European Odyssey

2009

Program Description

 

 

( Check frequently for updates.)

(Most recent update: 3/31/09)

Program Introduction

Overview:

The 2009 European Odyssey study abroad program is providing 22 students the opportunity to spend an entire semester residing in Europe while progressing through five areas of academic study. Each class, taught by UW Oshkosh professors, is a balanced blend of classroom and on site lectures, discussions, site visitations, written assignments and exams. On occasional free days or weekends, students are exploring their environments on their own. The spring 2009 program is currently offering mini-residencies in Amsterdam, Berlin, Vienna, Rome, Florence, Paris and London. From 1 to 3weeks each, these "short stays" are allowing students time to "settle in" and savor the sights and sounds of their various settings. Numerous day trips to selected locations and sites have been arranged to augment and enhance the program's academic emphasis.

The Program Course Schedule:

Our 2009 European Odyssey academic schedule consists of five courses, taught one at a time in short term formats (from 2 to 3 weeks each). Students will earn a total of 15-16 academic credits during their participation in the 2009 European Odyssey program.

Program Narrative:

Students currently participating in the spring 2009 European Odyssey program began their journey of learning and discovery in mid January by travelling to Amsterdam, where they commenced their study of "European Georgraphy" taught by Professor Heike Alberts. After one week in Amsterdam, the remaining week of this course was taught in the remarkably contrasting location of Berlin, Germany.

Professor Monika Deegen then joined the Odyssey program in Berlin for an intensive, two-week interdisciplinary course entitled "Modern Germany: From Division to Reunification." Numerous sites were visited which included a day each to nearby Potsdam as well as one to the historical cities of Leipzig and Wittenberg.

Our odysseythen moved on to Vienna, Austria for two weeks where students began their third course, "Culture and Values: an Introduction to the Humanities," taught by Professor John Minniear. A two-week residency in Rome, Italy is now in progress. Students have now completeed thier Culture and Values course and will begin their next course, "Encountering the Arts." during their final week in Rome. The second week of this course will be taught in Florence, Italy, the "birthplace" of the Renaissance.

After leaving sunny Italy, the Odyssey will travel north for a two week stay in Paris, France, where Professor Simon Sibelman will begin the intensive, interdisciplinary course entitled "The Betrayal of the Western Liberal Tradition in France During the Second World War." This course concludes with a two day visit to the city of Caen and the Normandy coast.

The 2009 European Odyssey comes to an end with a final week in London, England where the course "Encountering the Arts" will conclude.

In early April, after 12 weeks of intensive study, travel and adventure in Europe, we will bid "Cherrio" to London and return to Oshkosh (via Chicago)...leaving the rest of our lives to savor the splendor, excitement and growth that was the UW Oshkosh 2009 European Odyssey.

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2009 Itinerary (daily)

Watch for additional information and / or changes as the itinerary is revised

 


  January  
Departure: Sat 10

Leave Oshkosh for Chicago O’Hare (time ?)

Overnight Flight / morning arrival

Amsterdam Sun 11

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Morning: Transfer to hostel: Stayokay Amsterdam Vondelpark

(NB: evening meals included at hostel)

Afternoon: Free Afternoon

Week 1

Mon 12

Dr. Heike Alberts - European Geography
Morning Class: 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

"Introduction / The Changing Political Map / The Netherlands"

Afternoon Activity: "Amsterdamazing Race"

  Tues 13

Morning Class: 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

"Linguistic Issues / Population Issues / International Migration"

Afternoon Activity: Visit to the Rijksmuseum

  Wed 14

Morning Class: 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

"Religious Issues / Ethnic Conflic"

Afternoon Activity: Visit to the Anne Frank Huis

  Thurs 15

Morning Class: 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

"Physiographic Regions / Climate / Vegetation / Agriculture and Economy"

Afternoon Activity: Visit to the Coster Diamond Co.

  Fri 16

Morning Class: 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Exam I

"Resources and Energy / Environment"

Afternoon Activity: Canal Boat tour

  Sat 17

Class visit: Zaanse Schans Open Air Museum (windmills and 17th century village)

  Sun 18  Free Day to explore Amsterdam and environs
Week 2 Mon 19

Morning Class: 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

"Urban Geography I"

Afternoon: Free Afternoon / Amsterdam Historical Museum (optional)

Berlin Tues 20   Transfer to Berlin by train (10:58 - 17:15) (Amsterdam Zuid Station)
  Wed 21

Morning Class: 9-11 p.m.

