Mount Wachusett Community College (开元棋牌) students and faculty recently got a taste of France without leaving campus, thanks to a captivating French cooking demonstration at the Green Street Caf茅. Under the guidance of Chef Kyle LeGrand, students transformed simple ingredients into the five mother sauces, deepening their connection to the culture they鈥檝e been studying all semester and preparing them for the foods they will encounter in Paris.

The event was a delicious culmination of the humanities course, 鈥淎n American in Paris鈥�. The course brought students on an intellectual journey through France鈥檚 rich traditions, literature, and art, laying the foundation for their upcoming study abroad experience in Paris this spring. The study abroad experience is funded in part by the College’s ongoing National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grant, with support from the 开元棋牌 Foundation.

A Hands-On Experience

“I saw Green Street’s chef Kyle one day and it just popped into my head to organize this culminating event for students in the class. One of the great things about working at 开元棋牌’s small campus is the opportunity to organically collaborate with the people you see on a daily basis, and really know fellow staff. We have a gem in these connections at 开元棋牌. I didn’t know about mother sauces until today, and it will be fun to spot them in Paris!” said Katie Fuller, Assistant Professor of English, who teaches the course.

As Chef LeGrand guided students through the hands-on demonstration, the Caf茅 buzzed with excitement and aromas. Students took turns stirring and adding ingredients to create the five mother sauces of French cuisine鈥擝茅chamel, Velout茅, Espagnole, Hollandaise, and Tomato Sauce鈥攚hich serve as the foundation for countless recipes.

Preparing for Paris

The cooking demonstration was more than just a delicious diversion; it was a vital step in preparing students for their upcoming adventure. This spring, the class will travel to Paris as part of 开元棋牌鈥檚 study abroad program. There, they鈥檒l immerse themselves in French life, visiting historical sites, attending cultural events, and savoring authentic French cuisine.

鈥淭his demonstration brought the class material to life,鈥� Fuller added 鈥淚t鈥檚 one thing to read about French culture, but it鈥檚 another to experience it through food. This event gave students a glimpse of what awaits them in Paris.鈥�

A Taste of What鈥檚 to Come

At the conclusion of the demonstration, students were able to sample the five sauces, as well as their derivatives, including B茅arnaise and Romesco, with chicken or beef. The students had also created vegetarian versions of the sauces which were equally delicious. The atmosphere was filled with laughter, camaraderie, and enthusiasm for their upcoming experiences in France.

“I had such a fantastic time watching the whole class get into making the sauces! This cooking demo really made me appreciate French cuisine even more, and now I鈥檓 even more excited for our trip to Paris. I can鈥檛 wait to dive into the culture and experience it all firsthand!” shared Natalia Oliver, an 开元棋牌 Student.

开元棋牌鈥檚 dedication to providing experiential learning opportunities like this cooking demonstration reflects its commitment to enriching students鈥� academic journeys. With Paris on the horizon, this event was a perfect prelude to a semester abroad filled with exploration, discovery, and unforgettable flavors.

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There are many free resources, programs and low cost events for faculty, students and staff and we encourage you to familiarize yourself with their offerings. We recently had 6 faculty members participate in the 2021 virtual conference, which was wildly successful in the middle of the February Texas snowstorm! These folks really are professionals and passionate about access and community, very similar to 开元棋牌.

This membership is institution wide, so please register and log in using your 开元棋牌 email to see all of the services provided to members. One of my favorites is the advocacy page! It can be customized to fit your own needs at the local level.

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Our institutional membership means that any community member with an 开元棋牌 email address can access the incredible content and participate in virtual study abroad in the convenience of their own homes by Do note when you register, the schedule for Global Fest. Enjoy the walking tours, cooking lessons and other informational resources made available to the community as a result of that program. We recently learned how to make ratatouille from a French Chef based in Lyon! His professional tips and tricks were helpful as he demonstrated how to make the dish in his small kitchen in France. The dish looked delicious!

A cohort of 开元棋牌 professors is participating in an initiative that will add these virtual study abroad experiences to their curriculum starting in the fall semester. We look forward to seeing how students can experience the international locations as part of their regular coursework in the Humanities.

