UW Oshkosh

Education, Society, and Culture in Modern Greece

Volos, Larissa, Meteora, Makrinitsa, Athens - Greece; London - England
May 18 ~ June 8, 2009
Human Services 325, 411; Service Course 422/622
Faculty Leader: Courtney Bauder, 920-424-3019

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Experience Greek education, society, and culture while attending informational seminars in the seaside communities of Volos and Athens, two of the 2004 Summer Olympic cities. Participate in social service activities to observe practices addressing societal issues.

While in Volos, explore such places as the traditional villages of the Pelion mountain region of Thessaly, the majestic rock formations with ancient monasteries and ancient ruins at Meteora, the Athanassakeion Archaeological Museum of Volos and perhaps one of the outlying islands.

After departing Volos, travel to Athens and tour the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, the Akropolis with its Parthenon, the Plaka area, the Benakion Museum of Greek Civilization, the Greek National Historical Museum, and the Athens 2004 Olympic village building. These communities reflect urban, rural and diverse environments and offer unique opportunities for professional and personal growth.

Testimonial

Studying abroad will help anyone to expand their knowledge and give them experiences a classroom setting or textbook will never provide. Being a part of an entirely new cultural setting is exciting. Education abroad introduces you to a new culture, a new way of life. I am very thankful I was given this opportunity in my life!

Kim Eveland, 2007

Note: Individuals student teaching in the spring semester may still participate. Participants must work out the details in advance with the faculty leader in order to ensure that there aren't any conflicts with student teaching or with the clinical requirement in special education.

All of the information included here is subject to change. Modifications may be required depending on the exigencies of the situation.

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Course(s)

Course Dates

Inability or failure to attend may affect your participation, course grades and ability to receive and use financial aid. If you cannot attend, you must indicate this on your study abroad application.

The faculty leader will annouce three pre-travel class dates.

Choose one:

Human Services 325 3 units (crs.)
Intermediate Field Experience in Human Services
Prerequisite: Human Services 203, Human Services 310, a third Human Services course for a total of 9 units, and Admission I.

Human Services 411 3 units (crs.)
Laboratory in Human Services Program Planning
Prerequisite: Human Services 320, 340 and 360.

Service Courses in Education 422/622 3 units (crs.)
Contemporary Issues in Education
Courses may be repeated with change of topic to a maximum of 9 units (crs.).

Course Objectives

Specific activities include readings that focus on the history and culture of modern Greece as well as the nature, structure and development of the educational system.

Students will:

  • learn skills for working with children and families from diverse cultural backgrounds;
  • better understand variations in beliefs, traditions, and values across cultures within and the effect of the relationships among child, family, and schooling as related to special education placement and instructional decisions;
  • better understand the characteristics and effects on educational performance of the cultural and environmental milieu of the child and the family including cultural and linguistic diversity, socioeconomic level, abuse/neglect, and substance abuse;
  • learn to incorporate strategies that consider the influence of diversity on assessment, eligibility, programming, and placement of individuals with exceptional learning needs;
  • better understand cultural perspectives influencing the relationship among families, schools, and communities as related to effective instruction for individuals with exceptional learning needs;
  • learn to promote better understanding of diverse cultures and manifestation of cultural differences in classroom interactions; and
  • develop effective communication and collaborative strategies for relationships with professionals, families of children with disabilities, and families from culturally diverse backgrounds.

Optional Course

International Studies 333    1 unit (cr.)
Study Tour
Prerequisites: none; syllabus

If you request enrollment in this course on the study abroad application, you will be automatically enrolled and will not be contacted about the coursework involved. Assignments for this course must be done independently. Contact the Office of International Education with questions.


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Accommodation & Meals

All accommodation listed are tentative and will not be confirmed until approximately two weeks before travel.

Hotel Galaxy (C class/** hotel in Volos)

Address: 3, Agiou Nikolaou Str., 382 21 Volos, MAGNISSIA, THESSALIA; Phone: 011-30-2-421-020750, 20752; 011-30-2-421-031444. No meals are provided at this hotel.

