Caroline Rondinella
Staff Writer
From the Tropical Jungles of Costa Rica, the medical fields of Honduras, the theater stage in Edinburgh London, and the safari flat lands of Africa are some of the special overseas programs for this summer.
There are eight special programs, which are scheduled to take place this summer. Each program has its unique schedule and fun activities planned for the allotted time they go. The programs are put on by faculty that take time out of their summer to fly to these exotic places to give students these opportunities.
Lee Kats is the faculty in charge of the Costa Rica Summer program. He has been involved with this program for quite some time. “Ever since 1999 I have taken students to Costa Rica” Kats said. “We study several different ecosystems in Costa Rica É in addition to visiting the most active volcano in Central America.”
Costa Rica is a beautiful tropical rainforest that many students this year will get to experience. The program is designed for the student that plan to major somewhat in biology or the scientific fields. Besides visiting the many wonders of this country the students will be doing a 10-day ecological study and research at the La Selva Biological field station.
This unique experience offers student the chance to pick a topic of interest and research it for seven to eight days. At the end of the time the students are given the chance to present their findings to the rest of the students on the trip.
Africa is another program for students at Pepperdine. The African program is designed for students to study democratization, development and conflict in Africa. The program makes students get involved by going out into the community and asking South Africans their view on democratization in a post-apartheid society.
The locations are far from ordinary. The students will get to travel to different parts of Africa learning about its unique history. The students will get to experience first hand what it is like to live in a village.
This program also satisfies the requirement for Non-western, which is a GE requirement.
Students interested in medicine can participate in the Honduras program. Students will live and work in a medical mission. The students are first flown to Tegucigalpa where an intense training begins. After the training the students are flown to Catacamas to work in the Predisan Medical Mission. This program is for students who have taken Spanish 152 and are prepared for hard work. The students will be living in the village experiencing how the natives of that country live.
London and Germany will have music programs going on this summer. Music majors participating in the program will take summer school classes and also have the opportunity to perform in Europe.
London’s Edinburgh Program is going to have students who are involved in the music program perform two plays which are part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Jordan Jarvis is a student who is a part of the music department at Pepperdine.
I get to go to Germany this summer and I can’t wait to perform, said Jarvis.
His enthusiasm for this program is one that can be seen in his face while talking with him about the program.
There are many other programs that have not been mentioned. These are just a few of the fun and exotic experiences one will get to take part in if going overseas this summer.
For more information visit seaver.pepperdine.edu/internationalprograms.
05-18-2006