The La Sierra University Honors Program is an interdisciplinary program of studies designed for students with the potential and motivation for high intellectual achievement. The Program consists of a series of special courses that engage students in spirited discussion and critical thinking. The program is designed to give students from any major a top-caliber education in an environment that is both challenging and supportive.

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This past summer, UHNR 122: Global Cultures in Context – The Experience, chaperoned by Jim Wilson and Mary Wilson, traveled to Europe for 13 days of foreign foods, foreign people, and foreign places. Despite the obvious foreignism that the students encountered, the students were able to formulate a bond between each other that could only come from the ultimate international travel experience. This international trip was provided by EF Tours and is a requirement for all Honors students and is a class that correlates with UHNR 121: Global Cultures in Context – Theories and Perspectives. When reflecting upon the trip, Sophomore Canty Wang said, “It was a very efficient way to see three countries in two weeks.”

As a UHNR 122 student myself, I, along with my fellow students, trekked through the three countries of Austria, Italy, and France. We saw as much as we could in the limited time we were given. In Austria, we traveled to Salzburg and visited places that inspired the movie “The Sound of Music”, such as the backyard scene of where the captain’s mansion was filmed, and the catacombs that were re-created for the scene in which the VonTrapp family had to run for their lives. We also had the opportunity of visiting Mozart’s house as well as seeing where he grew up. In addition to Salzburg, we also traveled to Innsbruck where we marveled at the crystals in the Swarovski store and shopped at the local markets.

In Italy, we all stayed in a hotel conveniently located by a beautiful tourist beach amidst a cornucopia of gelato stands. While in this country, our class visited Venice and Florence. We rode a ferry to Venice and after walking throughout the city I found the it to be a place where pigeons flock by the dozens and authentic gelato is truly authentic. From touring castles and cathedrals, to riding gondolas and buying silk ties or trinkets for a reasonable price from Italian vendors, I could definitely attest to having had a full day in Venice. Florence was a city that where we were provided with a tour of a leather factory as well as the knowledge of determining real leather. In addition, we had the pleasure of listening to live music as the city was teeming with aspiring musicians playing on the streets for any change the pedestrian might offer.

From Italy, we took an overnight train to Paris, France where we saw famous landmarks such as the Eiffel tower, Notre Dame, the Louvre, and the palace in Versailles where Marie Antoinette lived. I relished the many delicacies that France willingly offered to the wandering tourist. Some of the many desserts that I delighted were the undeniably delicious banana and nutella crêpe, the brown sugar-topped custard, also known as crème brûlée, and the mouth-watering, sweet-tooth-satisfying fruit tart, just to name a few. In agreement on the tastiness of the treats, Sophomore Nina Park said, “The lime tart in Rouen was the best thing I ate in Europe, even better than the gelato.”

Throughout the duration of the trip, us students were required to keep a journal of our daily adventures in order to write the assigned 7 to 8 page paper that included analyzing and reflecting the international trip through the third person. When reflecting upon the trip, Sophomore Canty Wang said, “The trip was an interesting of getting to know each other better, whether we wanted to or not.” Personally, the assignment not only provided me with insight and personal growth as a UHNR 122 student, it preserved my fond memories of a special time that could only be established through travel writings.
Next year’s UHNR 122 trip will be to Istanbul, Turkey, and Berlin, Germany.

See Going Global in a Whole New Way for more information on next year’s UHNR 122 trip.