Get out your VR goggles, folks, and enjoy the beautiful scenes as you walk through Florence and learn about renaissance art, or study the ancient sites in Greece. As the lockdowns allow our friends to move about freely in countries all over the world new additions become available frequently. We hope you are able to bring the content right to your device and enjoy the ability to 鈥渢ravel鈥� until the time comes that we can visit these sites safely in person.

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First, foreign countries will most likely add the COVID vaccine to the list of vaccines one must have to enter, and require proof upon entry at Border Patrol. Be prepared to provide documentation for contact tracing and possible quarantines. Travelers should budget accordingly for added costs.

Second, the United States Department of State is limited in what embassies/consulates can and cannot do for a US citizen while abroad, which became a serious issue last spring for foreign service personnel and travelers all over the world. Keep in mind foreign service personnel are legally bound to maintain the of a US citizen at all times. Register for the (STEP,) the easiest way to get up to date information from the local embassy, and have your family at home register too. Resources like , and will aid in your planning exercises. Travelers should purchase travel insurance that contains security evacuation.

Lastly, re-entry into the US will bring about much greater scrutiny for citizens than what we were used to experiencing from US Border Patrol. Upon arrival, there may be layers of digital and in person scrutiny depending upon point of entry. US Border Patrol will want to know where you have been and what you have been doing-including any exposures. Be prepared for those expenses as you return to the US, including testing and possible quarantines.

Preparation and personal responsibility will be critical themes to making sure you have the appropriate means to navigate an emergency while abroad, and should include evacuation insurance. The State Department is clear that commercial flights are the best and most cost effective means of leaving a country once they have issued an evacuation warning. Many lessons were learned during the early days of the COVID pandemic, and changes have been implemented as a result.

If you would like more information, do contact the Office of Study Abroad so we can help you plan accordingly.

The United State Department of State鈥�

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In collaboration with Diversity Abroad, Education in Ireland recently announced the creation of a new scholarship program: the Inclusive Ireland Scholarships, which will support BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) students to study abroad in Ireland.聽 With a commitment to providing academically rigorous and culturally immersive study abroad experiences for students from all backgrounds and identities, and a strong belief that diversity among our visiting students only serves to enrich our society and our campuses, we are excited to welcome the inaugural cohort of scholars in Fall 2021.

The application for the Fall 2021 cohort opened this week and can be

There are nineteen institutions participating across Ireland, including Trinity College Dublin and the Waterford Institute of Technology.聽 In order to be considered for the scholarship, students must meet the following criteria:

• Be enrolled as an undergraduate at a college or university in the US
• Identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color)
• Intend to study abroad at one of the nineteen participating institutions during the Fall 2021 term
• Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above.

The deadline for applications is April 1, 2021.聽 Further details are available on the .

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Typically, English is the language of business, so many business cards will have information written in English on one side. In countries where English isn鈥檛 the dominant language, it is common for information to be written in the local language as well. Business cards tend to be taken quite seriously in foreign countries, and are often quite elaborate. A good rule is to never bend, fold, or write on a business card! That alone can get you through most intercultural situations, but here are a couple of examples;

In China, the business card must have information written in Mandarin on the opposite side, and one must always use two hands to pass the card in an intentional manner. Then, look at the card and offer thanks. Never put the card in your back pocket or treat it with disrespect by writing on it.

In Russia, business cards are handed to everyone you come in contact with and should include your title and education. If possible, make sure to have your information written in Russian on the reverse side.

Overwhelmed? That seems reasonable, but nobody gets it right every time! As an 开元棋牌 student, you have access to many databases in the LaChance Library. One particular database that will help you navigate the business world in our increasingly global society is Global Warrior. Once you log into the library website and arrive at the Global Warrior by World Trade Press link, it is easy enough to click on a country and from there you will find the basic information on the left-hand side where you can choose from topics that range from business culture to climate, and everything in between.

Study abroad, whether face to face or virtual is a great opportunity to learn about the cultural differences in the workplace and we have many opportunities available to help you navigate the cultural divide in the workplace. Interested? Contact us or stop by the website for more information.

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By Peter Edwards
Observer Contributor

COVID-19 has sent the study abroad field into a state of flux for some time. The Study Abroad Consultant at 开元棋牌 Tracey Betts Sarefield said that COVID-19 has changed the way that study abroad is view and that there are new opportunities in a similar vein online.