"Urban Geography II"

Afternoon: Walking tour of Berlin and visit to the Pergamon Museum

  Thurs 22

Morning Class: 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

"The Cold War / Transportation Issues"

Afternoon: Visit to the BVG (U Bahn Museum)

  Fri 23

Morning Class: 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

"The European Union"

Afternoon: Optional visit to the Transportation Museum

  Sat 24

Morning Class: 9-11 a.m.

Exam II

Afternoon: Visit to Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp

  Sun 25  Free Day
Week 3 Mon 26

Dr. Monika Deegen - Germany: Separation to Reunification

 Morning Class: 9:00-12:00 a.m.

Afternoon Class 1:00-4:00 p.m.

Topic: Post WW II life in Berlin/Occupation of Berlin and Germany/Berlin Airlift/Foundation of two German States

  Tues 27

 Morning Class: 8:00-8:30 a.m.

9:30 a.m. Visit Allied Museum Berlin (Zehlendorf)

Afternoon: 2:00-2:30 Visit to German-Russian Museum (Karlshorst)

  Wed 28

Day trip to Potsdam with visits at Schloss Cecilienhof / Russische Kolonie / tour of San Souci Palace (Pick up at Hostel 8:00 a.m.)

  Thurs 29

 Morning Class: 8:00-11:00 a.m. and 4:00-6:00 p.m.

Early afternoon: Visit Checkpoint Charlie Museum

Late afternoon: Visit to the East Side Gallery (Wall)

Early evening: Viewing of the movie The Tunnel

  Fri 30

Morning: Visit the Mauer (Wall) Museum

Afternoon Class: 1:30-2:30 p.m.Exam No. 1

  Sat 31  Free Day
  February  
  Sun 1  Free Day
Week 4 Mon 2

 Morning Class:

Late morning: View the movie The Lives of Others

Afternoon: Visit the Hohenschonhausen Prison (former STASI prison)

  Tues 3

 Morning Class:Visit the DDR Museum

Early afternoon: Visit to the Egyptian Museum

Late afternoon: View the movie Nicolai Church

  Wed 4

 Day trip to Leipzig

Visits to the Zeitgeschichtliches Forum / St. Thomas Church / Nikolai Church

Afternoon stop in Wittenberg: tour of Martin Luther's house and the Schlosskirche

  Thurs 5

 Morning Class: 8:00 a.m.

Late Morning: Viisit the Bundestag (German Parliament)

Early afternoon: Visit the Holocaust Memorial

Late afternoon / evening: view movie Goodbye Lenin

  Fri 6  Morning Class:
Vienna Sat 7  Transfer by train to Vienna (8:35 - 18:02)
  Sun 8  Afternoon: Walking tour of Vienna
Week 5 Mon 9

Dr. John Minniear: Culture and Values  

Morning Class: 9 a.m.-12:00.

Afternoon: Free

  Tues 10

 Morning Class: 9 a.m.-12:00.

Afternoon: Visit to the Kunsthistorisches Museum
  Wed 11

 Morning Class: 9 a.m.-12:00.

Afternoon: Visit to the Leopold Museum and Secession Building

  Thurs 12

 Morning Class: 9 a.m.-12:00.

Afternoon: Free

  Fri 13

 Morning: Exam no. 1 / class

Afternoon: Free

  Sat 14  Free Day
  Sun 15  Free Day
Week 6 Mon 16

 Morning Class: 9 a.m.-12:00.

Afternoon: Tour of the Staatsoper (Opera House) and walking tour of the Karlskirche and the Belvedere Palace Gardens

  Tues 17

 Morning Class: 9 a.m.-12:00

Afternoon: Visit to the Prater Park and a ride on the "Big Wheel"

  Wed 18

 Morning Class: 9 a.m.-12:00

Afternoon: Visit to Schönbrunn Palace

  Thurs19

 Morning Class: 9 a.m.-12:00

Afternoon: Free

  Fri 20

 Morning: Exam no. 2 / class

Afternoon: Visit to the Naturhistorisches Museum

Transfer by night train to Rome (19:23 - 9:05 am) from Sudbohnhof (couchette)

 Rome Sat 21

 Arrive Rome in the morning (9:05)

Afternoon: Walking tour of Rome

Sun 22

Free Day

Morning: (Mass at St. Peter's Basilica? )

Week 7 Mon 23

Morning Class: 9 a.m.-12:00

Afternoon: Visit to the Catacombes of Domatilla

  Tues 24

Morning Class: 9 a.m.-12:00

Afternoon: Visit the Roman Colosseum, Palatine Hill and Roman Forum

Wed 25 Full day visit to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel
  Thurs 26

