Frequently Asked Questions

AND STUFF YOU DIDN"T KNOW TO ASK...

Where, When, and How Much?

Our itinerary changes each year. In 2024 we will return to doing a "full tour" from England to Italy. We will leave immediately after graduation weekend and return in plenty of time to start summer jobs and internships. You can also travel before or after our program if your schedule allows. Our itinerary starts in London, then Paris, flying to Florence (with day trip to Bologna) and on to Rome. The official programming begins in London on Tuesday May 7th and ends Monday night, two weeks later, in Rome (May 20th). Note: this class begins a week before summer session officially starts. If you are just planning to do the class and nothing more, you'd leave the states on the Monday the 6th and come home the 20th; but, you are welcome to arrive early and stay late adding more to your adventure and maximizing the price of your plane ticket.

How do I apply? How many will be chosen?

In early September, 2023, the summer programs will show up in the Education Abroad application portal. We take the first 10-12 applicants. We'll keep a waiting list and let you know where you stand. All Honors students including students in the Pathway Programs are eligible. Sometimes the course fills in November, sometimes not until the end of December. Because of the Olympics in Paris later in Summer 2024, we have to confirm our group by early January. We need to get commitment as soon as possible (which will likely be before scholarship information comes out) so that we can confirm our housing and so that you can buy plane tickets as early as possible for less money.

Will this count for Honors AND UK Core?

Yes, this counts 3 credits toward your 6 hours of Honors experience. And it can count toward your upper level Honors requirement (but not both). In 2024 we are running one section that meets your Global Dynamics UK Core requirement if you still need it (double dipping on UK Core and Honors). It may also possible to register for a section of EPE 252 rather than 352 to meet your Arts & Creativity Core requirement if there is high demand.

Is this a tourism course?

Not exactly; it's more about the effects of travel on social mobilities than the tourism industry. The history of African American mobility, for example, and the history of tourism have interesting parallels that we explore, sometimes visiting famous sites but also venturing off the beaten track. We use the tour and mobility itself as our textbook, learning from travel while doing it. Regardless of whether you are studying global dynamics or arts and creativity, both sections use this theme as the foundation for our inquiry with a few differences in assignments.

So what will I learn?

Studying the "grand tour" means studying the concept of "broadening your horizons" quite literally. You'll learn about the history of people who have traveled to Europe for different reasons and current status of mobility (and immobility) in Europe and its relationship to the rest of the world. We visit classic destinations along the tour route using travel narratives of people rarely heard from as our guides We will use these narratives as texts to think about what makes a travel a chance to be a different person and what makes a person a global citizen--what makes you a global citizen? We'll consider the political, economic, and social ramifications of what it means for people of different backgrounds to travel and to study abroad both historically and in today's EU. Who travels and how might their experiences differ? You'll also learn fieldwork (observations, document analysis, interviews) and to write a historical (perhaps nearby history) analysis. And you'll acquire travel skills...how to navigate different places, systems, and personal borders.

Will I have free time to go sightseeing or eat out?

Yes! During your exploring you'll also have inquiry assignments that may impact where you choose to visit and manage your time. Don't over plan. We're also on the move pretty fast, so you don't have much time in each city. Our class meetings are often walking lectures or tours with academic guides...very much insider views into things you usually don't get to see. Meals (other than breakfast at your hotel) are not included, but we'll plan on organized "dutch dates" for most meals with classmates and faculty that will allow you to learn about eating out in foreign cities (and will be priced within the recommended budget). By having meals self-funded, you can choose how much to spend (or not) and when to eat. We provide lots of information on where to go (and where to buy groceries).

What kinds of assignments or tests are there? (e.g. How hard will it be?)

The course is made up of three phases. Prep work (pass/fail) that you do before we go (online modules available starting in December- so you can work on them when you have time in the Spring term); exercises and writing you do while we travel (e.g. developing written, audio, and video travel guides from primary sources and fictional texts, interviewing students from other countries, conducting "city as text" analyses while out and about, etc.); and a final report using the data and materials you've read and generated along the way (due after we get back--graded). You'll have most of your final paper/project ready before you get back, you'll just need time to marinate and edit. Some of the field exercises can be challenging; if you haven't done any qualitative or historical fieldwork. And some of the pre-work readings are a bit tough, but generally it's straightforward academic challenge.

