January
Term in Georgia
Spend
J-Term in Georgia!
Want to see the spectacular Caucasus mountains?
Go to the Republic of Georgia January 2007 on a faculty-led trip.
Two week internship, 2 academic credits, excursions, home stays
and a visit to a fascinating country! Opportunities to take classes
in either Russian or Georgian.
For further information contact Professor Stephen
Jones, Skinner 104. Telephone: x2428 or email: sfjones@mtholyoke.edu.
_____________________________________________________
ABOUT
THE PROGRAM:
A study abroad
program with an internship in the newly independent state of Georgia.
Georgia is an
ancient country that sits at the traditional crossroads between
Europe and Asia. Its northern border is formed by the Caucasus mountains
which stretch from the Black to Caspian seas. To Georgia's south
are Armenia and Turkey, to the East, Azerbaijan, and to the north,
Russia. Georgia's geographical position makes it a strategically
contested territory and empires - from the Roman and Byzantine to
the Ottoman and Russian - have occupied Georgian lands over the
centuries. As a result, Georgia is a multinational country made
up of a myriad of cultural symbols and influences. Georgia's recorded
history goes back to the fifth century A.D. The Georgian language
belongs to a distinctive Caucasian family of languages and has its
own alphabet. Georgian traditions of poetry, dance and hospitality
have always attracted European poets and writers. Tolstoy, Lermontov,
Pushkin, Alexander Dumas and Knut Hamsun have all written about
their adventures in Georgia.
After over a
hundred years in the Russian Empire and another seventy in the USSR,
Georgia regained its independence in 1991. It is now a member of
the United Nations, the WTO and the Council of Europe. Since 1991,
Georgia has been struggling to build a new society, democratic governance
and a market economy. It is a Presidential system. The current President
- Misha Saakashvili - is a 36 year old US trained lawyer elected
in January 2004 for a five-year term.
The Program
The January
Term program was launched in 1996. Along with our US partners, Williams
College and Wellesley College, we set up a student exchange with
Tbilisi State University, the premier higher educational institution
in Georgia. The program is designed for students of all backgrounds
and disciplines. There is no language requirment.
The program
consists of a three week trip to Georgia. Students stay with Georgian
families in the capital of Tbilisi, a modern city of approximately
one and half million people. Students spend two weeks in an internship
of their choosing. The internship will be shaped to the student's
interests. We have had students work in the Georgian Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, in hospitals, in Art Museums and with NGOs working
with refugees or training unemployed women to begin a business.
In addition to the internship, students will attend three lectures
on aspects of Georgian history and culture by local professors.
There will be visits to the Georgian parliament to meet with MPs,
and excursions outside the capital to historical and archeological
sites. In the past, many of our students have enjoyed some spectacular
skiing in the Caucasus mountains. The students will be accompanied
to Georgia by a professor from one of the three US partner colleges
and will be hosted in Tbilisi by our local representative, Zaal
Kikodze, an archeologist and mountaineer. The January Term is a
2 credit course and students will be expected to write a report
on their internship experience when they return to Mount Holyoke
College.
The host city of Tbilisi was established over 1500 years ago and
is one of the great architectural treasures of the Caucasus region.
It sits along the river Mtkvari between spectacular mountain ranges.
The city has all modern conveniences from ATMs and restaurants to
jazz clubs and concert halls. Georgian food is a particular delight
with multiple influences from the Middle East and Europe. Tbilisi
is a safe city and transport is easy by subway and bus. There will
nevertheless be proper security briefings for students.
Health services are not as reliable as in the USA and all students
will be insured by MEDEX which in mediacal emergencies will evacuate
students to good hospital facilities.
Travel Dates
and Application
We will depart
at the beginning of January, usually on the 5-6th, and return on
the 25-26th (the exact dates are dependent on flights). We leave
from JFK in New York City and fly through Vienna or Istanbul. The
latter gives students an opportunity to explore Istanbul for the
day. Up-to-date passports are the students responsibility. Visas
from the Georgian Embassy in Washington D.C. will be required. To
apply, students should obtain an application form from the Officie
of Global Initiatives at ??. You can receive detailed information
about the program from Professor Stephen Jones, who leads the program
here on campus. His email is sfjones@mtholyoke.edu and his extension
is 2428. There will be two orientation meetings (times to be announced)
for the program and you will be expected to make a commitment by
November 1st.
Language
In Georgia,
the main language is Georgian, a difficult language with its own
alphabet. Russian is also spoken by the older generation. However,
many young people in Georgia understand and speak English and your
families and internships will be chosen to ensure that you have
someone with whom you can communicate in English. However, if you
are game, there will be opportunities to take classes in Georgian
or Russian, a beginning that you might want to pursue when you return
to the US.
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