(WILSON, N.C.) The first of the year will find many Barton students anticipating a trip to Egypt or England, an international travel opportunity afforded by Barton’s January Term, or J-Term.
Reinforcing global awareness in Barton’s core curriculum, international travel courses deepen students’ understanding of the world around them.
Dr. Joe Jones, chair of the Department of Religion and Philosophy, is leading the group destined for Egypt. There, students will visit important sites such as the Great Pyramids and the Valley of the Kings in addition to historic religious sites marking the influence of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam on Egypt.
“The students requested a trip to Egypt,” said Jones. “It also expanded our college travel portfolio to a new place. Some scholars consider Egypt the first civilization, discounting Sumeria-Mesopotamia because it did not exhibit the cultural coherence Egypt did.”
A second travel group led by Bob Wagner, director of theatre in the Department of Communication and Performing Arts, and Dr. Kathy James, chair of the Department of English and Modern Languages, will head for England.
“My trip will highlight the culture and history of England, Wales, and Ireland,” said Wagner. “We will study some sites concerning theatre and literature. We also have several students that will take the optional side trip to Paris.”
The value of travel abroad must not be understated. Travel grants cultural perspectives and insights that lectures and assignments cannot.
“International travel benefits our students enormously. There is an emotional adjustment that occurs the first time you are in a situation in which you are the minority culture,” said Jones.
“You become wiser and better adjusted as a citizen of the world, better able to offer suggestions and participate in discussions involving world events. What nations don’t know can hurt them. The stakes involved in study abroad are that simple, that straightforward, and that important. For their own future and that of the nation, college graduates today must be internationally competent.”
