Greece-Italy April 2014

 


FROM THE TOUR COORDINATOR
Robson Marinho, PhD

Countdown!

Hello all,

We now have  72 days left for our great tour adventure! All airline tickets have been issued and the final payment is on the way. I have also updated the tour syllabus and course requirements. It is now time for preparation, so please enjoy the news!

Study Tour Registration Open!

Summer registration is now open so it is time to register! The sooner you register the better so you can have plenty of time to get financial clearance and expedite the overall tour organization. Therefore, thanks for registering as soon as possible. Just click on "Registration Central" at the Andrews website: www.andrews.edu. Make sure to specify 6 credits. Here is what you will register for:

• Doctoral participants: LEAD778 Higher Education Study Tour (6 credits)
• Master participants: LEAD678 Higher Education Study Tour (6 credits)

Please keep in mind that, after registration, you need financial clearance for the trip, so you need to contact the Student Financial Services for financial approval. The contact information is: Vicki Thompson (vlt@andrews.edu) at the Andrews Financial Services (269-471-6995).

Meal Upgrade

Good news: the only meals not included in the tour are the two days on the ferryboat. HOWEVER, I am glad to share with you that we will have dinner on the first day and lunch on the second day on the ferry, sponsored by our tour participant Seth Bardu! Thanks Seth for your kind support to all colleagues!

Syllabus and Academic Requirements

Please see  the Course Syllabus for our Study Tour on the right side menu bar, with detailed information on required readings and course assignments. In short, these are the course assignments:

Assignment #1 – Study Tour Field Experience

Assignment #2 – Book Reviews (Due Date: July 31)

Assignment #3 – Research Article (Due Date: July 31)

Assignment #4 – Forum Discussion on Moodle

Forum Discussion: 

May 15 to July 31 – Beginning May 15, participants will engage in pre-travel weekly discussion on Moodle addressing the readings, which will continue upon return until July 31.  Participants are expected to engage in meaningful interaction with classmates addressing the topics posted on Moodle.

Textbooks:

Make sure to order your textbooks now, so you have a chance to read them prior to the trip and participate in the discussions. The textbooks are both available at http://www.amazon.com: 

Wildavsky, Ben (2010). The Great Brain Race: How Global Universities Are Reshaping the World. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. ISBN-13: 9780691146898 (Kindle available).

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Guruz, K. (2011). Higher Education and International Student Mobility in the Global Knowledge Economy. Albany: State University of New York Press.

Volunteer Support Team

Thanks to those who volunteered to help with our support team. We still have opening for devotionals, health, and other activities, so if you want to join our support team, please email me about your preference. So far, this is our Volunteer Support Team:

TASK	VOLUNTEER TEAM
Spiritual Coordinator	Seth Bardu
Devotional Team	Yvonna Applewhite . . .
Photographer	Carolynn Irby
Tour Secretaries	Monica Wringer
Health Assistant	A health practitioner to assist with healthcare
Blog Writer	Someone to write a daily paragraph for our blog
Video Recorder	Someone willing  to video record and edit highlights of our tour
Other Roles

Roommates List

It is time to get familiar with our travel companions! Those who requested roommate preference have been assigned a roommate as requested. All other participants have been assigned a special colleague, because all our participants are very special persons! Please see the list below, and start enjoying your new friendship!

Alisa Lashley and  Heather Day

Catherine Mahrt-Washington and  Monica Wringer

Deborah Weithers and  Heather Ferguson

Ebony Tyler and  Carolynn Irby

Michael D. Ballantine and  Cheolmin Jo

Renaude Saint-Phard and  Rose Monroe

Sharese Swafford and  Yvonna Applewhite

Seth Bardu (single room)

Eileen Ruth Kooreman and  Jack Kooreman

Cheri Gregory and  Daniel Gregory

Robson Marinho and  Rozenia Marinho

Tour Itinerary

Day 1, Sunday June 15 - DEPART USA

Depart from Chicago O'Hare to Rome at 3:45 pm, Flight Number: AC 7416

Day 2, Monday, June 16: ROME ARRIVAL
Upon arrival at Rome airport, meet the local representative and transfer to hotel in Rome. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Daniela.

