Professors Lee, Fernandes, and Moreno introduce the Chiapas trip en español.

The Chiapas travel program is offered to all Barton students and is equivalent to six (6) credit hours as an Exploration course. This interdisciplinary course in Cross-Cultural Psychology and Spanish explores Mayan culture in Mexico. Dr. Eddie Fernandes and Dr. Justin Lee teach the English version and Dr. Antonio Moreno teaches the Spanish version.

As part of the course, students will participate in daily excursions to specific pueblos to interview local indigenous Mayan groups. These interviews are part of the research component of the course. Cultural and anthropological activities will be organized by UNACH. The additional anthropological travel is five days and four nights; the trip includes hotel, food, transportation, and tour guides. You will visit the following communities and cities:

• Cañón del Sumidero: Parque Amicú
• Chiapa de Corzo
• San Cristóbal
• Zicantán
• San Juan Chamula
• Palenque
• Agua Azul
• Misol-Ha
• Comitán
• Lagos de Montebello

Dr. Moreno recommends this video to get a glimpse of life in Chiapas.

Student housing is provided by the Universidad Autónoma de Chiapas (UNACH) in Tuxtla Gutiérrez. Students will be housed in two houses, with eight students per house, in the residential neighborhood, Fraccionament Privado/Bonanza (gated community with entrance security), located in Tuxtla Guiterrez, capital of Chiapas State. Faculty will be housed in faculty apartments at UNACH. Houses are located within twenty minutes of campus.

Students and faculty will be supplied with breakfast and lunch, Monday through Friday. A chef will be available to prepare meals during the week. Weekend food is the responsibility of students and faculty.

Chiapa de Corzo, a Mayan settlement in the center of Chiapas, shows evidence of human occupation since 1400 B.C., though little is known about the inhabitants of that area. Around A.D. 600, the Mayan city of Palenque was established, and the first large structures were begun. However, much of the early history of the city – like that of the state – remains a mystery to archaeologists.

Chiapas represents a small portion of the region once inhabited by the Mayan Indians. For at least 2,000 years, the Mayan culture flourished throughout Mesoamerica. Skilled weavers and temple builders, they left behind a wealth of archaeological treasures for later generations to discover and admire.

The Chiapa Indians conquered the Mayans, who originally occupied the region. Evidence suggests that the Aztecs appeared in the area during the 15th century, although they were unable to completely displace the Chiapa tribe. In Náhuatl, the language of the Aztecs, Chiapas means “the place where the chia sage grows.”

The state has one of the largest and most diverse indigenous populations in Mexico, with approximately 959,000 native language speakers over the age of five, which represents one quarter of the state’s population.

Conservation International and Starbucks Coffee have partnered with farmers in Chiapas to preserve biodiversity by growing coffee beneath the forest canopy.

Experience the culture of Mexico this summer in the city of Zamora de Hidalgo. Explore Camecuaro, the Ixtlan geyser, and Tarecuato. On the weekends, venture to Guanajuato, Morelia, Paricutin, Patzcuaro, Guadalajara, Jalisco, and the Pacific beach resort of Nuevo Vallarta. While in Mexico, enjoy festivals, lectures and symposia, film and theater, hiking, horseback riding, sports, music and dance, mask-making, pottery, repujado (the art of metal embossing), and so much more.

• 6 hours credit – Barton College and Universidad de Zamora
• Monday – Friday, 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
  Spanish Grammar, Conversation, Culture, Writing in the target language
• Wednesdays:  local tours (Camécuaro, Country Club, etc.)
• Beginning, intermediate & advanced levels
  (depending on entry level: Spanish 101, 102, 201, 202, 301, 302, and 421)
• Books, instructional materials and computer access provided

• Hiking, horseback riding, soccer, squash, swimming, tennis, local tours (Camécuaro, Country Club, etc.)
• Festivals, lectures, symposia, film
• Cooking, dance, guitar, mask-making, painting, pastels, pottery, repujado, theatre

• Guanajuato
• Morelia, Paricutín,  Pátzcuaro
• Guadalajara  & Jalisco (Tequila tentative)
• Pacific beach resort: Nuevo Vallarta

• Home stay during the week
• Hotels on weekends, 3-4 star hotels, minimum double occupancy
• 3 meals per day M-F; meals out of pocket on all other weekends
• Tentative: meals covered at resort last weekend

All transportation with the group, within the city and on weekend trips

Cost of the Trip

$3,300.00 (plus air fare and weekend meals)

Consult http://www.expedia.com for estimated costs and coordinate with Dr. Montano to book the same flight.

