Summer Study Abroad

Georgia Southern students take their studies beyond Statesboro

Georgia Southern students had the opportunity to take their studies beyond the Statesboro campus this summer with several Study Abroad programs around the globe to locales such as Albania, Botswana, Costa Rica, Germany, Poland, Italy and Spain. These short-term trips led by University faculty enrich students’ personal growth, help them develop leadership and service skills and leave them with an appreciation for different cultures.

While visiting Costa Rica, students worked in clinics to provide health care to the underserved population and immersed themselves in the culture of the country by living with host families during their two-week stay. “This trip opens their eyes to other health care systems, especially working with different populations. The students can take what they have learned in Costa Rica and apply it to their own practice,” said Jeffrey Palis, associate director of the Center for International Studies.

Hands-on service and leadership opportunities in Botswana provided valuable experiences for participants. “This trip gave students the opportunity to learn about the importance of service work from leaders of African organizations,” said Palis about Georgia Southern’s second trip to the African nation. Students gained an in-depth understanding of the emerging and complex social, political and cultural issues in Botswana, while also developing their leadership skills.

During the University’s first Study Abroad trip to Berlin, Germany and Krakow, Poland, students examined Polish and Jewish history with scholars and met leaders of Berlin’s Jewish community. Their studies also explored the history of the Holocaust with tours of concentration camps and a meaningful meeting with a Holocaust survivor. Gsustudyabroad.blogspot.com.

Students arrived in the “City of Victory” – also known as Segovia, Spain – for six weeks of concentrated Spanish classes taught by native speakers. In addition to their complete immersion in the language, students also explored historic monuments including the Segovia Cathedral, the last Gothic cathedral built in Spain, the Alcazar castle and the Aqueduct of Segovia, constructed sometime during the 1st or 2nd century.

—Mary Beth Spence