PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Dec. 27, 2008 - Jan. 12, 2009 Join us for our annual trip to Cambodia!
Our trip to Cambodia is centered upon a service learning project that will take us across several regions of the beautiful Cambodian landscape to work with the amazing Cambodian people. During this time, we will learn about Cultural Communication together as we experience it.
WHAT IS SERVICE LEARNING:
This video puts to words and images the experience of a lifetime as told by 2006-2007 student, Pat Mohs. Video by Kim Sin and Justin Richardson. It is narrated by Meghan Lockhart.
Service Learning centers upon "learning through service" not "learning to serve." Thus, this experience will not merely be a tourist trip; however, we certainly will see the sites - Angkor Wat(the largest religious site and considered the 9th Wonder of the World), Beaches (imagine a beach as beautiful as ones found in the Bahamas but calmer and with mountains, palm trees, and small Asian fishing boats dotting the horizon).
What is different about this trip, is that we will have an opportunity to learn from the people we work with. By working side-by-side we find a reciprocal learning occurring. While we teach basic English, we will learn basic (very basic) Khmer.
However, much more will be taught and learned: cultural sensitivity, heightened self-awareness, honor, integrity and self direction. 2007 Participant Naomi Wente explains, "During this trip, you'll learn about culture and communication. You'll see amazing sites. However, through interacting with the Cambodian people, you will learn most about yourself. Everything you know will be challenged - you'll learn more than how to hold chopsticks and how the river flows -- you'll learn about who you are personally, spirtually and emotionally."
NOTE: http://www.roch.edu/course/doors2cambodia/ Is an amazing website created by 3 students that won an international competition on diplomacy that was sponsored by the US State Dept. which shows photos, videos, essays, etc. from the 2006-2007 trip. This is a must see if you are considering our trip. You will read comments about their experiences on our trip as well as interviews related to it.
GAIN COLLEGE CREDIT:
You may audit the class or take it for credit. Further, to better suit your own educational goals, there are several options you can consider:
1) Obtaining credits that will transfer - 3 credits in Intercultural Communication. 2) Auditing the Class 3) Taking additional credits for a letter grade or pass/fail through the "Speech Activity" course. 4) Arranging, when possible, "Internship," "Independent Study," or "Directed Study" credits within your own program of study in both undergraduate and graduate programs. Several participants will be obtaining graduate credit through their schools. The lead instructor for this trip, Lori Halverson-Wente, can work as your mentor or internship advisor.
MORE INFORMATION: When: Dec. 27, 2008 - Jan. 12, 2009
Cost:
appx. $3000.00 for the trip (final price will be determined when airline tickets are purchased ) Students also pay for 1-2 meals a day, RCTC tuition/fees and optional travel insurance
With lower or late student enrollment and later registration, the price of the trip may increase slightly. We plan on working to fill trip seats asap -- if we pay earlier, we may be able to receive a discount on the price. Please sign up right away to hold your seat!
The $3000.00 Price includes:
Round
trip Airfare from Minnesota to Cambodia and back
Ground Transportation in Cambodia
Double Occupancy Hotel Accommodations
Cambodian Entrance Visa
Cambodian Government Exit Fee
Service Learning Supplies
Onsite American Translator
Guided Tours in Remote Villages
City Tours and Tour Guides
Guest Speakers
Gratuities
Entrance to a Variety of Cultural Sites
MnSCU Foreign Travel Accident Coverage� fee (note: this is NOT the same as "travel insurance" )
Not Included:
Meals: A suggested meal budget of about $10.50 a day will be paid by students in Cambodia. (most meals only cost $2.00 at the Cambodian restaurants we will visit - this is based upon 2007-2008 expendutures). Students who would like to spend more on meals and beverages will need to plan accordingly for this additional cost. Students will also need to purchase drinking water.
RCTC Tuition and Fees All applicable RCTC tuition/student fees and reading materials (note – financial aid may be used for tuition & fees in most cases but may not be used for “down payments.�).
Passport & Visa Photographs Students will also be responsible for obtaining and paying for a valid, legal passport and 2 official photographs for travel visas. If you do not have a passport, you will need to "expedite" it now.
HIGHLY SUGGESTED Optional Travel Insurance Travel insurance can be purchased through outside agencies and is an optional fee - see sidebar under "cost" for more information. Note: once airline tickets are purchased, there are no refunds from the airline due to our deep discounts - so please consider whether or not you would like travel insurance carefully.
Internet Access Internet Cafe's n Cambodia cost about 50 cents an hour.
Any cost not specified as "covered" above
Type of Trip? International Service Learning Trip.
In addition to the typical sight seeing and trips to culturally significant sites one might expect, our group will work along side the gracious people of Cambodia. You will be paired with college students from Cambodia who belong to the NGO Youth Service Cambodia.
