Four travel interterms have been approved for January of 2014. As of now, the four places include:

• Art, Culture and History with Brett Knappe, assistant professor of art history, in Vienna, Prague, Budapest and Bratislava.

• History and Culture with Leonard Ortiz, associate professor of history, in the Yucatan Peninsula.

• Business with Kevin McCarthy, business and economics professor, in Germany.

• Tour of Ireland with Director of Bands Ray James and the new choral director to be hired.

MULTIMEDIA

AUDIO SLIDESHOWS – This interactive project provides an overview of students’ experiences during their 2013 winter interterms.

“I think one of the most important things that students can do during their time at Baker … not just my opinion, but the opinion of many of my colleagues, … is to have a chance to experience foreign countries,” Knappe said.

For Knappe’s interterm class, there is not a set itinerary in place yet. Knappe hopes to form a schedule around the students’ input and determine the plan from there. This is the first time for Knappe to teach an interterm in a place he’s never been before.

“[The experience offers students] the ability to see things that aren’t in the United States,” Knappe said. “We don’t have castles from the medieval period, there aren’t any … it doesn’t matter how long you look. This is a chance to see some of those.”

Ortiz’s interterm in the Yucatan Peninsula is also driven by student interest. While learning about Mexico and topics such as the Mayan culture, the students will also have a chance to choose which activities they want to participate in.

“I think it’s an opportunity for them [the students] to build confidence,” Ortiz said. “We learn about the pyramids and the cities, but also we’re also very active. Theres a chance to swim nearly everywhere.”

Activities will range from exploring Mayan villages and guided jungle tours, to beach time, zip lining, and repelling into sacred pools of crystal clear water.

“It’s an opportunity for students to experience a world they wouldn’t have a chance to see otherwise,” Ortiz said.

Erin Joyce, assistant dean for liberal studies, believes traveling abroad is a valuable experience for any student, and an interterm abroad fits perfectly for students who don’t necessarily want to spend a whole semester in a different country.

“I think that students who haven’t been out of the country come back and talk about how life changing it was to have that experience,” Joyce said. “It’s really remarkable.”

Travel interterms vary in cost, depending on which country students wish to attend. Along with the four places already approved, an interterm in Spain is being considered to add to the list of available options.

“I don’t think there’s any student who shouldn’t go on a trip like this,” Knappe said. “There’s no experience necessary. You don’t need to speak a word of these languages. You don’t need to know a thing about these areas, none of that’s necessary. Mostly it’s just immersion into the cultures.”