 

Day 3, Tuesday, June 17: ROME (Full day tour)

We enjoy a morning panoramic guided tour of Rome and St. Peter's square. Then we will visit the Roman Forum, walking along the ancient pavement and see ruins of the Curia and the Reggia. We will then admire the Temple of Vesta, the Arch of Titus and the Arch of Costantine. The tour will continue with the visit of the massive structure of the Colosseum (inside visit). Originally named Flavian Amphitheatre it is a giant amphitheatre used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles. The amphitheatre, the largest ever built in the Roman Empire, was completed in 80 AD under Titus, with further modifications being made during Domitian's reign. Lunch in a local restaurant.

Return to hotel in late afternoon. Dinner and overnight at hotel.

Day 4: Wednesday, June 18: ROME–PISA–FLORENCE
Breakfast at hotel.

8:30 to 11:00 am: Educational Session and campus tour at University of Rome La Sapienza

Depart to Pisa to see the incredible Leaning Tower and the Cathedral in the "Square of Miracles". Continue on to Florence where we arrive in the afternoon. Lunch en route restaurant. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Touring in Montecatini.

Day 5: Thursday, June 19: FLORENCE
Morning: Educational Sessions and campus tour at University of Florence.

Lunch in local restaurant.

Afternoon: Sightseeing tour with our guide, to see Piazza Santa Croce; Piazza Signoria; Palazzo Vecchio and its courtyard; Loggia dei Lanzi; Piazza del Duomo and its cathedral with the Giotto Campanile, and the magnificent East Door of the Baptistry, known as the “Gate of Paradise.”

4:00 to 6:00 pm: Educational Session and campus tour at Italian Adventist College Villa Aurora

Dinner and overnight at hotel in Florence

Day 6, Friday, June 20: FLORENCE - BOLOGNA-VENICE
Breakfast and check out of rooms. Drive to Bologna for about 1h30min. Upon arrival, Educational Session and campus tour at University of Bologna.

Lunch at local restaurant.

In the afternoon depart to Venice for check-in at Hotel Mondial in Mestre. Dinner and overnight

Day 7, Saturday, June 21: VENICE
Breakfast and worship meeting at hotel. Today we will have a full day in the romantic city. We will enjoy a panoramic tour to see St. Mark's Square, the outside of Dodge's Palace and the bridge of sighs. We will than have free time for optional gondola trip and gliding along the picturesque canals. Lunch at local restaurant. Return to hotel in Mestre. Dinner and overnight.

Day 8, Sunday, June 22: VENICE–ANCONA (4hours) & EMBARKATION TO PATRAS, GREECE
Bus ride to Ancona on the shores of the Adriatic. On our way we will pass by Ravenna.

At 1:30 p.m., embark on the ferry to cross to Patras port of Greece. - Meals on board on your own expenses

Day 9, Monday, June 23: PATRAS (DISEMBARKATION)–OLYMPIA
At 2:30 p.m., disembark at Patras and meet the local guide. Board the bus and drive to the south into the Peloponnese peninsula to reach Olympia.  

Check-in at Hotel Olympion Asty in Olympia for dinner and overnight.

Day 10, Tuesday, June 24: OLYMPIA–NAUPLIA
In the morning breakfast at hotel and check-out. We will visit the ancient city of Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games where we see the ruins of the Temple of Zeus, Temple of Hera, the gymnasium and the stadium. After the visit to the archaeological museum we will have lunch in local restaurant. In the early afternoon we will depart from Olympia and drive via the central Peloponnese area to Nauplia. Upon arrival check-in at Hotel Tolon Holidays in Tolo for dinner and overnight.

Day 11, Wednesday, June 25: NAUPLIA–MYCENAE–ATHENS
After breakfast check-out of rooms and board the bus to visit the impressive ruins of Mycenae. We will see the remains of the prehistoric citadel fortified with the Cyclopean Walls, the Lionesses' Gate the remains of the Myceanaean Palace and the Tomb of King Agamemnon in which we will actually enter.

