Oaxaca Integrated Semester

 

This semester long program in Oaxaca, Mexico is being offered by the University of Redands, in conjunction with the Johnston Center for Integrative Studies. Johnston has long been an innovator in supporting programs that allow students to integrate classroom and experiential education. During the spring of 2016, Johnston and College of Arts and Sciences students will have the ability to spend the entire semester studying in Oaxaca and traveling to Guatemala and Cuba. This is the sixth time this successful semester long trip has been offered.

 

LOCATION:

          The program will be based in Oaxaca City, Oaxaca, Mexico. Oaxaca is not yet overrun with tourism

like some popular spots for study abroad in Mexico, but is also not isolated from the sort of necessities

that would make the smooth running of a program like this possible. The city of Oaxaca is the capital of

the department of Oaxaca, and thus is home to many local governmental and administrative agencies.

Oaxaca is an educational center for the region and there are multiple institutions of higher education.

It is a short drive from a myriad of archaeological sites, including Monte Alban and Mitla. The area has

been the center of the Zapotec and Mixtec cultures, both native cultures continue to be important today.

                                                 The department of Oaxaca is home to 26 distinct indigenous groups.

                                                 One of the earliest colonial towns in Mexico, Oaxaca has a rich architectural

                                                 history that has contributed to its fame as a center of arts and crafts of

                                                 Mexico. Oaxaca is a great place to see daily modern Mexican life in a thriving metropolis

                                     directly tied to global markets.

 

                                     Part of the semester includes a travel component, allowing two weeks in Guatemala and a

                                     week and a half in Cuba. We will fly directly to Guatemala City from Oaxaca. We will be

                                     staying in Antigua which we will use as our base. Aniigua, formerly Guatemala's capitol, is

                                     a small town not far from Guatemala City. It is filled with unique architecture, cultural

                                     festivals, fantastic coffee and chocolate, and is also a place to take Spanish classes, allowing

                                     a language and cultural comparison to Oaxaca. We will be doing some traveling through

                                     the highland area including going toChichicastenango,

                                     Santiago Atitlan. The highland area has been a concentrated

                                     area for indigenous Mayans and Quiches since the colonial

                                     times. Chichicastenango itself has been an important center

                                     of trade amongst the indigenous populations of not only

                                     Guatemala, but also for those indigenous throughout the

                                     isthmus. At either the end or the beginning of the trip we will

                                     be spending a few days in Guatemala City, Guatemala's

capitol, and at the famous Mayan ruins of Tikal.

 

            From Guatemala City we will return to Mexico City and depart with the

organization Holbrook Travel for the week and a half long experience in Cuba. Holbrook

is licensed with the State Department as a provider of educational trips to Cuba. Using a

provider such as this is the only way those of us in the US can actually get into Cuba. We will be spending

time in Havana, Vinales, Santa Clara, and Matanzas. Our studies there will involve a vast array of community organizations, music, dance, theater, colonial history, revolution history, Che Guevarra history, Bay of Pigs history, and tobacco agriculture. All of which has been generously prepared for us by Holbrook Travel.

 

            After Cuba we will return to Oaxaca for a final week to finish up our work.

 

 

 

PROGRAM OUTLINE:

 

         The idea of an integrated semester is for students to be able to enhance various pieces of their education, while also gaining the personal and cultural knowledge of living in a new environment. This semester begins with an outline that defines those areas that are mandatory and those that the student may elect to take on. Each student decides on how to combine the material with their emphasis/major and how the semester as its parts, and as a whole will contribute to that degree. Each student will participate in the following:

 

Intensive Language Study -

        Students will attend intensive language classes (3 hours/day) during almost their entire semester in Oaxaca and Guatemala. Depending on the students’ level of proficiency, they will be placed in either a beginning, intermediate or advanced Spanish class. For totally bilingual students the opportunity to study literature or an indigenous language will be available. These classes will be provided by the Becari Language School in Oaxaca (http://www.mexonline.com/becari.htm).

 

History and Culture of Mexico and Central America -

         In order to provide a comprehensive introduction to the history and culture of both countries, we will be drawing on local resources to provide both academic and hands on experience with their history and culture. We will be working with SURCO (Servicios Universitarios y Redes de Conocimientos en Oaxaca) and other organizations to provide the best information from local experts and opportunities to enhance learning by meeting with community groups, officials, taking archeological field trips, and otherwise participating in various aspects of everyday life.

SURCO: http://www.surcooaxaca.org/index.html

 

Oaxaca Community Involvement Project -

         Each student, working individually or in small groups, will have the opportunity to participate in a community service organization or participate in some element of interaction with the community on something that pertains to their emphasis or major. The organizations are many and varied and students will find a placement depending on their language ability and interest.

 

Globalization, Development, and Tourism -

         The faculty in residence, Pat Wasielewski, will teach this class. General theories of globalization and tourism will be covered,  allowing the class to analyze how those theories play themselves out in Oaxaca and the surrounding areas. Comparisons will then be made in Guatemala and Cuba. These areas have inspired a lot of study and so there is extensive background that assures we can both experience and academically analyze them from multiple perspectives.

