Screaming Eagles: Far From Home
Shutterstock: The French Alps
In the last two years, COVID-19 has forced the hibernation of one of Toccoa Falls College’s most beloved programs: study abroad. Pre-pandemic, a student could walk just about anywhere on campus and find posters advertising one trip or another. Studying abroad was a great way for students to gain real-world cultural experience while simultaneously earning class credit!
The last study abroad to be offered allowed students to explore Greece and Italy in the summer of 2019. If you were here during the 2019-2020 school year, you may remember talk of a study abroad to Europe with the Communications Department, including some humanities courses. The study abroad, which was supposed to take place in the early summer of 2020, was going to allow students to travel to England, France, Italy, and Austria. Unfortunately, the trip was canceled due to the rise of the pandemic. Last year, a study abroad to Israel was tentatively planned for the winter of 2022. Sadly, it was postponed due to tension in the Middle East as a result of the Afghanistan crisis.
While it is incredibly disheartening, there is good news regarding the program! Dr. Curt Wanner, the Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences and a Communications professor, shared that the trip to Europe is being tentatively rescheduled for the summer of 2022. The study abroad will be under the Humanities Department. The program is set to offer the HUM 103 course, Western Thought & Culture, and “a wide selection in the humanities disciplines for those majors and/or general ed.”
This is not the first time a study abroad has been offered through the Humanities Department. In fact, these trips tend to be offered every summer. For this trip, the plan is to visit at least three major cities in western Europe such as London, Rome, Paris, Munich, Copenhagen, Dublin, and Belfast. The students will spend a few days in each location before traveling to the next one. The trip will prioritize seeing at least one natural wonder, like the Alps and the coastal region of Italy, though the main focus will be on exploring the cultures and cities.
However, there is still no certainty on whether or not this trip will happen. With the most recent variant of COVID-19 on the rise, the department is hoping to provide more information in the early spring of 2022. If travel is allowed, the excursion will be scheduled for the end of May through the beginning of June, lasting roughly two weeks. Yet, another possible issue comes with the seeming decline of Delta Airlines. Dr. Wanner is working hard to keep students and volunteers informed about the trip.
The study abroad program has provided many wonderful opportunities for students in the past. Dr. Wanner and the Humanities Department are committed to reopening this option for students very soon as the world becomes a bit safer for healthy travel.
If you are interested in learning more about the study abroad program and upcoming opportunities, contact Dr. Wanner (cwanner@tfc.edu) or The Talon to be informed as we receive updates.