FACULTY- LED PROGRAMS 

Spring 2010

 
The Literary Landscape of Mexico

Designed for interdisciplinary, English, world cultures cluster, and international studies students, this unique, team-taught course offers participants an opportunity to develop new perspectives on our neighbor to the south. Featuring a spring break in Mexico's culturally rich second city, the course introduces the country through a series of pre-trip readings, films, and discussions. Assignments include non-fiction texts on Mexican geography and history, as well as short fiction, a novel, and poetry in translation - including work by Octavio Paz, Laura Esquivel, Carlos Fuentes, Angeles Mastretta, and more. 

In Guadalajara, we reside close to the city's vibrant colonial and commercial center.  A program concluding two-day trip to the Pacific coast resort city of Puerto Vallarta provides a contrast to Guadalajara's traditional urban core and allows us to further understand the culture and geography of the state of Jalisco and western Mexico. Photos from past programs can be seen at http://www.odu.edu/ao/vbhec/images/gallery.php

Three mandatory pre-departure classes will take place on the following Saturdays: January 23, February 6, and February 20, from 9:00am to noon. An additional workshop will be required upon return. Students will read, write and discuss responses to assigned texts, keep a travel journal, and, upon return to campus, write a paper and give a presentation relating the readings and experiences to the Standards of Learning for the Commonwealth of Virginia, or with instructor approval, other professional applications.  

 *Students must register and pay for Spring 2010 semester credit (ENGL 495) in order to participate in this program.  Prerequisite: ENGL 110C, 111C AND either 112L or 144L, or permission of the instructor. 

  

HIGHLIGHTS Guadalajara: colonial, commericial and political center Zapopan         San Juan de Dios market Tlaquepaque artisan & shopping district Ballet Folklorico Town of Tequila & factory visit Puerto Vallarta

Faculty Leader:                                                                                                            Renée Olander is director of ODU's Virginia Beach Higher Education Center.  She has taught English and poetry at ODU and in the region for 22 years.  She has led this program for the past five of the last 6 years.

ITINERARY 5 March: Depart Norfolk; arrive in Guadalajara & evening welcome dinner.      6 March: Intro to Guadalajara - historical district. Afternoon: additional city exploration               7 March: Morning: Ballet Folklorico Afternoon: additional city exploration.  8 March: University lectures on Mexican culture and politics.  Afternoon: lunch with Mexican host family & their foreign student guests.  Early eve: excursion to Zapopan 9 March: Day excursion to the town ofTequila with tour of a tequila factory.    10 March: Morning: excursion to nearby Tlaquepaque. Early eve: roundtable discussion.                11 March: Morning: excursion to nearby Lake Chapala region. Evening: Optional visit to Casa Bariachi                        12 March: Morning: Depart by bus for western Jalisco and Puerto Vallarta. Afternoon arrival at Puerto Vallarta 13 March: Free day to explore Puerto Vallarta                14 March: Return to Norfolk. *Subject to Change: The office of Study Abroad reserves the right to make changes to a program in light of currency fluctuations, changing security and safety conditions, or any other unforeseen circumstances.

Renée Olander                                                    OR         Office of Study Abroad Director, Virginia Beach Higher Ed Center                     Spong Hall, 2nd Floor 1881 University Dr., Va Bch                                              Bolling Ave. and Hampton Blvd. 757-368-4102 or rolander@odu.edu                               757-683-5378 or studyabroad@odu.edu ENGL 495 , 3 credits (spring semester registration) Priority Application Deadline: November 13, 2009 Cost Information Download Application  (Turn in application with $250 deposit to the Office of Study Abroad, Spong Hall, Room 212, Norfolk, VA 23509)