Bridging cultures in American Southwest
UD launches study abroad program for international, domestic students
10:08 a.m., April 10, 2015--Over Winter Session, University of Delaware students headed west to explore the cultures and landscape of the American Southwest. Yet, it was an Eastern influence that changed the course of their travels and the future of this program.
Directed by Barry Joyce, associate professor of history and former National Park Service ranger, the domestic “study abroad” program pairs traditional learning with site visits, speakers and participant observation to tell the story of Native Americans and settlers in the American West.
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Students on the American Southwest Domestic Travel Program experienced the beauty of the West while staying at the Grand Canyon and cruising historic Route 66.
While most participants hailed from the U.S., one enrollee was an international student who was truly studying abroad during this U.S.-based program. Sydney Jiang, a junior finance and management information systems major from China, chose this program only 10 days before its application closed. “I don’t know what I will do after I graduate, go back to China or stay here,” she said, “but I wanted to take the chance to explore all that I can while I’m here.”
Traveling in two vans, students explored pre-contact Native American civilizations at Canyon de Chelly, Casa Grande Ruins, Chaco Canyon and Bandelier National Park. They relived the Wild West at Tombstone, Lincoln County (the home of Billy the Kid) and Monument Valley, traveling and taking on new sites every day.
“It’s not like here, where you read books, go to lectures and take exams,” said Jiang. “You immerse yourself in the experience. You interact with the locals and they are very happy to share things with you.”
Participants even spent a week living on the Navajo and Hopi reservations, and had the opportunity to visit local reservation schools. “This was an awesome experience for me, just to learn about Navajo culture and how they integrate their customs with the American education system,” said Daniella DiMatteo, a junior elementary teacher education major.
During the program, Jiang wrote a blog about her experiences and interviewed international members of the local communities they visited. During her time in the Southwest, she even saw brief glimpses of home. “The dances, the incense, how the instruments sound, and the people react to the performers, it reminds me a bit of Chinese celebrations, too,” she wrote in both English and Chinese.
Jiang quickly became close friends with DiMatteo and looked to her for help in mediating the language barrier. Jiang returned the favor by teaching DiMatteo and her domestic counterparts some basic Chinese.
“While I was learning about Native American culture, I also got to learn about Sydney’s culture, and she learned about mine,” said DiMatteo. “We can still share that. A higher appreciation for culture in general is what this trip did for me.”
Joyce noticed the international perspective that Jiang brought to the program, and was intrigued by the changing group dynamics. Her participation inspired him to launch the Winter Session 2016 version of this program with an intentional mix of international and domestic students.
Students interested in the American Southwest Program should attend an interest meeting on Friday, April 10, at 3 p.m., or Wednesday, April 15, at 4 p.m. in 214 Munroe Hall. Completed applications must be submitted by Monday, April 20. See the IGS website for more details.
Contact Joyce at bjoyce@udel.edu with general questions. International students with questions regarding travel within the United States should contact oissprograms@udel.edu.
Article by Nikki Laws
Photo of the Fort Bowie flag ceremony by Grace Hassler