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IVCC students participate in study abroad program · Illinois Valley - Shaw Local

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  IVCC students participate in study abroad program. This
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  article is being read by an automated voice, brought to you by
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  Everlet. Illinois Valley Community College recently had five students study abroad in
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  Europe and Central America during the summer as part of the college's
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  international education program. The students included Clara Cartwright of Marseille, Zoe Dearth
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  of Striator, Indiana Hernandez of Striator, Margaret Morse of Henry, and Mackenzie
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  Tarbox of Ottawa. The students participated in language and culture classes and
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  toured historic and cultural sites. The international program students visited France, Austria,
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  Spain, Ireland, and Costa Rica. Not only did I get to see
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  unimaginable works of architecture and artistic genius, but I made some of
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  the best friends I have ever had. I will hold on to
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  the feelings and memories for the rest of my life. Cartwright said
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  in a news release. Cartwright joined European soccer fans follow following the
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  FIFA World Cup and celebrating their victories. She said no dream of
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  traveling to France would compare with actually living in and experiencing the
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  country where she had the opportunity to practice the news language She
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  was learning every day. I never thought it would be possible to
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  study abroad, but through IVCC I had the opportunity to go and
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  earn college credit. Dearth also said in the news release. She enjoyed
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  the local lifestyle, canal swimming, shopping for and cooking local foods, and
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  attending Salzburg fairs and events. Public transportation though, she noted, is a
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  learning curve in a foreign country. Hernandez explored Portugal, France, and Morocco,
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  but limited activities due to oppressive heat. Knowing Spanish and developing personal
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  and study routines helped her adapt to her new environment, and she
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  is proud of herself for taking classes, making friends, exploring new cities,
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  and learning a language all at once. In her second visit to
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  Ireland at forty, Morse blended in easily with younger travel companions and
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  realized I am never too old to learn new things. We were
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  just people learning together and learning from each other. We cheered each
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  other on. That enthusiasm carried Morris past her fear of heights and
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  up to the top of the one hundred foot round tower at
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  Saint Kinesis Cathedral. The funny part is I was not even reluctant
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  to do it. I had that adrenaline rush of excitement to go
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  ahead. She pulled up a phone app to record birds outside her
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  window, and found out we both have house sparrows. It was soothing
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  for me to listen to life outside. Tarbox cherished the hours spent
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  with her house mother and roommates talking around the dinner table. Everyone
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  gave me a home when I was so far away from mine.
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  It was a long time to be away from home, but time
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  went by fast. There is a growing interest on the IVCC campuses
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  in studying abroad, and more scholarship opportunities to defray costs are becoming
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  available. Illinois Valley Community College International Education Coordinator Amanda Cook Fesperman
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  said in the news release. Tarbox received three scholarships. Hernandez and Cartwright
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  were awarded one scholarship. I always thought traveling was out of reach,
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  but now I realize everything is possible, Hernandez also said in the
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  news release. The summer study abroad programs last three to five weeks.
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  The college also offers programs in Ghana, Canada, Italy, Japan, and South
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  Korea. Full semester study abroad programs are available in Spain, England, Austria,
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  and Ireland. The Study Abroad program is open to Illinois Valley Community
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  College students, community members, and graduating high school seniors. Participants must be
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  ages 18 and older and meet academic requirements.