London trip planned for history students

October 8, 2007 —

For many students, studying abroad is a chance to learn about other cultures and experience a life that is different from the day-to-day. As the faculty leader for a three week trip to London, England scheduled for May 2008, Professor of History Robert Braddock hopes to give students an opportunity to do all of that and more.

"I want to take students to a place I love and have them fall in love with it too," Braddock said.

While the final dates and price for the trip have not been set, it is estimated that the cost will be between $2500 and $3000, plus the cost of tuition for the six credits students will receive for classes held before and during the trip. Classes for which students will receive credit for include History 220, a survey of Modern European History, and History 332, which focuses on Britain's political development from monarchy to democracy. Students will have meetings for two weeks before the trip, and the trip itself will be three weeks long.

"Three weeks gets you to where you're really feeling like it's home and you're not just a visitor," Braddock said.

Braddock has led two other study abroad programs to England, including a 10 week trip in 1994 and a three week trip in 2006. He hopes to incorporate some of the things from past trips into the upcoming one.

Braddock has many different activities planned for the expedition.

Events include a play at the Globe Theater and getting an actor from the play to talk about the plot and production of the play before it begins. Braddock also plans to arrange for students to speak with a member of parliament. The member he has in mind is a member of the socialist party. This is one of Braddock's favorite parts of study abroad trips to London.

"I get the biggest kick out of student reactions to the socialist member of parliament," Braddock said. "We don't expect it...don't expect politicians to be that open with us. It's a real eye-opener."

Parliament is memorable to the students as well. Sophomore Kate Heinlein went on a trip to London led by Assistant Professor of political science Lee Trepanier last May.

"My favorite part of the trip was the tour of parliament," Heinlein said. "We got to walk on the floor and tour the Queen's dressing room and crowning room. It was pretty awesome."

Braddock also hopes to take students outside of London, Canterbury and possibly Oxford are places he hopes to take the students if he has a large enough group.

"London is a wonderful place but it's a great big city," Braddock said. "Canterbury gives that feel of a small town."

The trip will include other activities as well, and Braddock is willing to take input from students on what they want to do.

"I try to tailor the trip to students," Braddock said. "If we have more education majors I would try to get them into the schools. One year we even had a student who worked for UPS and he got to work in one in England for the day."

Both Braddock and Heinlein expressed the benefits of studying abroad. Braddock expressed the importance of getting to feel like you are living in another country. There are other benefits as well.

"You learn a lot about the culture," Heinlein said. "And you get to meet people. I didn't know anyone in my group before I went on the trip."

Braddock emphasized that studying abroad is an experience students will greatly enjoy.

"Once you go, you'll go again," Braddock said. "Everyone who's been says 'it's a wonderful experience, when can I go again?'"

For more information on the trip, contact Stephanie Siegree at sms@svsu.edu. Applications are due Jan. 30, 2008.