Morning Class: 9 a.m.-12:00

Afternoon: Free

  Fri 27 Morning: Exam no. 3
  Sat 28 Free Day
  March  

Sun 1 Free Day
Week 8 Mon 2

 Dr. John Minniear: Encountering the Arts

Morning Class: 9 a.m.-12:00

Afternoon: 1:30 Visit the Pantheon, Trajan's Column and Piazza Navona

Tues 3 Full day visit to the ruins of Pompeii
  Wed 4

 Morning Class: 9 a.m.-12:00

Afternoon: 1:30 Visit the Ara Pacis Monument and/or Castle of San Angelo

  Thurs 5

 Morning Class: 9 a.m.-12:00

Afternoon: Free

  Fri 6

 Morning Class: 9 a.m.-12:00 Exam no. 1 / class

Afternoon: Free

 Florence Sat 7

 Transfer by train to Florence (9:55 am - 11 :30 am)

Afternoon: Walking tour of Florence (rain date: on Sunday afternoon)

  Sun 8

 Morning: Free (Mass at Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral ?)

Afternoon: Free

Week 9 Mon 9

 Morning Class: 9 a.m.-12:00

Afternoon: Visit Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral and Baptistry

  Tues 10

 Morning Class: 9 a.m.-12:00

Afternoon: Visit the Piazza della Signoria, Loggia dei Lanzi and Uffizi Gallery

  Wed 11

 Morning: (Venice for the Day - optional event)

  Thurs 12

 Morning Class: 9 a.m.-12:00

Afternoon Class: 1:00 p.m - 4:00 / visit to the Galleria dell' Accademia

  Fri 13  Morning: Exam no. 2 / class / visit to Capellee Medicee and San Lorenzo

Paris

Sat 14

Morning visits: The Bargello and Church of Santa Croce 

Transfer by night train to Paris (21:09 - 9:16)

  Sun 15

Afternoon: Walking tour of Paris

Visit to the Panthéon

Week 10 Mon 16

Dr. Simon Sibelman: Betrayal of Western Liberal Tradition in France

Morning: class (10:30 - 12:00)

Afternoon: Visit to Drancy Transit Camp (Concentration Camp)

  Tues 17

Morning: class 10:30 - 12:30 ?)

Afternoon: Visit to (?)

  Wed 18

Morning: class (10:30 - 12:30 ?)

Afternoon: Visit to (?)

  Thurs 19

Morning: class (10:30 - 11:30)

Afternoon: Visit to the Mémorial de la Déportation

  Fri 20

Morning: class (10:30 - 12:30)

Afternoon: Visit to Père Lachaise Cemetery

  Sat 21 Free Day (optional visits to Rodin Museum / Les Invalides / St. Denis Cathedral / Versailles)
  Sun 22 Free Day (optional visits to Orsay Museum / Notre Dame Cathedral / Sainte Chapelle)

Week 11

Mon 23

Afternoon: class (2:00 - 5:00)

Afternoon: Visit to Musée du Judaisme and the Mémorial de la Shoah

  Tues 24

Morning: class (9:30 - 12:30)

Afternoon: Visit to ?

  Wed 25

Morning: class (9:30 - 12:30)

Afternoon: Visit to the Musée du Louvre

Thurs 26

Board coach for Normandy about 7:30 AM

Walking and bus tour of major / monuments in Caen

Visit to Mémorial de Caen

Overnight at the Family Home in Bayeux

  Fri 27

Morning: Visit to the Bayeux Tapestry

Afternoon: Visit the Normandy Beaches (stops at the German Cemetery, Point du Hoc, Omaha Beach with American Cemetery)

Afternoon: Return to Paris

London Sat 28

Transfer by EuroStar train to London (9:13 - 10:36) (gain one hour)

Leave Hostel: (between 7:00 and 7:30 a.m. ?)

Afternoon: Walking tour of London (rain date: Sunday)

Sun 29

Morning: (Service at St. Paul's Cathedral ?)

