop around Sydney’s outback.
Information for the Study Abroad program can be found on
Alvin’s web site on IVCC’s Web site or email him at steve_alvin@ivcc.edu.