September 11, 2003 - Lawrence Journal World: Madagascar RPCV Beau Pritchett says 911 attacks are incentive to develop ties with the rest of the world
Peace Corps Online:
Peace Corps News:
Headlines:
Peace Corps Headlines - 2003:
September 2003 Peace Corps Headlines:
September 11, 2003 - Lawrence Journal World: Madagascar RPCV Beau Pritchett says 911 attacks are incentive to develop ties with the rest of the world
Madagascar RPCV Beau Pritchett says 911 attacks are incentive to develop ties with the rest of the world
Read and comment on this story from the Lawrence Journal World that Madagascar RPCV Beau Pritchett says 911 attacks were an incentive to develop ties with the rest of the world. "Now, more than ever, it's important to develop ties with the rest of the world," said Pritchett, senior program coordinator for the KU study abroad office. Pritchett, who spent two years in France and was in Madagascar while in the Peace Corps, said one-on-one cultural exchanges contributed to better relations among nations. "I don't think this is the time to stay at home," he said. Read the story at:
9-11 tragedy gave study abroad added importance, students say*
* This link was active on the date it was posted. PCOL is not responsible for broken links which may have changed.
9-11 tragedy gave study abroad added importance, students say
By Tim Carpenter, Journal-World
Thursday, September 11, 2003
Beau Pritchett believes the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States were an incentive, rather than deterrent, for Kansas University students to study abroad.
"Now, more than ever, it's important to develop ties with the rest of the world," said Pritchett, senior program coordinator for the KU study abroad office.
Pritchett, who spent two years in France and was in Madagascar while in the Peace Corps, said one-on-one cultural exchanges contributed to better relations among nations.
"I don't think this is the time to stay at home," he said.
Nationally, statistics to be published in November are expected to show a slight increase in the number of U.S. college students studying abroad. More than 150,000 American students are expected to go overseas this year.
"September 11 convinced people there's a world out there that we need to understand better, and that has translated into increased interest in studying abroad," said Heykyung Koh of the Institute of International Education, a nonprofit educational and professional exchange organization based in New York City.
While the number of KU students going international has leveled off since the 2001 terrorist attacks, nearly 500 students at the university plan to go overseas during the 2003-2004 school year. They'll choose from more than 100 programs in about 50 countries.
Scott McClurg/Journal-World Photo
Abigail Randall, an Omaha, Neb., senior, right, talks to Tiffanie Chambers, a Manhattan freshman, about studying in Spain at a study abroad fair at the Kansas Union. About 500 Kansas University students plan to study overseas during the 2003-2004 school year.
Jessica Secrist, a KU student from Lenexa who is majoring in psychology, wants to take the plunge.
She'd like to spend next summer in a study abroad program. Spain, England, Australia and Germany are the most intriguing, she said, but her preferences don't have anything to do with Sept. 11.
"Not at all. I'd just understand the language better," said Secrist, who collected an armload of brochures Wednesday at a KU study abroad open house in the Kansas Union.
Recent study abroad participants at the open house echoed Secrist's perspective on Sept. 11.
"It's a reason to go abroad," said Abigail Randall, who studied in Spain during the spring semester. "I gave them (Spanish people she met) another perspective on American culture."
Randall, of Omaha, Neb., went to Mexico for a six-week language program in early 2001. The Sept. 11 attacks preceded her decision to spend the spring semester in Santiago, Spain.
• KU Office of Study Abroad
• StudyAbroad.com
• Peterson's Study Abroad
• National Registration Center for Study Abroad
The U.S.-led invasion of Iraq was cause for concern for Randall, because she was in Spain when the fighting started. Spain's president supported President Bush regarding the war against Iraq, but many of Spain's citizens did not.
"There were protests against Americans," she said. "I never felt unsafe, but there was a lot of anti-Americanism."
Robert Wells, who is studying Spanish at KU, said the people he met during a six-month stay in Granada, Spain, changed his life.
"It's a good experience to have to extend beyond your comfort zone," he said.
Click on a link below for more stories on PCOL
9/8/03 | | Top Discussion Stories
| A Modest Proposal Read the op-ed by John Coyne on how to expand and revitalize the NPCA and what you can do to help. |
| Peace Corps Charter Read about the new Peace Corps bill going through Congress. Compare the Senate and House versions of the bill here. |
| A Volunteer's Courage After Sara Evans was assaulted she left the Peace Corps and returned to the United States. But her ordeal was only beginning. |
| The Fourth Goal Read about Sargent Shriver's Fourth Goal for the Peace Corps. His original speech at Yale about the Peace Corps in the 21st Century is here. |
| The Numbers Game Double the Peace Corps - but maintain the quality of the programs and the volunteer experience. |
| Improvements needed ...in Volunteer services. Read our exclusive story on what needs to be done to support volunteers and reduce attrition rates. |
| The Lariam Files Read about the anti-malarial drug thousands of volunteers have taken - and its potential side effects. |
| Accountability Senator Norm Coleman is a strong supporter of Bush's full $359M budget request but wants greater accountability from the Peace Corps. Read why. |
| Protest at the Peace Corps Do volunteers and staff retain first amendment rights while working in the Peace Corps. Join the discussion. |
| RPCVs organize Read how 1,800 RPCVs organized to place two half-page ads in the New York Times. |
| PC is "truly hardcore" A Marine Sergeant visited his daughter who is serving in Nicaragua. Read what he says about the Peace Corps. |
| RPCVs honor Vaughn Returned Volunteers met to honor and listen to the wisdom of Peace Corps legend Jack Vaughn. |
|
Some postings on Peace Corps Online are provided to the individual members of this group without permission of the copyright owner for the non-profit purposes of criticism, comment, education, scholarship, and research under the "Fair Use" provisions of U.S. Government copyright laws and they may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner. Peace Corps Online does not vouch for the accuracy of the content of the postings, which is the sole responsibility of the copyright holder.
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Madagascar; Student Exchange; University Education
PCOL7693
05
.
I am looking for my friend. His name is Dave Smith and he is in Africa. He lives in California when he is not with the Peace Corp. He joined the Peace Corp in October 2003. Please help me get a message to him if you know him. I want him to know that it is important that he gets a message to me. All his friends are worried about him.
Thanks.
How to contact the Peace Corps about a Family Emergency
Parents should call Peace Corps' Office of Special Services (OSS) at any time if they need to advise their Volunteer of a critical illness or death of a family member (telephone: 800-424-8580, ext. 1470; 24-hour duty officer: 202-638-2574). OSS, in coordination with the attending physician, will determine whether the situation is critical enough to grant the Volunteer special emergency leave, at government expense, for two weeks. Even if the situation does not fall under the guidelines for obtaining special emergency leave, OSS will inform the Country Director so that the information is passed on to the Volunteer as soon as possible.
Admin1