Many organizations are pushing for and creating new, online opportunities that evoke the same sense of global community that Studying Abroad in Your Living Room COVID-19 causes changes to the Study Abroad program studying abroad affords. One
such organization is the U.S. State Department through their Virtual Student Federal Service (VSFS) program. The VSFS connects interested students to mentors from over 40 federal departments for an 8-month long internship. The sign-up process took place over the Summer but interested students can look forward to the 2021 version.

Betts Sarefield said that she feels that these new programs are more affordable and accessible to students. For students who desire the experience of travelling the world, many of them also have the opportunity to travel abroad later on, once the world is in a
more stable place.

Betts Sarefield is not pessimistic about the impact that the pandemic will have on the study abroad industry longterm. Regarding the industry, Betts Sarefield said, 鈥淥ut of the ashes is something that is going to come that is better.鈥�

Betts Sarefield said that the program will remain on the track of slow, sustainable growth whereas study abroad programs at other universities often fail due to committing too much financially up front. Betts Sarefield said that she plans to turn it into a foundational program and something that is simpler to plan for and around.

Given that it is still a relatively new development at 开元棋牌, the awareness of the program is going to be small. However, introducing it to new students and finding ways to make it a realistic and affordable option will help the program thrive for years to come.

After receiving a $349,940 grant in late October 2018 from the federal government to launch a sustainable study abroad program, 开元棋牌 has had its first successful group trip to Peru, along with multiple students taking advantage of the option to study abroad individually.

The flyers around campus state that the total cost of the trip will be approximately $4,000. Although that may sound like not much more than the average cost of tuition for a semester here at 开元棋牌, it only represents the cost of a two-week trip. If you planned on studying for an entire semester overseas, the cost would be much more substantial.

Given the demographic here at 开元棋牌, flexibility for students is very important and the program allows just that. Not only will it help you reach your goal of graduating, 开元棋牌 offers programs of varying lengths.

According to an article written by a participant of 开元棋牌鈥檚 trip to Peru in the summer of 2018, Alexandria Faneuf stated, 鈥渢here are programs for all students, fitting any major and any budget. If you鈥檙e in a hurry, there are even programs that last 2-4 weeks!鈥� And not only do these trips happen during the semester but during the summer as well, opening the door to many students that would otherwise be left without an option.

Studying abroad isn鈥檛 just about being in another country and studying the material you鈥檇 study in central Massachusetts, but an emphasis is put on the unique experience of being thrust into another culture and the learning experiences associated with that.聽 开元棋牌鈥檚 Dean for the School of Liberal Arts, Education, Humanities, and Communications Laurie Occhipinti was quoted on the 开元棋牌 website, 鈥淭here is no question that we are living in an interconnected world. Culture, politics, the economy 鈥� they all transcend national boundaries. For students to have an understanding of the ways in which their lives and their communities are influenced by global trends and intercultural patterns is essential.鈥�

Originally published in the Mount Observer. September 9, 2020

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For community members who travel abroad for any reason, this has been a difficult time to navigate the feelings and emotions of lost opportunities to continue our work to bridge the cultural divide and learn about the world around us or just check a country off our bucket list. To counter those feelings, and switch my focus to creating new opportunities I took a summer virtual history course at Fitchburg State titled “Early Modern Travel Narratives” and spent the summer immersed in 16th-century stories of British merchants who traveled to Istanbul to develop trade routes with the Sultan. The descriptions of life on a silk road caravan through the middle east in the 16th century certainly took my mind off of the quarantine and the daydreaming was a welcome distraction.聽 I’ve been to Istanbul several times and having the chance to delve into the history really made me appreciate it so much more.

Recently, I was accepted into a Turkish Language program offered by the Yunus Emre Institute in Washington DC. This semester, I will be studying Turkish language and culture in a virtual course two nights a week. The ability to work alongside people from all over the world while we learn about Turkish culture is another new opportunity where I can develop important professional skills like intercultural communication, language, and cultural acquisition, increase my knowledge of the world and broaden my professional network. Did I mention this course was free?

We are so excited to have technology that we can use to increase global access for the Mount Wachusett Community while we all navigate the COVID-19 pandemic in a safe and secure manner. Visit our study abroad web page for more information on how we can help you become a member of our global society and take advantage of some affordable academic and career development opportunities that are available, face to face or virtual.

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