Study Abroad Students Immerse Themselves in Culture

By Sarah Tinoco

Dominican University boasts an abundance of study abroad programs, which allows many students to immerse themselves in a foreign culture.

This past summer, groups of Dominican students traveled to four countries on three continents across the world: France, Italy, El Salvador and China.

A handful of apparel design and merchandising students spent a month studying in the fashion capital of the world: Paris, France. These students spent their time studying at the Paris American Academy as part of the Essentials of French Fashion Program, an annual study abroad program exclusive to upperclassmen apparel students.

Besides experiencing the City of Lights, students took two classes at the Paris American Academy. In one class, students learned basic design techniques; in another class, they learned about the couture techniques of an iconic Paris-based designer.

“We also got to dress at couture fashion shows, which was amazing! I loved being able to see the work of professional designers up close and feeling like I was part of something special,” said Adeline Harrison, a senior apparel design major.

Across the Mediterranean in Italy, students spent four weeks in Florence as a part of the Florence and the Cultural Traditions of Italy program, a re-start after the program took a year hiatus.

Back east in Central America, Dominican students spent two weeks in El Salvador learning about human rights, gender and globalization in the Pacific coast nation.

“We spent a week in class at Dominican learning about the history of El Salvador, its culture, its people and our relationship to…the United States,” senior sociology and study of women and gender student Megan McDonald said. “The trip in itself was essentially taking our classroom studies abroad. We took this knowledge and expanded it on the ground through meetings with Salvadoran natives, government officials and prominent religious leaders.”

McDonald’s eyes were opened to the society of the developing country as she observed the differences of El Salvador in comparison to the U.S.

“In the United States, I believe we often think that our answers to the question of how we should live are the right answers. Traveling abroad to El Salvador made me see what damage forcing our ideals onto other societies can cause,” said McDonald.

Over in Asia, students embarked on a 12-day trip as part of the program “China: Modernization, Tradition and Culture.” Students experienced the life and culture of Beijing, Shanghai and Xi’an as they took a Chinese calligraphy class and a traditional Peking opera mask-painting class, junior Paulina Wojtach said.

“My favorite part of the trip [was] the day that we rode bikes on the Xi’an City Wall. It was a nine-mile ride around on the wall. It was different than most of the other sites that we had visited,” Wojtach, a clinical psychology major, said. It was more of a bonding experience rather than a learning experience at the time.”

“I feel studying abroad is such an essential part of growing into yourself…it teaches you to see the world from a perspective other than your own,” McDonald said. “It forces you out of your comfort zone, physically and mentally.”