World Is Classroom for Many Students This Semester

Seven Trinity students wake up in their apartments in downtown Chicago. They will soon leave for internships in their respective disciplines where they will get hands-on experience working with Chicago companies and organizations. The students are part of the College’s Chicago Semester program.

In Nashville, Tennessee, Heather Murray ’13 of Downers Grove, Illinois, applies her love of music to her academics while studying at the Contemporary Music Center.

Nearly 3,000 miles south, five other students are beginning their day in a very different culture in Quito, Ecuador. Here, the students are learning through internships, homestays, and courses that apply to their majors.

Meanwhile, almost halfway across the world, three students are nearly done with their day in Oxford, along with eight students studying Spanish in Seville, Spain.

All of these locations provide unique experiences for students who wish to live in a different culture and earn college credit as part of Trinity’s various study abroad programs.

One of the many opportunities in Oxford for Andrew Blok ’13 of Lynden, Washington, is visiting historic architecture, such as the local cathedrals.

“Cathedrals are one thing that America hasn’t picked up on yet,” quipped Blok in his Trinity student blog. “I don’t think it matters where you stand in terms of religious beliefs. When you enter a big, beautiful cathedral, you feel something. Awe, wonder, respect, history all at once.”

Victoria Van Hofwegen ’14 of Tolleson, Arizona, is also benefiting from new experiences while studying in Ecuador. As part of the program, she is working at a daycare facility, as well as enjoying God’s creation at a rural retreat center.  “God did some serious work while creating this place. It is set on a beautiful piece of land that reminds me a lot of home,” said Van Hofwegen in her blog.

In a recent article for the student newspaper the Courier, she also wrote about her exposure to the culture. “During the past month, I have learned more about the Ecuadorian culture due to living with a family (I think that was the point of the past month, so good job study abroad, goal accomplished).”

This semester, there are a total of 24 students studying abroad. To see all of the off-campus locations available for studying abroad, visit Trinity’s academic programs page.