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About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (April 27, 2011)
4 The Clackamas Print Wednesday, April 27, 2011 aced@clgckamas.edu o Artj^ultur Students explore overseas educatio By Mandie Gavitt Associate Arts & Culture Editor Study abroad students are exposed to museums, new class room experiences and stunning 12th century architecture in Florence, Italy. Have you ever imagined being able to take your regular Clackamas Community College courses in anoth er country? What many CCC students don’t know is that this is, in fact, an option for them. That’s right: you don’t need to go to a university to study abroad; the opportunity is available for community college students as welL According to Irma Bjerre, a CCC Spanish instructor who helps coordi nate the program, Clackamas partners with eight other community colleges, including Central Oregon Community College, in the area to offer a study abroad program. Students involved in the program may take classes simi lar to those they would take here in Oregon, just in another country. Bjerre says there is nothing better than study ing your regular courses abroad. “You learn so much more than being in a classroom because every thing is new to you,” said Bjerre. “You are studying hard but at the same time you have opportunity to look at other things and experience the culture. I think it gives you a different feeling.” The students earn credit for the program and the classes are what you would expect the college to offer. “It is like taking the courses here, but being there,” said Bjerre. There are a variety of programs in different countries, including Italy, Mexico, London, Germany and Costa Rica. Students may use their financial aid to pay for classes and may apply for scholarships through the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship program. According to the scholarship web site, the program “offers grants for U.S. citizen undergraduate students of lim ited financial means to pursue academ ic studies abroad. Such international study is intended to better prepare U.S. students to assume significant roles in an increasingly global economy and interdependent world.” The program awards over 2,300 scholarshipsofup to $5,000for students to study abroad. Students who receive the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship are then eligible to receive an additional Critical Need Language Supplement of $3,000, allowing for a total possible award of $8,000. Foreign language department chair, David M iller, helps coordinate the pro gram for students who want to travel to Germany. He said that while in Germany, students receive flee room and board. Students also go to muse ums and participate in various recre ational activities. “The trip happens every year there are enough students and an instruc- tor able to go. We go at lead other year,” said Miller. The I Stadthagen, the capital of the of Schaumburg, in Lower 3 Germany takes place in J im finals week. Students also travel from countries to attendClackainas.il lege hosts German students evej as part of the program in Ga While the German students ar they attend classes at the collq also stay room and board free. I According to Arm Bockmai also helps coordinate the Intern Students Program, intemationi dents must pay out-of-state j which helps bring in revenue college. International students d receive department-paid tuition ers, which help make the d more competitive. • Coming to the United Si sometimes more difficult than td elsewhere. International studenj apply for a special visa and1 special paperwork to come herd “Some countries are mq ficult than others. The gova tries to keep things standandil that doesn’t always happen] Bockman. International students mays attend university or sometins longer to receive job training, H cally do eventually return ho™ Students define cultured life On April 21, Kayley Guay discusses her time abroad traveling to multiple countries and meeting different people. By Mandie Gavitt Associate Arts & Culture Editor Culture can mean differ ent things for different peo ple. Portland is known for its unique culture and diversity but it seems culture in and of itself lacks definition. Erin Stutz, a student at Clackamas Community col lege, says she feels she is cultured because she has lived in a variety of states. “I feel like I’ve lived a rich life in so many differ ent areas,” said Stutz. “I feel like I take something from each Of those and my per spective is different than a lot of people’s are here. I’ve experienced more life outside of Oregon than most of my friends. I feel like that can be a form of culture ... knowing other people’s form of living. I think it’s more a defini tion of who you are and your beliefs.” Many students at Clackamas echo Stutz’s belief that culture is an individual experience and a definition of themselves as a person. Jessica Russau said that she thinks people too often try to fit in rather than expressing their own culture.. “People follow the norm; they don’t have a self worth. I feel like everybody just goes with the flow and haven’t truly discovered who they are,” she said. Kayley Guay agreed with Russau, saying that-in other cultures people are much more friendly and personable. Both Guay and Russau said they had traveled to other countries and found that peo ple there^Vvere more friendly and likely to strike up a con versation instead of just being plugged into their iPods. “Third Woxldlcountries are much more relational,” said Guay. “In Third World countries they are much more grateful for what they have; they don’t take advantage of their loved ones,” said Russau. Although both Guay and Russau claimed that American culture could be better with relationships, Russau thought that America is better at allowing expression and indi viduality. “I’m really grateful for the freedom to be able to express yourself in America because in other cultures they are not quite as open,” she said. Katie Bauer said she felt that finding culture was important for everyone. “I think everyone should have some aspect of culture in their life, whether it be just getting out on the street ... and tak ing in what you see around you or reading a book about something,” she said. Simona Dsouza emigrat ed from India to the United States in order to get a bet ter education, leaving behind her family. “In India you don’t have the opportunity to choose what you’d like to study. Here you have a lot of options,” she said. Dsouza said that when she arrived in America she experi enced a big culture shock but that people here are accept ing and interested in learning about her culture and home country. “In this country you really need to be cultured because it is a really diverse country to live in. A lot of people from different lifestyles qome here,” she said. Still, Dsouza said that overall Americans could do better about being cultured. “Americans might be cultured in their own lifestyle but they can be ignorant about other people’s cultures and life styles.” While all the students here at CCC seem to have different opinions about what culture is and what being cultured means, everyone • seemed to agree that being a cultured person is important. Ready to transfer? Interested in the creative arts? ART marylhurst.edu/art MUSIC marylhurst.edu/music INTERIOR DESIGN marylhurst.edu/id CREATIVE WRITING marylhurst.edu/english FILM marylhurst.edu/culturalstudies Join us for an information session: Saturday, May 14 at 9 a.m. Marylhurst campus BP John Administration Bldg., rm. 200 Register for this free event at studentinfo@marylhurst.edu or 503.699.6268. MARYLHURST U N I V E R SJ T Y Academic excellence since 1893 www.marylhurst.edu 1 17600 Pacific Highway (Hwy. 43)—1 mile south of Lake Oswego