After lunch in local restaurant we will depart from Peloponnese and drive towards Athens. On our way will stop at the historic Corinth Canal, which was built between 1881 and 1893. We will see the Isthmus of Corinth and take photos before boarding the bus to return to Athens. In late afternoon check-in at Hotel Stanley in Athens for dinner and overnight.

Day 12, Thursday, June 26: ATHENS
Breakfast at hotel. Morning sightseeing tour of Athens, featuring the highlights of the ancient capital (Hadrian's Arch, Temple of Zeus, Panathenian Stadium, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Academy of Athens, The National Library, The parliament Building and the National Gardens). After the panoramic tour we will climb up to Acropolis Hill. We will see the Propylae, the Temple of Athena Nike, the famous Parthenon Temple and the Erechtheion with its porch of maidens. After the tour lunch in local restaurant in Plaka.

Afternoon: Educational Sessions and campus tour at National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.

Evening at leisure to enjoy the lively atmosphere of the taverns and nightclubs in the old Plaka district.

Day 13, Friday, June 27: ATHENS–PIRAEUS - CRUISE TO MYKONOS (Embarkation for a 3-night cruise)
After early breakfast at hotel at 8.30 a.m., we will board the bus and drive to Piraeus port of Athens. We will embark the cruise ship at 9.30 a.m. after the check-in procedures. Sail at 11:00 a.m. for Mykonos island. Lunch on board. In the afternoon arrive at Mykonos, the most popular Greek islands with its white washed houses, chapels and the spectacular windmills. Free time to explore the seaside town on our own and visit "Little Venice".

Re-embark the ship and sail to Kusadasi port of Turkey at 11:00 p.m.

Day 14, Saturday, June 28: KUSADASI CRUISE
At 7:00 a.m., dock at Kusadasi port, where we have an optional tour to see the ancient ruins of Ephesus. After the tour we will have some free time at the local market for shopping. Return to ship at lunch time and sail to Patmos at 1:00 pm. At 4:00 pm. we will disembark in Patmos by tender boats. An optional excursion will take us to the 11th century St. John's (Evangelist) Monastery and the Cave of Apocalypse. In the museum we will see the valuable manuscript collection. After some free time in the port we will re-embark the cruise ship to sail for Crete island of Greece at 9:00 p.m.

Day 15, Sunday, June 29: CRETE (HERAKLION) – SANTORINI CRUISE
At 7:00 a.m. our ship will dock at Heraklion port of Crete, which is the largest of the Greek Islands.  Here we are offered an optional tour to visit the Minoan Palace of Knossos, the center of the Minoan civilization dating back to 3,000 BC.  At 11.30 am, sail for Santorini. Lunch on board.

At 4.30 pm we will arrive in Santorini, this unique volcanic island called “Black Pearl of the Aegean.” An optional bus tour will take us to the capital town of Fira or Thira and the picturesque village of Oia. Or we can ride a mule or the cable car from the OLD PORT of Fira to climb up to the cliff-top town. Free time to walk around the narrow streets with the white washed traditional houses and enjoy the spectacular view of Caldera with the volcanic islets on the Aegean Sea.

Return to the ship and set sail for Athens at 9:00 pm.

Day 16, Monday, June 30: PIRAEUS - DISEMBARKATION ATHENS
At 6:00 am our ship will dock at Piraeus port. After breakfast we will check-out of the cabins and meet the local representative at 7.45a.m. Board the bus and drive to hotel in the city centre. 

Last day of our journey will be free for individual exploration of the city.  Lunch on your own (try the Greek Souvlaki or Gyros or the Greek Salad with tomato, cucumber, onion, green pepper, feta cheese and olives).

Dinner and overnight at Hotel Stanley in Athens.

Day 17, Tuesday, July 1: ATHENS DEPARTURE
Escorted bus transfer to Athens Airport for departure flight.

Depart from Athens to Chicago O'Hare at 6:30 am.