Wesleyan Students Experience The World During May Term
POSTED: May 16, 2008
More than 50 West Virginia Wesleyan College students are studying abroad during the college’s annual May term. The students are enrolled in three different courses and are studying in Ireland, Italy and Russia.
“Ireland 2008,” taught by Dr. William Mahoney, associate professor of history, and Dr. Devon McNamara, associate professor of English, focuses on history, art, literature, theater, landscape, cultural and political life in the Republic of Ireland. The group will spend three weeks traveling in West Ireland, the Aran Islands, Galway, Sligo and Donegal, and then traverse the northernmost part of the island for a stop in Belfast, visiting the Methodist Mission in East Belfast.
Students will enjoy Irish dancing, art workshops, an Irish play at the famed Abbey Theatre, soccer games, Irish music and a visit to an Irish publishing house. They will also explore Slieve League, the highest sea cliffs in Europe, hike Celtic ruins, the Giants Causeway, Knowth—the Neolithic archaeological site in County Meath— and the Hill of Tara, seat of the Irish Kings.
“Adventure in Italy,” taught by Margo Davis, assistant professor of art, emeriti, and Dr. Judith Martin, associate professor of library science, includes visits to Venice, Florence, Naples, Sorrento and Rome. Students will have the opportunity to visit a number of archaeological ruins, churches, major museums, landmarks, Vatican City as well as side trips to Pompeii and Herculaneum.
The third travel course, “To Russia, With Love,” is taught by Dr. Debbie Bush, assistant professor of education, and Dr. Carol Means, associate professor of education. Students will focus their academic efforts on gaining an understanding of the Russian culture. The class is also a sercie-related trip and includes spending a week working with children at the Special School/Orphanage at Electrostal, Russia. The group will also tour various sites in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Each of the three-credit courses fulfills the college’s International Cultural Studies requirement. The “To Russia, With Love” class will return May 22 while the “Adventure in Italy” group will return May 23. The “Ireland” group will depart Dublin on May 30.
