9-24-08

Lycoming students and faculty in Edirne, Turkey, in front of the statue of Mimar Koca Sina, the master architect of The Selimiye Camii,which is the building in the background

Fourteen eager Lycoming College students, majors ranging from various art concentrations to psychology, took advantage of a variety of classes offered this past May term that led them on an overseas expedition to Greece and Turkey.

Students landed in Istanbul, Turkey, where they were given the opportunity to visit the famous Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, the Topkapi Museum and the Mosaic Museum before exploring the area on their own. During their curious amblings of the city, students witnessed authentic rug-making demonstrations, the Grand Bazaar and a Turkish-themed dinner featuring native belly dancers.

According to senior Joshua Stippich, despite being in a distant hemisphere and far from home, the people in Turkey made the transition into the diverse environment welcoming and easy.

“Turkey was so different and foreign, but at the same time everyone was so friendly and warm,” Stippich said.

The beautiful landscape and historic landmarks of Turkey made a perfect course curriculum for the art students, while the Turkish History of Psychiatry Museum provided a great resource for the psychology students in attendance. According to trip coordinator Roger Shipley, who recently retired as professor of art at Lycoming, students were able to view various primitive medicines and learn about former therapeutic techniques.

From Turkey, the students traveled to Athens, Greece, to experience native culture in the Plaka area, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Athens devoted to a plethora of restaurants and local venders. A tour of the area introduced students to countless famous landmarks and sights including the Acropolis, the Parthenon, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and the National Archeological Museum.

“It was a big city with plenty to do, but it wasn’t like any other city I’ve ever been to,” said biology major Catherine Bianchi. “I’ve never seen any other city with ancient ruins in the middle of everything.”

Stippich, another avid fan of Athens, wasn’t prepared for the overwhelming opportunities he would face within the ancient city.

“Athens almost seemed unreal,” said Stippich. “The sites and art I had studied in my art history classes were literally inches from me and at first it was unbelievable.”

Lycoming students at the Parthenon

While students were satisfied with their hotel rooftop’s clear view of the Acropolis, there was still much for them to see on the Greek islands of Mykonos, Delos and Santorini.

Mykonos is known for its windmills, winding roads and white-washed everything. Shipley said the students were privileged to view many interesting sites. Free time on the island provided the group with the opportunity to visit authentic jewelry shops and a water front location called Little Venice, which contains a variety of shops. The students also visited the famous Paradise beach and a restaurant called Zorbas, better known as the location used to film the ending to the film “The Bourne Identity.”

The next day, students took a short trip to Delos which,  according to mythology, is the island where the Gods were born and is considered to be the holiest of the Greek islands. While there, students had the opportunity to explore an archaeological preserve and were greeted by the large marble lions, erected in the 7th century B.C., at the Terrace of the Lions, which were dedicated to Apollo by the people of Naxos and used to guard the sanctuaries.

Lastly, students were fortunate enough to witness the magnificent beauty of the landscapes on the volcanic island of Santorini. As the students absorbed the breath-taking sites, the group climbed the active volcano, swam in the hot springs and explored the city.

Sophomore Morgan Guest, who plans to become an art teacher, appreciated the exquisiteness of Santorini.

“It was just so beautiful,” Guest said. “If anybody wants to see the most beautiful sunsets in the world, Santorini is the place to go. The volcanoes, hot springs and scenery of Santorini were unforgettable.”

Despite the fact that Shipley has retired from the College, he intends to stay on staff as a part-time professor to teach printmaking. He also hopes to continue his participation in future art department May term trips.

“For some students, these trips are a highlight of their four years at Lycoming,” Shipley said. “It’s been a highlight of my experience at Lycoming as well. I’ve been able to travel through many European and Asian countries while teaching my art disciplines.”

As much as a vacation the courses may seem to be, Shipley is confident that the students not only enjoyed their trip, but experienced much more than a normal classroom lecture has to offer.

“It’s not like they’re just having a good time, they’re doing a lot of work as well,” Shipley said. “The provost is working to augment the May term experience. I think he sees the importance of the foreign-study experience.”

Stephanie Knaus, a junior majoring in photography and electronic art, and digital media communication, agrees with Shipley’s idea that the summer courses are a great opportunity for the College, especially when it provides the students the ability to travel abroad.

“The experience in Greece and Turkey helped me grow academically by showing me how much there is out there in the world of art, and how much more I need to work at it,” Knaus said. “It has made me want to strive and succeed because someday that’s what I want to do for a living.  Instead of paying to take a class in Greece, I want to be paid to take pictures of it. I had a lot of fun and gained so many experiences. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

Bianchi, who attended the trip with the Drawing II class, took advantage of every opportunity to learn as much as possible from the study abroad excursion.

“I experienced the different cultures in many ways; talking with the people, learning the history, seeing important buildings and museums, tasting the food and learning some of the language,” Bianchi said. “The experience went beyond my expectations.”

This fall, junior CaraSol Cochran believes she will have a competitive edge over her fellow psychology classmates with the lessons she learned in her Eco-Psychology class.

“The course helped me observe firsthand how different societies and cultures affect their environment and how it shapes them,” Cochran said. “Instead of just sitting in a classroom or doing readings, I feel I gained valuable insight by being able to observe the different societies and applying the concepts I read about to my own experiences.”

Cochran may have learned a lot about various art, history and psychological aspects through her studies in Europe, but most importantly, she has acquired a new understanding and appreciation for culture.

“After this experience, I have learned how to notice and appreciate the differences of another society’s culture and to fully immerse myself in it without any prejudices,” Cochran said. “I now want to continue to expand my understanding of others who are different from me without letting my own judgments get in the way.”

For Stippich, who will graduate next May with a bachelor’s degree in generalist art, returning home may have marked the end of an amazing trip, but the travel experience itself has fueled in him a new passion: exploration.

“I expected above all things to grow,” Stippich said. “I didn’t know how I would grow, but I knew that the trip would change me, and it has. I think a part of me will always be in Europe. I feel very attached to the places I visited, as if the countries’ being so welcoming induced a sort of home feeling inside, or perhaps it has awakened my thirst for adventure. All I know is that I want to go back and see more.”

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