Hotel Pan (Athens)

Pan Hotel is located in the main square of Athens, Syntagma.
The Parliament House, the National Park, Zappion, Acropolis, Lycabettus, Plaka, with its traditional taverns and the picturesque side streets, as well as selected pedestrian shopping area surround the Hotel.
Address: 11, Mitropoleos Street, Syntagma Square, 105 57 Athens, Greece; Phone: 011-30-210-3237-816; Fax: 011-30-210-3237-819; Email: reservations@panhotel.gr

Hotel t.b.d. (London)

Meals

Program participants buy all lunches and dinners daily in Volos & Athens and all meals in London on their own. Volos is relatively inexpensive compared to Athens. For example, a meal in Volos may cost you €4, while in Athens the same meal might cost €12-€18. In London, plan £7-10 per meal. An estimate for meal expenses for the entire program is included in the program costs section below.

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Schedule

Tentative Itinerary as of July, 2008

  • May 18: depart U.S.
  • May 19: arrive Athens, transfer to Volos
  • May 19 – 27: Volos
  • May 27: transfer to Athens
  • May 27-June 1: Athens
    • Acropolis & the Athens Archaeological Museum
    • Hellenic American University of Athens: Day trip to the Hellenic American University in Athens to meet with Greek students
    • Service Learning Experience Day trip to Smile of a Child, a Non-profit organization serving children. Click here for a summary of the creation and mission of Smile of the Child
  • June 1: transfer to airport; transfer to London
  • June 2-8: Activities in London & surrounding area
    • Stonehenge
    • Blue Badge walking tour
    • Production at the Globe Theatre
  • June 8: transfer from accommodations to airport & return flight to Chicago O’Hare

    The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh reserves the right to make changes to itineraries, travel arrangements, hotels, excursions, activities or other arrangements made necessary by factors beyond its control. On certain dates when some attractions or activities may not be available, UW Oshkosh reserves the right to substitute alternate attractions or activities.

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Flight

Luggage Limits

Restrictions on carry-on baggage (British Airways).

Restrictions on checked and excess baggage (British Airways).

Convert kilograms to pounds.

Depart UW Oshkosh

Long-term parking is allowed on campus in parking lot 6 with a valid UW Oshkosh parking permit. Participants may park on campus for the duration of their study abroad experience, except for semester-long programs.

Meeting Date & Time: Monday, May 18, 2009 at 12:15

Departure Time: 12:30

Departure Location: Parking Lot 6

Flight

May 18, 2009

14:00 Arrive at Chicago O’Hare International Airport for check-in

17:30 Depart on flight 296, British Airways

May 19, 2009

07:05 Arrive London Heathrow International Airport

08:20 Depart on flight 640, British Airways

14:00 Arrive at Athens Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport

June 1, 2009

05:00 Arrive Athens Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport for check-in

08:15 Depart on flight 631, British Airways

10:15 Arrive London Heathrow International Airport

June 8, 2009

07:30 Arrive London Heathrow International Airport for check-in

11:40 Depart London on flight 295, British Airways

13:55 Arrive Chicago O’Hare International Airport

Return to UW Oshkosh

Estimated date & time: Monday, June 8, 2009 at 18:00

Return Location: Parking Lot 6

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Fees

The more who sign up for this program, the lower the cost per participant will be. You can help lower your cost to study abroad by recruiting friends and classmates to join you in this experience!

Program Fee Estimate
$°
 t.b.d.
 
