Moldova mentioned as up-and-coming travel destination, see Adventure Travel Video

 Moldova mentioned as an up-and-coming travel destination by international travel writer and guide book author Brandon Presser at 5:05
 
Adventure Travel Video, Moldova at 5:05

Donations to ULIM Library, Joint Course March 2013

Each of my students packed some of our book donations in their suitcases on our way to Moldova (for our alternative spring break study abroad course).

On the first day of our Joint Course at ULIM, we presented the book donations to the Librarian.  Here is an article that recently appeared about the donations on the Library's website:

ULIM Library website

our book donations on display

The ULIM Librarian looks at the donations

Nora Bourke's Article about Spring Break in Moldova course

USFSP Sophomore Mass Communications major NORA BOURKE wrote an article about the Alternative Spring Break in Moldova course for MMC 2100 Writing for Mass Media:

Article by

Nora Bourke

            Recent events have caused Judithanne Scourfield McLauchlan to say that having a ‘Group’ on Facebook is a faster way of communication between her and her students in a way that is far better than Blackboard and e-mails. She says she would love to do it with all her other classes one day.

            McLauchlan is using the Facebook ‘Group’ to share pictures and articles about Moldova with her students.The reason why this class is communicating together in this social media form is because this small class is much more personal considering the experience they just had. Over spring break McLauchlan and her students from Comparative Government & Politics: Moldova, CPO 4930, embarked on a trip to the European country of Moldova.

            McLauchlan says that her love for Moldova, besides its landscape and culture, is the kindness of its people who are always excited to see visitors.

 “They don’t have a lot of tourism there in general, even though they’ve got these amazing wineries, fortresses, and monasteries and beautiful scenery, and waterfalls,” says McLauchlan.

            In their itinerary, the select number of students and McLauchlan would attend a seminar at ULIM, Universitatea Libera Internationala din Moldova, every other day in a joint course with Moldovan students. McLauchlan had it arranged so that the students could make friends and develop relationships in the experience.

            Patricia Jaschke, one of McLauchlan’s students, said on their last night in Moldova they spent it taking awhile to say goodbye to their new ULIM friends by reminiscing over the week all together.

            McLauchlan wanted the students to partake in actual civic engagement. Part of their itinerary included civic handout assignments, which were service projects to help the Moldovan community. Such as donating books and toiletries to the Titus Center, a place for underprivileged children. According to the students’ online blogs they got to spend some personal time with the children, playing outside with them.

“It is truly a wonderful feeling to know that we made a difference in a small way,” said USFSP student Lauren Shumate.

            The course will officially wrap up at a symposium video conference, which is going to occur Tuesday, April 23 at 9 a.m. This is to further publicize the trip, while also acknowledging the support of academic affairs.

McLauchlan says the success of this trip is a good stepping stone for USFSP to internalizing the curriculum.

“It’s nice to know that this is the direction that the University would like to head. And I will continue to do everything I can to give students in my classes the opportunity to connect around the world,” McLauchlan said.

Sources

Judithanne Scourfield McLauchlan, Ph.D., (727) 873-4956, jsm2@mail.usf.edu

Lauren Shumate, http://cpo5934moldova.blogspot.com/?view=classic

Patricia Jaschke, http://www.patriciacalvoj.blogspot.com/

Symposia Studentium: Joint Student Research Conference with ULIM

I am very much looking forward to participating in the Symposia Studentium -- ULIM's annual student research conference -- via Skype international videoconference.

Students in my Moldova Study Abroad course will be presenting their research findings, along with their partners at ULIM, on Tuesday, April 23rd.

Click here for the link to the Conference Program

Moldova Holiday Video

Moldova Holiday video link

What is Moldova? video

I just came across this video posted by Moldovan Holiday. Nice testimonials about Moldova:

What is Moldova video

It was filmed at the International Women's Club's annual Holiday Bazaar, which is a wonderful event.  A fundraiser where you can buy beautiful arts and crafts from all over the world. (Each of the Embassies sets up a booth and sells items from their country, donating all proceeds to charity.) Peggy and I have some treasures from the Holiday Bazaar we attended back in in 2010. (Photos are, of course, posted, earlier on this blog)

USF World Video Entry, NAFSA

I am working on my 2012 Annual Review, and I realized that I don't think I ever posted this video on the blog.

USF World featured my Women and the Law course as a part of its feature on global classrooms at USF for its NAFSA video contest entry. 

It was one of two courses featured.  You can see my collaboration with Prof. Svetlana Suveica at Moldova State University featured at 2:40 on this YouTube video:

USF World Video, NAFSA entry