Welcome to the Knowledge Exchange Institute’s (KEI) January 2005 on-line newsletter!  (for students, current KEI participants abroad, program alumni, and others with an interest in studying abroad).

In this month’s issue: 

Featured City: 

• NEW YORK
• New York City Internship Program (Summer)

• Wine Is for Drinking, Water Is for Washing: Student Opinions About International Exchange Programs

International Trivia Question

Featured City: New York! New York!

What makes New York City special? Many would say its international flavor. New York is unusual among cities because of its extraordinarily diverse population, with its mixture of ethnic and cultural traditions, all living in unity, peace and harmony. But New Yorkers have much more to boast about. The city’s theaters, restaurants, concert houses, museums, and art galleries constitute an ensemble of cultural richness rivaled by few cities. Its skyscrapers, more than any other city worldwide, extensive public transportation system, and over 400 distinct neighborhoods make New York a unique place to live and visit. 

In the News:

Wine Is for Drinking, Water Is for Washing: Student Opinions About International Exchange Programs

Below is an excerpt from the Chronicle of Higher Education highlighting an article published in the Journal of Studies in International Education.

Students value their study-abroad experiences, but more for the experience than the study, say two scholars at Pennsylvania State University at University Park.

Hubert B. Van Hoof, a professor of hospitality management, and Marja J. Verbeeten, an assistant professor of hospitality management, surveyed college students who had participated in international-study programs, including foreign students who had studied in the United States. The authors found that the students felt "almost unanimous enthusiasm" for their experience in terms of their personal development.

Students said they felt that the experience "had brought them a greater understanding of other cultures" and "had helped them appreciate their own culture more," the scholars write.

When asked what advice they would give other students considering studying abroad, the survey respondents' most common answers "were along the lines of 'Do it!'; 'You'll regret it if you don't!'; 'Experience as much as possible'; and 'Keep an open mind.'"

Mr. Van Hoof and Ms. Verbeeten urge more such research to see what students are getting out of their studies abroad. "It is no longer sufficient," they write, "for educators to say that the international-study experience is invaluable and necessary in the education of our students because they think it is so."

The article, "Wine Is for Drinking, Water Is for Washing: Student Opinions About International Exchange Programs," will be online for a limited time at http://jsi.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/9/1/42 

International Trivia Question
KEI's monthly on-line newsletter features a trivia question related to international issues.

QUESTION:  Which South East Asian country has never been colonized by a Western power?

[The first 2 people who e-mail KEI with the correct answer will win a free money belt. Hint: The answer can be found on KEI's website...]