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For more information contact mark.a.kinders@uwrf.edu or brenda.k.bredahl@uwrf.edu.

Mexico Study Trip Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary

By Meghan Dusek

MARCH 23, 2007--The thought of Mexico conjures up many tourist images--beautiful beaches, bottomless refreshments, parasailing, and MTV Spring Break. The strong currency exchange rate, lack of jet lag, and geographical proximity also enhance the idea of a trip to Mexico. But going to gain college credits?

UW-River Falls Spanish professor Terrence Mannetter has led a January study trip called "Mexico: A Cultural Experience," worth three credits, for the past 10 years.

"The experience changes students, both in their attitudes toward the host country and their own country, and also their future behavior as citizens of the world," Mannetter said.

The itinerary visits Mexico City, Taxco, Queretaro, Guanajuato, Guadalajara, and ends the trip in vacation hotspot Puerto Vallarta. Students also see the Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara, and spend a day at the Instituto Technologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrery (ITESM) in Queretero.

"We tour their experimental farm facilities and we spend a day on campus, attending seminars on international studies and development," said Mannetter.

Prior to the trip, students are required to partake in seminars the preceding semester to enhance their visit to Mexico. In the country, they learn first-hand important issues of Mexican history, architecture, art, agriculture, education, political and social structures along with dealing with cultural immersion and adaptation.  

The study tour is open to students of all majors in their junior and senior year of study with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher. The corresponding course (Modern Languages 376) meets the University's Global Perspectives requirement.

The approximate dates and costs for the next trip are December 27, 2007-January 17, 2008 and $2281 (not including three credits of UWRF tuition, meals, passport or optional activities). For more information contact Terry Mannetter at terrence.mannetter@uwrf.edu .  

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