Free Day

Week 12 Mon 30

Dr. John Minniear: Culture and Values (concluding week) 

Morning: class 9:00 a.m. -12:00

Afternoon: Visit the National Gallery of Art

  Tues 31

 Morning: class 9:00 a.m .- 12:00

Afternoon: Visit the British Library and British Museum

  April  
  Wed 1

 Day trip to Greenwich (via Thames River boat)

Tour of Royal Naval College (guide)

Visits: Royal Observatory / National Maritime Museum / Queen's House

  Thurs 2

 Morning: class 9:00 a.m. - 12:00

Afternoon: Tour of the Globe Theatre and visit to the Tate Modern Art Gallery

  Fri 3

 Morning: Exam no. 3 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Evening: Final dinner (TBA)

Chicago Sat 4

Transfer via to Heathrow Airport (coach pick up at hostel to Heathrow)

Departure: London to Chicago (O'Hare)

Transportation provided to Oshkosh (not required)

    European Odyssey 2009 Concludes

 

 

 

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Costs

Program Costs: Program fees for the 2009 European Odyssey semester abroad program are currently estimated at $9,830 based on a minimum of 20 students + airfare (estimated at $930). There are no additional tuition costs...only personal expenses.

The program costs will include all transportation, student accommodations (breakfast included), some additional meals, museum and performance admission fees and general program fees. By comparison to similar, full-semester programs at other private and state colleges and universities throughout the US, this program ranks high in educational value, quality of instruction and program diversity.

Many students are assisted by the Office of International Education and the university's Financial Aid Office in realizing their desires to participate in a study abroad program. Scholarships, grants and loans are available to qualified students.

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Financial Aid

Students applying for financial aid are advised to apply for the program and secure a place even if they are waiting to learn about their financial aid awards (usually October, 2008). If you withdraw from the program, your "seat" will be made available to a student on the "waiting list."

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Application Process for 2009 European Odyssey Program

All applicants must submit their application to the Office of International Education (OIE), Dempsey 146 by the deadline: October 3, 2008 (First Friday in October)

Application:

Applications are available on line at: http://www.uwosh.edu/oie/abroad/odyssey.php#apply
There is a $100 application fee which must accompany your application. By meeting all of the program deadlines, you are entitled to a $50 reduction in fees.

Applicants who meet the eligibility requirements for the European Odyssey program will meet with faculty leaders for a personal interview. Interview dates/times will be arranged with applicants once their study abroad application has been completed and reviewed by the OIE staff and the European Odyssey 2009 faculty.

"Wait list":

On the application, students are asked to indicate "Hold" or "Process." If "process" is indicated and the student is accepted to participate in the program, then a seat is assigned by the Office of International Education. If "hold" is indicated on the application, then the student is placed on the "wait list" pending the removal of the hold. When the "hold" has been removed and if seats in the program are still available, the student is assigned a place based on the date their completed application was received in the OIE. If no places are available, the student will remain on the "wait list" until their is a cancellation by someone holding a seat or until additional seats have been added

(Please Note: As of 8/07/08, the European Odyssey 2009 Program has enrolled or accepted applications for approximately three-fourths of the desired 20 student limit.)

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2009 Program contacts:

For questions related to this program not covered in this web site, contact the faculty leaders for this program:

Faculty Leaders:

Dr. John Minniear, Polk Library 50, 233-4142

Dr. Heike Alberts, Halsey Science 312, 424-7109

Dr. Monika Hohbein-Deegen, Radford Hall 304, 424-7278

Dr. Simon Sibelman, Radford Hall 318, 424-2375

For questions related to program administration and logistics, contact the Office of International Education (Dempsey 146; tele: 920-424-0775; oie@uwosh.edu ).

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2009 Accommodations

Students:

Program participants are housed in hostels, youth hotels and bed and breakfast facilities to keep program costs low. Faculty leaders are housed in 2-3 star accommodations nearby (when possible).

1) Amsterdam
January 11 to 20 (9 nights)

Stayokay Vondelpark
Zandpad 5
1054 GA Amsterdam
tel +31 (0)20 589 89 96
fax +31 (0)20 589 89 55

email: vondelpark@stayokay.com
www.stayokay.com

2) Berlin
January 20 to February 07 (18 nights)

Jugendhotel Berlincity
Crellestr. 22
10827 Berlin, Germany
Ph: +49 30 78702130
Fax: +49 30 78702132

www.jugendhotel-berlin.de

3) Vienna
February 07 to 20 (14 nights)

Jugendherberge Myrthegasse
Myrthengasse 7
Neubau , Vienna 1070
Austria
Ph: +43 (0)1 5236316
Fax: +43 (0)1 5235849

E-Mail: hostel@chello.at
www.oejhv.or.at/quartier/1070/1070.htm

http://www.oejhv.or.at/quartier/1070/1070.htm

4) Rome
February 21 to March 07 (14 nights)

