The following article is part of an April Fools’ Edition of The Etownian: the stories are fake the but interviews/quotes are real.
Do you absolutely love the cold? Do you love to travel and go on adventures? Do you want to go to a place that few people have ever visited? If you answered “yes,” then the newest Elizabethtown College study abroad program is definitely for you!
That’s right, Etown has partnered with Study Abroad on Ice (SAI) and the University of the South Pole (USP) to bring you the first study abroad program in Antarctica. Etown is the first partner college for the program, and USP hopes to add more partners in the future.
“We wanted to offer study abroad programs on every continent. Our students are interested in hands-on research opportunities, so it seemed like the perfect option!” Study Abroad and International Students Advisor Megan Bell said.
Students will primarily be focusing on research and will work alongside USP students and researchers residing at nearby coastal research stations. Students will have the chance to conduct research on geology, biology, climate change, environmental science, astronomy and more!
“I am so excited for this new program and the opportunity to explore a new country! I think that this program will be very popular as it is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” senior Spanish education major Brooke Bergman said.
If research isn’t your thing, that’s completely fine because USP also offers a variety of courses to fuel your curiosity and sense of adventure. Bell reported the list of confirmed classes so far, including Astrology in the Polar Regions, Arctic Ocean Biodiversity, Birds of Antarctica, Climate Change and the Ecosystem, Tourism at the South Pole and Weather and Waves: The Drake Passage.
USP wants to provide students studying abroad a truly unique experience, so instead of traditional dorm housing, students will be staying in igloos! They will be specially insulated to protect students from the elements, and students will have the option to have a roommate (or igloomate).
Like with most Etown-affiliated study abroad programs, the new Antarctica program will have multiple excursions included in program fees. These excursions include a Milky Way camping trip, a wildlife tour (featuring polar bears and penguins), an Arctic Ocean cruise, glacier climbing, kayaking with whales, skiing and scuba diving.
Already, students are incredibly excited about this program. SAI has been overwhelmed with inquiries about more information and how to apply. There may not be enough igloos for everyone!
“If I wasn’t graduating, I would 100 percent apply to this program,” Bergman said. “To see how other people live at the tip of the world would be so interesting and be an experience I would hold onto forever. It would shape the way in which I live and open my perspective to better understand how other people live in other continents.”
And the best thing: the Antarctica program is available for Spring 2023! Applications are already open and are due Oct. 15. You don’t want to miss this amazing opportunity.
If you’re interested in the program but have some anxiety about going abroad, fear not, Bergman has some advice for you.
“To the students who want to go abroad, make it work and make the most of your time there. The experience is what you make it. I highly recommend saying yes to everything (as long as it’s not illegal) and getting out of your comfort zone,” she said.
You can apply to the program on USP’s website. I’m sure you’ll have a cool (get it?) experience!
