As increasing numbers of Miami University students spend summers abroad, many are choosing less traditional study abroad destinations despite possible safety and health concerns.
Kenya, Gambia, Mexico, China, Costa Rica, Turkey and India are just a few of the many study abroad locations students have to choose from this summer, according to Cheryl Young, director of the Office of Lifelong Learning.
"(Study abroad) gives a completely different perspective," said Young, who will be traveling to Thailand this summer. "It is a different way of seeing the world and of seeing yourself."
According to Young, summer is the opportune time for students who worry about falling behind in their academic schedule or have concerns about traveling abroad in general.
Young said the summer workshops offered by Miami can last from just a few weeks to more than 2 months and can cost between $2,000 and $12,000.
The variety in locations, program duration and cost may make it easy for some Miami students to find a program they like. Yet, some programs have difficulty attracting undergraduates.
One reason some programs don't attract a lot of students, according to some students and faculty, is health and safety concerns.
Sophomore Abby Reagh, who will be participating in a summer program in Gambia, admitted that health concerns are on her mind.
"I have spent a great deal of money on vaccinations," Reagh said, who will also be on medication for malaria one week prior to departure and for another week upon her return.
Reagh, a nursing student, will be working directly with patients in Gambia. Although the concern of AIDS has not escaped her, she says she is more worried about the mosquitoes and typhoid fever.
Melvin Cohen, professor of political science, is taking a group of seven to Gambia for the fifth time this summer. The program is focused on health care in Gambia and students will be working in a health-related field.
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"It's not a danger of civil strife; (its) more being able to understand the culture, and, in some cases, health and concerns like food and water," Cohen said. "You learn more about yourself in a challenging area like this."
Edward Arnone, professor of journalism, is directing a program that will take journalism students to Kosova.
According to Arnone, parents have expressed the natural concern that accompanies traveling to a country that had a war nine years ago and declared independence just a few months ago.
"The fact that independence was finally declared in February is a cause for all kinds of celebration but as is typical these days, the news cameras tend to go to where the conflict and violence is, so a small number of protests were what people saw in the news and the implication may be that life is more dangerous (in Kosova) than is the case," Arnone said.
Sophomore Amy Schumacher is planning on going to Kosova this summer. Schumacher said she is more excited about the prospect of being in Kosova following the recent declaration of independence than she is worried about any safety concerns.
"I was more excited by the fact that there was possible danger because as a journalist I'm excited at the opportunities I can present," Schumacher said.
According to Young, potential threats are categorized as natural disaster, medical emergency, technical problems or socio-political. Young said Miami takes great precautionary measures to ensure that in case of emergency, program directors are well prepared.
"The best thing we can do is to be proactive and prepare," Young said.
Preparations include a once-yearly seminar for program directors detailing emergency proceedings, including being aware of the best medical attention on site, having good relations with local American embassies and maintaining close contact with Miami, according to Young.
In case of an emergency situation, Young said program directors are instructed to ask questions of any victims and witnesses, secure a solution-by either getting anyone injured transported to a local hospital that has been researched ahead of time or getting students safely back in the U.S.-and contact the university and document everything that happened.
Cohen said he had to face an emergency situation a few years ago when one of his students was pricked by a needle that was potentially AIDS infected. Fortunately the student was not infected, and while Cohen said such incidents are rare, it is important to have an emergency plan in place.
Young said students participating in summer workshops also have to purchase HTH Worldwide insurance, that Miami has a contract with, for the time they are abroad. This not only covers medical insurance, but also emergency evacuation.
Despite all the potential dangers, students like Schumacher and Reagh are not deterred. Both emphasized that the hands-on experience of summer workshops like the Kosova and Gambia are what attracted them most.
"I feel like I'll really be able to capture what the soul of the Kosovar people is because I'll be interacting with them one on one," Schumacher said.
Korach said one of the benefits of unconventional study abroad programs is that students get to link in to community based programs, which they can later use to develop ideas at home.
"Students come home to see their home environment through new eyes," Korach said.
Young agreed.
"It is a cultural immersion but into a culture that is so very different from your own, it's a growth experience to be that far out," Young said about such non-traditional study abroad destinations.
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