Expenses in U.S. Dollars
$100
 Application Fee ($200 for out-of-state applicants)
$100
 Passport & Pictures
$t.b.d.
 Airfare
varies
 Immunizations
-$50
 Refund to eligible participants
$t.b.d.
 Total Pre-travel Expense Estimate (plus immunizations)
   
Expenses in Foreign Currency (Euro = €)
€225
 Meals
€45
 Local Transportation
€40
 Other (Entrance fees €25; gifts for children in schools €15)
€200
 Personal Spending Money (€110-€300; email = @ €1.25/hour)
€510
 Total Expenses in Euros
$800
 Total in U.S. Dollars as of 7/24/08 (today's rate of exchange)
 
Expenses in Foreign Currency (Great British Pound= £)
£70
 Meals
£20
 Local Transportation
£40
 Other (Entrance fees for free days)
£150
 Personal Spending Money (€110-€300; email = @ €1.25/hour)
£280
 Total Expenses in Euros
$550
 Total in U.S. Dollars as of 7/24/08 (today's rate of exchange)
 
$t.b.d.
 Total Estimated Expenses

°Indicates the expense will appear on your UW Oshkosh student account.

Program fees cover course-related expenses (no tuition is assessed);airfare from Chicago O'Hare; transportation between Oshkosh and O'Hare by school bus; accommodations as listed on the finalized itinerary; daily continental breakfasts; inter-city transportation; organized tours/visits (not including local public transportation or entrance fees) listed on the finalized itinerary; post-travel party; pre-travel orientation; and international health insurance. The program itinerary may be tentative and will not be finalized until approximately two weeks before departure.

Program fees do not cover items not specifically mentioned above such as trip cancellation and baggage insurance; passports; immunizations; textbooks; all other food and beverages; gifts for children in schools; local public transportation to tours/visits associated with the itinerary and transportation costs not associated with the itinerary; entrance fees; and all expenses of a purely personal nature. Estimates for some of these expenses have been included. Fees for a single room are available upon request.

Estimates found here are based on the group rate for services and travel dates as well as current exchange rates, where applicable. Changes to this plan or a large exchange rate fluctuation may cause adjustments to the final cost.

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Apply

Click here to apply.

All application requirements are listed on the page linked just above.
There are no additional program-specific application requirements.

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Resources

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Emergency Contact (during program dates)

In a life and death emergency ABROAD

U.S. Department of State Citizen Emergency Center: 1 (202) 647-5225

The Department of State will relay messages to the Embassy in the country in which program participants are traveling. Embassy personnel will try to locate your student, pass on urgent messages and, consistent with the Privacy Act, report back.

To reach your student directly

Use the phone/fax information given to you by your student or, if your student is staying in a hotel, use the hotel contact information listed on the web page for your student's program.

The Office of International Education cannot give out homestay phone numbers unless authorized in advance by the student, but we would be happy to try to contact your student for you in an emergency.

To reach someone at UW Oshkosh during office hours (7:45 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. M-F)

  • Office of International Education Phone: 1 (920) 424-0775
  • Office of the Associate Vice Chancellor Phone: 1 (920) 424-1410
  • Office of the Provost & Vice Chancellor Phone: 1 (920) 424-0300
  • Office of International Education Fax: 1 (920) 424-0185
  • Dr. William Baurecht: Coordinator, National Student Exchange - baurecht@uwosh.edu
  • Jenna Graff: Director, Office of International Education - graff@uwosh.edu
  • Becky Triatik : Front Line Advisor - triatikr@uwosh.edu
  • Brian Mylrea: International Student Advisor - mylreab@uwosh.edu
  • Karlin Stukenberg: Program Manager - stukenbk@uwosh.edu

To reach someone at UW Oshkosh outside of normal office hours

University Police: 1 (920) 424-1216

To reach local contacts associated with our program ABROAD

Courtney Bauder, faculty leader from UW Oshkosh, and Beatriz Contreras, staff assistant from UW Oshkosh, will accompany the group throughout the program. They can be reached using the contact information listed for the hotels above. Courtney Bauder will also be carrying a cell phone (# t.b.a. after arrival in Greece).

Emergency C ontacts at Aristotle Travel (the travel agency arranging most of the itinerary):

  • VOLOS: Thekla Kammenou 011-30-24210-21607
  • ATHENS: Dino Roussos 011-30-6944344167; Fotini Kiamou 011-30-6398813325

Time Zone Differences

Greece

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This page was last updated on: November 19, 2008

 

 

 

 

November 19, 2008