Penzione Tizi
Via collina 48
Castro pretorio
Rome 00187
Italy
Ph: +39 06 - 4743266
Fax: +39 06 - 4743266

(no web site available)

5) Florence (Firenze)
March 07 to 14 (7 nights)

Ostello Archi Rossi
Via Faenza, 94r

50123 Firenze
Italy
Tel. +39 055.290804
Fax.+ 39 055.2302601

www.hostelarchirossi.com

6) Paris
March 15 to 27 (14 nights)

BVJ Louvre (Bureau des voyages de la Jeunesse)
20, rue Jean-Jacques. Rousseau

75001 Paris
France

Tél : 01 53 00 90 90

http://www.bvjhotel.com/

7) Normandy
1 night in Bayeux (Normandy) - March 26

The Family Home
39, rue Général de Dais
Ph: +33 (0)2 31 92 15 22
Fax: +33 (0)2 31 92 55 72
ww.fuaj.org
http://www.hostelz.com/hostel/9827-Family-Home-Hostel

8) London
March 28 to April 04 (7 nights)

Globetrotter Inn London
Ashlar Court
Ravenscourt Gardens
Stamford Brook
W6 0TU
London
UK
Ph: +44 (0)208 746 3112
Fax: +44 (0) 208 748 9912

http://www.travelstay.com/pages/GlobetrotterInnLondon.htm

Faculty Accommodations:

1) Amsterdam

Acro Hotel
Jan Luijkenstraat 44
1071 CR Amsterdam
Ph: +31 (0)20 662 05 26
Fax: +31 (0)20 675 08 11

http://www.Acrohotel.NL
info@acrohotel.nl

2) Berlin

Hotel Schöenberg
Hauptstraße 135
D-10827 Berlin
Ph: +49 (0)30 780 966-0
Fax: +49 (0)30 780 966-20

http://www.hotel-schoeneberg.de/
E-Mail: info@hotel-schoeneberg.de

3) Vienna

Hotel Admiral
Karl Schweighofer-Gasse 7
1070 Wien
Östereich
Ph: +43/1/ 521 41 0
Fax: +43/1/ 521 41 16

E-mail: hotel@admiral.co.at

4) Rome

Hotel Medici
Via Flavia, 96
00187, Rome - Italy
Ph:. (0039) 06.4827319
Fax. (0039) 06.4740767

www.hotelmedici.com
E-mail: info@hotelmedici.com

5) Florence (Firenza)

Hotel Monica
Via Faenza 66
50123 Florence Italy
Ph: +39 055.283804
Fax: +39 055.281706

6) Paris

Hotel Londres Saint-Honore
15, rue Saint-Roch
75001 Paris
Ph: +33 (01) 1 42 60 15 62
Fax: +33 (01) 1 42 60 16 00

http://www.hotelsaintroch-paris.com

7) London
Saint Peter's Hotel

407 Goldhawk Road
London W6 0SA
United Kingdom
Ph: +44 (0)20 8741 4239
Fax: +44 (0)20 8748 3845

(Additional Information regarding accommodations will be forthcoming)

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Resources for 2009 European Odyssey Program

City Maps

(Information for the 2009 European Odyssey Program will be forthcoming)

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Pre-travel Orientation and Classes

1. European Odyssey Orientation Meeting :

Nov. 15th / 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. / Swart Rm 217

Following the OIE morning meeting from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and a lunch break, the European Odyssey staff will hold an information meeting for all participating students and their parents, starting at 2:00 p.m. At this important meeting, information on a variety of topics will be shared. If you and / or your parents have questions, consider sending them to me in an email and we will make certain they are included in our discussion (minniear@uwosh.edu)

IMPORTANT...at this meeting, your picture will be taken and will be placed on the "student page" of the EO website. This picture will be sized and printed for placement on your travel passes for the Paris Metro. You are required to have a photo to place on the pass itself (one for each week). You will be using this pass in March so keep that in mind when you have your picture taken in November.

 

2. European Odyssey Pizza Party :

Dec. 7th / 6:00 p.m. / 1128 Washington Ave. (Oshkosh)

Join the European Odyssey staff at the Minniears' home for a supper of pizza and other international foods. This will be our last opportunity to get together before the end of the fall semester and our January departure for Europe. We are hoping that some students from the previous Odyssey programs can join us to share their travel and study tips. Come hungry and stay as long as your evening schedule allows.

Mark your calendar !

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Information Meetings

Watch for dates relating to the European Odyssey 2009

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