The University of Sioux Falls Takes On Italy & Croatia
By: Erica Sunde
An Overseas Arts and Media trip two years in the making. On June 1, 2022 about 40 students and faculty from the University of Sioux Falls were finally able to take flight to Italy and Croatia. The trip was originally scheduled during the university’s Interim break. The trip was off to a turbulent start with canceled flights and even a quick detour to Amsterdam for part of the group. “Our outgoing flight got canceled so we had a bit of a change in plans. This change in plans actually turned out to be my favorite part of the trip because we got to spend two days in Amsterdam unexpectedly,” said Senior, Olivia Sook.
Eventually the entire group came together in Venice and spent the day gliding through the canals in the most picturesque city in Italy.
The 12 days they were abroad was a complete whirlwind. Most stops were just a single day. The group was able to visit 7 different countries, stroll through collections of ancient sculptures and paintings at the Uffizi Gallery and stood in the same spots as Roman gladiators at the Colosseum. Spent the day in the Vatican city, the smallest country in the world. Walked through a massive archaeological site in Pompeii, the Sea Organ and went on a breathtaking hike through Plitvice National Park. Later in the day the group made their way to the Sea Organ in Zadar, Croatia. Senior, Brookly Charrlin said, “My favorite place we visited was Zadar, Croatia to listen to the Sea Organ! One of the most peaceful sounds I’ve ever heard.”
The trips are designed to be fast paced so students get a taste for each city they visit. This is to create a desire for travel in the future and then to come back and spend more time in their favorite spots.
Sook said she would absolutely travel to Europe again. Sook goes on to say, “I would spend more time in each place than we did on our trip. I would have loved to have at least three days in each location.”
Ceca Cooper, the Associate Professor of Art at USF has been traveling with students at USF for 20 years. “Going abroad, being immersed in another culture is one of the most important parts of one’s education, ” said Cooper. She goes on to say, “It opens up a broad spectrum of learning; from art and architecture to political systems, to food and language. Travel rounds out a good education.”
As a Christian Liberal Arts University, USF requires students to take an “intercultural awareness” class to graduate. One of the ways you can fulfill this four credit class is by traveling. Travel is one of the best ways you can immerse yourself into a new culture. In January 2023 the Arts and Media trip is headed to Japan! Be on the lookout for the 2024 announcement this fall.