 

Final Project/Analysis -

         In conjunction with Pat, each student will design and complete a final project that brings together what they have learned. It is also possible that students will choose to make part of the final project a collective group product or activity. A three unit May term class will be offered for those in the group who would like to return to the U.S. and in some way share what they have learned with the Johnston and broader University community.

 

 

 

PROGRAM COSTS:

 

1. Airfare - 

   The cost for each student for their round trip airfare to Oaxaca from Los Angeles and back is pro-rated because we are getting tickets that cover the entire trip, including our flights to Guatemala and Cuba. Each student will need to make a deposit to the University of Redlands Business Office by the end of October. It would be best to deposit the entire amount by this time, but a deposit of $250, or half of the total out of pocket cost, will be acceptable for Pat to know you are committed to the trip and to go ahead and buy your ticket. The remainder of the money, the final $250, must be deposited by November 30th, 2015. Once you are accepted to the trip Pat will give you the number to make the deposit at the Business Office window.

 

2. Tuition/Room Abroad 

   The Oaxaca program is a Johnston Integrated Semester, however it is treated like all of the other study abroad programs sponsored by the University of Redlands.  What this means is that the University will be charging each student his/her regular tuition, double room and the standard meal plan rate.  If you have any questions about how this works, please talk to Leo Rowland in the Study Abroad office.

 

   The important thing is to be prepared for these costs and make sure your financial aid is calculated on this basis. For some of you, who have a different meal plan or live in triples, or off campus, this will mean an increase in your Spring bill. But, for those of you charged for singles, this savings should show up.

 

3. Spending and Emergency Money -

   The program covers the majority of your expenses during the semester. You will have a private room in an individual family home and three meals a day. All group travel and meals will be covered. You need to figure in how much additional/emergency money you need to take. I suggest calculating what you spend on average for a week here at school and count on half of that to cover your expenses for a week in Oaxaca. You can live as frugally or extravagantly there as here. The week during Spring Break is open—your room and board is paid for this week. If you choose to travel outside of the city.

 

 

SAFETY CONCERNS:

             

            Mexico, Guatemala and Cuba are developing countries.  Like all places in the world they have their share of crime and danger. The world is just a more dangerous place in general these days.  We will do our best to avoid any and all danger.  The basic ways that we will be protecting ourselves will be by being aware of our surroundings and not drawing undue attention to ourselves.  We will be traveling by private van in most parts of these countries--this provides us with the ability to maintain our own schedule so that we will not be on the roads at night.  We will be minimizing our stay and limiting our activities in Mexico City and Guatemala City--the most likely places to find trouble.  The areas where we are staying are smaller cities and less subject to the dangers of robbery. We will be partnered with in-country organizations in all of the areas who are always assessing existing danger and informing us of any changes made for these reasons.

 

            The U.S.  Department of State (202-647-5225) or (http://travel.state.gov)  provides information about the current safety conditions in each country.  You may call or access these resources to get the best source of official safety information.   Please be sure you scroll down to see that there is no advisory in effect in Oaxaca.  You might also want to access the information they have about some more “friendly” countries (like England or Canada) to compare the level of concern about various possibilities.  Also please check out this website: http://howsafeismexico.com

 

On the subject of safety, Dr. Wasielewski has this to say:

              I want to assure you that the University of Redlands, the Johnston Center for Integrated Studies, and myself are aware of the issues and possible dangers. The University of Redlands would not send us into an environment that is dangerous.  My own observations, the best information I have received from my contacts in the country currently, and the patterns of other University programs has affirmed  that this program is as safe as any other travel abroad.  Also, according to the regulations of the University we have developed a safety evacuation plan in case of natural disaster.

 

            I have traveled in Mexico and Guatemala since 1991 and have never had a problem (let us all knock three times on wood).  I feel that if basic safety precautions are taken, we will have an educative and happy trip.  I will inform the US Consulate in Oaxaca of our presence and the trips we will be taking.  In addition, I will be taking the precaution of sending our itinerary to INGUAT (the Guatemalan Tourist Institute)so that they are apprised of our whereabouts at all times. The way it works is that we inform the tourist agency.  They offer us information and resources, including sharing our travel plans with the National Police.  The NP “keep and eye out” for any possibility of danger on the roads we travel and keep us up-to-date on their suggested routes.   They have also provided us with guards for some of the highway travel.

 

            Because the travel of US citizens to Cuba must follow specific requirements, we will be traveling at all times in Cuba with the representative from Global Exchange who will assure that the proper requirements are met.  Each of us will have to fill out an affidavit that is sent to the Treasury Department who will note that we are legally traveling on an educational trip to Cuba.

 

            I will be briefing you more in our pre-trip meetings on basic safety on the streets, local customs, and the current conditions based on the information given to me by the language school and tourist bureaus wherever our destination.

 

            You can access the trip emergency safety plan here.