Concordia College Moorhead, Minnesota
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Concordia College Moorhead, Minnesota
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We are going to Cameroon in 2007! Click here to learn more.
Click here for information on the 2006 May Seminar to France.
Cameroun: L’Afrique en miniature Leader: Dr. Gay Rawson Co-Leader: Dr. Zacharie Petnkeu N. Pre-Requisite: Completion or Current Enrollment in FREN 212 and be in the second year of study at Concordia College, FREN 250 This seminar will explore the rich heritage and
cultures of Cameroon. We will be looking at the music, art, museums, theatre,
religions, geography, traditions, and history of this vibrant country. More
specifically, we will look at issues of colonialization and post-colonialization
on this fabulous African nation. Cameroon has the reputation for being a
miniature Africa because it contains a taste of everything! It has all of the
geographical elements one finds in Africa: coasts, tropical forests, savannas,
and high plateaus. We will be visiting each of these four areas. It also has
over 200 languages and cultures and shows clearly the effects of colonialization.
We will therefore be visiting four different regions to see how tradition mixes
with modernity, how Anglophones mix with Francophones, how Muslims mix with
Christians and with Traditionalists. In Yaoundé, the capital and center of the
government, we have visits planned with government officials, the American
Embassy, the National television and media, the Peace Corps, and other political
groups. In Garoua, where Islam dominates, we plan to go on safari. In Douala,
we will visit the coast and important economic centers. In Bafoussam and
Bamenda, students will have homestays, some near traditional villages. Near
Bafoussam, we will also visit historic cities, such as one where the sultan once
lived and where the inhabitants had a written language before colonizers arrived
and destroyed it. Although there is a wealth of possibilities and languages,
the dominant language is French and many of the infrastructures are based on the
France’s equivalent. We plan to end our voyage with a few days in Paris to
complete cultural comparisons and see the basis for the aforementioned
infrastructures and colonial remnants. So, our students will be speaking in
French and navigating Francophone culture on a daily basis. Through two family
stays, Pre-May Seminar assignments, the student-led Adventure in Paris and other
techniques, we'll learn how to travel independently while immersed in the
language and cultures of this country. At the end of the seminar, students are
encouraged to proceed into a homestay of eight weeks to complete the French
Practicum (FREN 490). Tentative Itinerary and BudgetTuesday, May 1: Depart Fargo, ND to Douala, Cameroon Wednesday, May 2: Arrive Douala Thursday, May 3: Day in Douala. Visits to : Hotel Akwa Palace, Musée de Douala, Place du Gouvernement Friday, May 4: Day trip to Limbé. Visits to Botanical Gardens, Limbé Wildlife Centre, Afternoon at the beach (Mile Six or Mile Eight) Saturday, May 5: Bus from Douala to Bamenda. Leave for Homestays in Bamenda Sunday, May 6: Students in Homestays in Bamenda Monday, May 7: Students in Homestays in Bamenda Tuesday, May 8: Bus from Bamenda to Bafoussam. Wednesday, May 9: Day in Bafoussam. Visit to chefferie (chief’s compound) Thursday, May 10: Excursion to small village nearby (less than 7 miles) Friday, May 11: Day in Foumban. Visits to Palais Royal,Village des Artisans, Musée des Arts et Traditions Bamoun Saturday, May 12: Students in Homestays in Bafoussam Sunday, May 13: Students in Homestays in Bafoussam Monday, May 14: Day in another small city to study the original and traditional political systems still in place there Tuesday, May 15: Bus from Bafoussam to Yaoundé Wednesday, May 16: Day in Yaoundé. Visits with university officials and government officials, Musée d’Art Camerounais, Benedictine monastery on Mt. Fébé Thursday, May 17: Day in Yaoundé. Visit with Peace Corps and National Media for country Friday, May 18: Flight from Yaoundé to Maroua. Transportation to Waza National Park Saturday, May 19: Safari in Waza Park Sunday, May 20: Day trip to Garoua Monday, May 21: Day in Maroua Tuesday, May 22: Flight from Maroua, Cameroon to Paris, France. Wednesday, May 23: Adventure in Paris Thursday, May 24: Adventure in Paris Friday, May 25:
Leave Paris, France for Fargo, ND
Eternal France: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow Leader: Gay Rawson France is a fascinating country of contrasts. Each region has different traditions and a unique history. In addition to a regional identity, in any major city one is also confronted with both the ancient and modern, with evidence of the importance of the European Union next to evidence of the diversity of the population of France. We will explore several distinct areas in order to gain a deeper appreciation for the regional and cultural traditions of each group. We will also unearth the historical roots of yesterday, in part by exploring Roman (and Greek) ruins, in modern French cities of today (and tomorrow): our “hub” cities are Arles, Poitiers, Paris, and Rennes. Through a family stay, Pre-May Seminar assignments, the student-led Adventure in Paris, and other techniques, students will learn how to travel independently while immersed in the language and cultures of this country. The French Department traditionally only accepts sophomore, junior, and senior students who have completed French 212 and the Pre-May Seminar (French 255) in the semester prior to departure. At the end of the seminar, we encourage students to proceed into a homestay of eight weeks (the French Practicum: FREN 490). Daily Itinerary for 2006 : 2 May: Departure for Paris, France 3 May: Arrive in Paris. Walking tour of our neighborhood. 4 May: Day trip to Chartres and cathedral. Lecture with Malcolm Miller. 5 May: Train from Paris to Arles. Walking tour of our neighborhood. 6 May: Bus excursion to Glanum, Pont du Gard, Tarascon 7 May: Day in Arles. 8 May: Day trip to Avignon. 9 May: Day trip to Nîmes 10 May: Train from Arles to Poitiers. Walking tour of our neighborhood. 11 May: Day trip to La Rochelle. 12 May: Bus excursion to the Loire Valley with visits to three castles! 13 May: Day in Poitiers. 14 May: Train from Poitiers to Paris 15 May – 18 May: Adventure in Paris. (Small-group student-led projects in Paris) 19 May: Train from Paris to Rennes. Walking tour of Rennes, if time permits. 20 May – 21 May: Students in Homestays in the Rennes area 22 May: Bus excursion to St. Malo 23 May: Morning at Mont St. Michel and Fougères. Afternoon in Rennes. 24 May: Train from Rennes to Paris. 25 May: Free day in Paris. 26 May: Return to the USA or stay in France on the French Practicum
Page maintained by Gay Rawson
Last modified October 10, 2006 |