Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Field Study Trips to Japan

Over the past 10 years, besides the summer study abroad program, GTS led many field trips (10-20days) to Japan where we visited many areas in Japan. Each trip had 10-18 students from various age groups. Even in that very moment of 9-11 incident, our fairly large group was in Kyoto where we changed our schedule a bit and went to the specific temple and prayed for the world peace. Although daily schedule was usually prepared way before the trip, we had to change the itinerary due the weather and other happenings beyond my control. Not only my students but also community people and college faculty and staff have been taking advantage of this rare opportunity to go to Japan with GTS.
Field trips often play an important role for students which I don't probably have to explain. There are quite a few repeaters for my trips. One specific participant from Texas went to Japan with GTS 4 times! (twice in the summer study abroad and twice in the field study program) NO wonder, there has been no same trips in the history of my field study programs!
There are several important advantages for students:
1) Students can earn academic credits and GTS tries very hard to make them be transferrable.
2) Students can use regular student loans---nobody loan you money with such a low interest rate to travel to Japan.
3) Tuition for the international field trips from COD is always IN-DISTRICT---No wonder, students are coming from Texas!
Though it is getting more and more difficult to keep the fee low because of flat $350 fuel surcharge for every plane ticket and weakening US dollars against other foreign currency such as Yen, and Euro, GTS has been keeping trip cost as reasonable as possible.
Some students are going to Japan as a field trip before participating the 5-week Summer Study Abroad Program. Where does those money come from? Parents? Grand parents? Relatives? Banks? Part-time jobs? In any cases, those money is definately worth borrowing and/or spending. How do I know? I don't know but students know!

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