Where do we stay, how do we get around?

We will be cared for by a tour company who arranges our hotels and give us support in each city. We travel by train and in cities we use public transportation. We'll fly from Paris to Florence to save time on that leg. Travel between cities, your city transport passes, and your hotel is covered by the program. Generally, if an expense would be cheaper if bought in bulk, then it’s covered by the program; otherwise, we leave purchases to you as you might be able to save money.

"I've never traveled before." or "I travel a lot." What can I expect?

We expect the members of our group to be independent travelers. This means learning to read a map, navigate the buses and trains, find food, and take care of your health. Experienced travelers will have the opportunity to flex their wings. But, we also understand that this is intimidating for some students. So we ease into it: we use the buddy system and generally take things as slowly as we need to so that you feel comfortable. You can even arrange to fly to Europe with a classmate (or faculty), if that has you worried. We encourage the group to break up and travel in twos and threes as much as possible (you see and learn more), but you won't be alone (unless you want to be and we have a safety plan) and one of the program staff will always be nearby.

I am a major in _________. How will this relate to my major?

As an Honors student, you study for the love of learning. Right? If that doesn't motivate you, then this course provides real world understanding of what it means to be a global citizen. We take a deep dive into the history of Americans (and people from other countries) traveling to Europe over time, types of mobility, and ways that global citizens visiting and living in European cities carry themselves. If you think you will end up in health care, you will work with or treat people who trained in or came from other countries. It'd help to understand what that looks and feels like. Same thing in business or communications or public policy. At the same time, traveling with purpose helps you understand how you adapt to being somewhere new. This will help if you ever plan to study abroad long term or work in an international setting or transnational business. A number of our students end up studying or working abroad as a result of this course even if they didn't think they would before.

How do we decide our final itinerary?

Our 2024 program itinerary has a loose schedule flowing from England to Italy. For the safety and forward progress of the whole group, we need to stay together--at least within the same municipal district--so we can help each other. You should prepare yourself to take control of your own itinerary within the parameters of our class itinerary. Remember you'll have at least half days and most evenings free at each destination. One of the worst things you can do is "tag along" with others the whole way...you won't get to do what you want to do and your travel groups will be too large to enjoy local sites and services. Identify what you like to do/see and share with others to purposefully take advantage of your time abroad. And yes, this can include wandering aimlessly...if that's what you like.

What is the process of transitioning from airport to lodging?

Because airfare is the biggest expense, you can improve your “return on investment” by staying longer than our program. If you do decide to travel early, you’ll be on your own to make your way to our hotel for the start of the course program on Tuesday, May 7th. That said, there may be other students interested in traveling early and you can always book a room together in London. I will also provide all the info you need to navigate the train from the airport to our hotel, so it’s not so scary. If you do arrive on Tuesday, then you’ll still be on your own to get from the flight, through passport control to the hotel. But fear not, it almost always works out that there are multiple students on each flight coming from the states that morning (they all arrive between 7:30 and about 11ish after flying overnight). We will try to come out to the airport if necessary, but it’s really easy and we can plan for a buddy system.

On the return, if you plan to stay in Italy longer or travel from Rome to elsewhere then you just go where you want. Again, I’ll give you tips and you can book a room to stay longer. And again, in the past students have planned together to stay longer. Even groups who didn’t know each other before planning this group have found a way.

Buying airfare

I’ll provide more tips on this, but be aware that you’ll likely fly into London and out of Rome. You use the “multicity” feature on your airline search engine. One quick tip is to try a search on Google Flights from Lex (or your hometown) to “Europe” roundtrip on our dates. That’ll show you the cheapest flights and give you a sense of the range of prices This won’t work in multi-city mode. And some discount search apps like Hopper don't support multi city searches. No matter what, if you buy early you won’t likely go over the budgeted amount.

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