UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Nearly 100 Penn State students spent their spring breaks traveling the globe through five College of the Liberal Arts embedded programs, which are Penn State courses taken on campus or online that include a short-term international travel component. The students saw the classroom come to life by visiting historical and cultural sites and interacting with local people.

Students enrolled in RUS 197 traveled to Tbilisi, Georgia, as part of the Cultural Immersion in Post-Soviet Georgia embedded program in the College of the Liberal Arts. Irina Mikaelian, teaching professor of Russian, and Yuliya Ladygina, assistant professor of Slavic and global and international studies, led the group of 18 students throughout their visit to Tbilisi and neighboring towns.

RUS 197, the one-credit embedded course, provided students with nine days of immersion in Georgian culture and visits to historical sites.

“Going abroad, traveling and being exposed to new cultures was the main objective of this trip,” Ladygina said. “Although it was a short trip, we wanted our students to meet new people and practice the language skills they developed at Penn State as much as possible.”

For some students, it was their first time leaving the United States. Gabe Daubert, a second-year student majoring in criminology and Russian with a minor in military studies, decided to travel abroad for the first time because he has always had an interest in going abroad. Combined with his interests in the Russian language, this was the “perfect opportunity.”

“I did not know what to expect, honestly,” Daubert said. “When we got to Georgia, I was surprised and enjoyed how hospitable everyone was. The Georgian people want tourists to feel welcomed when they visit their beautiful country.”

Although not spoken publicly as much in Georgia, students practiced their Russian skills in some of their day-to-day activities, like going to cafes and different shops. During the trip, students met with and partnered with Georgian peers from Tbilisi State University, where they could practice their language skills and learn more about the history and culture of the country.

For Tori Kovalchick, a fourth-year student majoring in economics and minoring in health policy and administration, this was a different experience. Before RUS 197, Kovalchick had never taken a Russian course at Penn State. Her past experience in the CAMS 15U embedded course last spring inspired her to continue her travels and enroll in the RUS 197 course.

“Russian culture and history are things I have not had the chance to learn about,” Kovalchick said. “I am very interested in it and was excited that there was an opportunity for me, as a non-Russian major, to receive a formal education about the language and culture.”

Never having taken a Russian course did not stop her from asking questions or learning bits and pieces of Georgian or Russian.

“It was interesting to not only learn more about Russian culture but also what the day-to-day lives of Georgian students were like and how they interact with the language and their national identity,” Kovalchick said.

In terms of preparation, whether they have traveled abroad before or not, the students agreed that brushing up on the customs and culture of Georgia was a key part of having a successful time traveling to the country. They said that being respectful and understanding of the cultural differences is important and shows that, as tourists, they are there to learn more about the nation and culture.

Logan Romanowski, a second-year student majoring in international politics and Russian, has always had a keen interest in exploring foreign countries and learning languages. He thought this trip would be a great way to apply what he has learned in classes to a real-world, first-hand experience.

“There was no thought behind whether I was going to go or not,” Romanowski said. “I knew immediately that I had to go, especially having a big interest in the region of the world, which is not always as accessible or easy as this. Having everything planned and booked in advance was truly an amazing experience.”

Although the country itself was not what Romanowski expected it to be, as each day passed, he grew to love the towns and didn’t want to leave at the end.

“You can sit in a classroom and learn about Georgia for a whole semester, but you are not going to understand the country as well as if you went there for a week,” Romanowski said. “A trip like this, while in college, is a priceless experience. I am a completely different person than I was before I experienced the world outside of the United States.”

While abroad, students visited other smaller towns outside Tbilisi, like Kakheti and Mtskheta. They also participated in a cooking class where they learned to prepare a local Georgian dish, attended a polyphonic singing and dancing workshop and so much more.

“I really enjoyed exploring the country outside of the capital,” said Veronika Miskowiec, a second-year student majoring in international politics, African studies, and Russian with a minor in Spanish. “My favorite part was seeing the Caucasus Mountains because I have never seen anything like them. Yes, we have mountains in the U.S., but they do not compare. It was surreal to see them, and no picture anyone took could do them justice.”

Enrichment funding through the Liberal Arts Career Enrichment Network helped reduce the financial burden of international travel for many students on the trip. Some students received additional funding through the Chaiken Center for Student Success, Schreyer Honors College and other University offices. Miskowiec, a Paterno Fellow and Schreyer Scholar, was one of these students.

“I was stressed about the cost but was able to get most of the trip paid for through Penn State and the College of the Liberal Arts,” Miskowiec said. “The awards helped alleviate financial strain, and I got to make the most out of my trip. There are so many places to look for funding at the University that make experiences like this attainable.”

For students on the fence about studying abroad, Daubert said it was one of the best decisions he has made.

“Go for it because you never know if another opportunity like it will present itself,” Daubert said. “Even though I have never traveled abroad before, my fellow students and professors on the trip made me feel comfortable and safe. Traveling to a different country and experiencing a different culture was eye-opening to me, and I learned a lot from the experience.”  

Liberal Arts Career Enrichment Network

The Career Enrichment Network empowers Liberal Arts students to explore, engage and define their career journey through diverse career development opportunities. Students can meet with a career coach to explore careers, internships, education abroad, research, the Liberal Arts Alumni Mentor Program and more. Through donor support, the Career Enrichment Network provides Liberal Arts students the opportunity to apply for funding to help support participation in many of these experiences.