• Sharon Montano
  smontano@barton.edu
  252-399-6460 (office)
  252-373-6161 (mobile)
• Susana Treviño
  Morelos 636 SUR
  Jardinadas, C.P. 5968
  Zamora, Michoacán, México011-52-351-512-3384 (Zamora phone)
  011-52-333-620-3698 (Guadalajara phone)
  Email: info@culturlingua.com
  Visit: http://www.culturlingua.com

• Passport is mandatory! Visit the post office to submit a passport form if you do not have one.
• Original copies of your birth certificate, special photos, and perhaps other documentation as per instructions.
• Also visit http://www.usa.gov.

• To be coordinated with Dr. Montano
• July 1 - Arrive in Guadalajara at 8 p.m.(approx.)
• July 29 – Depart Guadalajara at 1 p.m. (approx.); arrive US late that evening or 12:30 a.m. on July 30
• Students are welcome to stay the night at Dr. Montano’s home, if needed.

Venture deep into Costa Rica and explore its famously stunning ecological terrain. Travel through Braulio Carrillo National Park, visit a banana plantation, spend free time in Tortuguero Village. Take a boat ride to Tortuguero National Park and tour the rainforest canopy in Sarapiquí. Go whitewater rafting and visit hot springs in the Arenal region and enjoy La Fortuna Waterfall. Explore Rincón de la Vieja National Park and spend a day at the beach in Guanacaste. All of these activities come together to complete one amazing trip. The fact is, there’s just something transformative about Costa Rica, and it’s different for every traveler. Visit Costa Rica with Barton College, and discover what’s in store for you!

DOWNTON ABBEY! This BBC/PBS series has become a television phenomenon, and the world stops on Sunday nights at 9 p.m. so everyone can keep up with the world of the Crawleys, their magnificent estate, and the lives of their faithful servants.

While it is impossible to “see it all” with any tour, you will find that this educational tour gives you the opportunity to see most of southern England. We will begin our adventure at Highclere Castle, the setting for the acclaimed television series and the real-life home of the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon. Throughout our travels in England, we will consider what life was like on a magnificent estate such as this, both for those living upstairs and those living downstairs. And, some delightful surprises have been arranged for us along the way.

We will also visit Blenheim Palace, legendary home of the Duke of Marlborough, which has been called the finest home in all of England and is the birthplace of Winston Churchill. We associate Sir Walter Raleigh with his birthplace, Hayes Barton. But, during his life, most English people associated him with his Sherborne Castle; so we will visit there and see what life has been like at Sherborne for the Digby family, who has made it their home since Raleigh’s unfortunate demise about 400 years ago!

If you’ve ever wanted to see Oxford University, the Roman baths that give the ancient city of Bath its name, the unique scissor arches at Wells Cathedral, the tall spire of Salisbury, or the long nave of Winchester, then this is the tour for you. If you’re a fan of Jane Austen and want to see where she both lived and died, then we will take you there. If you’ve ever craved a personal view of Stonehenge or the Glastonbury ruins, then this is your chance of a lifetime. Even if all you want is to spend a few days in London, then we can take you there.

This trip is an incredible bargain at only $3,799, and that includes almost everything (including airfare), except for your trip insurance, just a few meals you’ll need to buy on your own, a little souvenir money, and a tip for our guide. As always, our accommodations will be excellent and the food, delicious. In addition, arrangements can be made for you to stay for a few extra nights in London on your own if you’d like.

The price for this trip is based on 20 travelers, but, if more than 20 register, the price may fall. Be sure to place a $500 deposit soon to save your spot on the trip! Registration is limited. Please hurry, as this trip is going to fill up fast.

Journey with us to Israel as we explore the rich history of this fascinating land and learn about the many religions that trace their history to this region. We will begin in Tel Aviv and visit famous sites such as Caesarea, Nazareth, Galilee, Capernaum, Masada, Qumran, Bethlehem, and more. Our journey concludes with a four-night stay in Jerusalem, including a lesson in biblical cooking on our final day in the city.