Y ou really want to study abroad, but you missed all the deadlines for this summer, and you don't have room in your schedule to do it during the fall or spring semesters. You think it's hopeless. You're doomed to remain in the United States for the remainder of your college days. But alas, a ray of hope comes in the form of a January study abroad term -- similar to a trip to China that took place for the first time this year.
While many students take the opportunity to go abroad during winter break, no formal program exists at the University to accommodate this activity. Planning a trip to a foreign country can be an overwhelming task, deterring students who might otherwise be interested. One student, however, took on the challenge this past January, planning a trip for herself and several other students under the guidance of a dedicated professor.
Second-year College student Karin Agness said she had heard of students at other colleges taking university-sponsored trips abroad during winter break and wanted to bring this opportunity to the University.
"I wanted to travel over winter break and thought that at a school with such ambitious students and involved faculty there would be programs, but there weren't," Agness said.
After noting the deficiency, she became determined to organize a group to go abroad.
"I could go to places like Europe or Australia by myself and be fine," she said. "But I wanted to take advantage of having experts in certain fields in my community. I wanted to go someplace exotic like China or Russia."
After reaching this conclusion, Agness said she heard that Economics Prof. Bruce Reynolds was planning to go to China, so she decided to contact him.
"I didn't know him at all, and he was thrilled," she said. "Professor Reynolds really helped make the trip because he was a reassurance that everything would work."
Reynolds, who went to China twice over winter break in preparation for a research conference, also said he believed his presence was largely important merely for comfort reasons.
"I think they felt more secure to have me along," he said.
Third-year Commerce student Alexis Ohanian, a trip member, also thought Reynolds played an important role without taking over the program.
"The way I saw his role was more of an orchestrator," Ohanian said. "He set up things behind the scenes."
After securing Reynolds assistance and support, Agness began recruiting other students by flyering and word of mouth.
"I didn't know any of the students ahead of time," she said. "I found seven other ambitious students who wanted to go."
This group of students ranged from a first year to a student in graduate school, all of whom were united in their interest in going abroad.
"I think that everyone felt they had time over winter break, and they wanted to take advantage of an experience they might not have again," Agness said. "We learn so much in college, but we never really experience it."
Ohanian said he agreed and was interested in the trip largely because of taking a class on modern Chinese history.
Reynolds assisted the students by providing background on China and putting them into contact with students living in China -- a graduate student, Jing Yin, and a third-year College student Alma Li.
Yin hosted the students in his home for dinner, one of the best experiences of the trip, according to Agness.
"We were able to see real life -- not just tourist things," she said.
Reynolds said Li showed the students around and accompanied them to several bars.
"She had never gone bar hopping before," Reynolds said. "The U.Va. group taught her how. That was interesting."
While traveling in China, Agness also had new experiences. She recalled meeting many Chinese families who wanted to take pictures with her.
"You really see how other people see you," she said. "They all see you as rich."
She also said she observed evidence of communism.
"I really wanted to see communism in action," she said. "It was amazing how much Mao was alive and kicking. Mao was like TJ here."
She also noted a difference in food.
"Chinese food is not American Chinese food," she said. "We ate something like pig ear."
Despite the differences in culture, however, Agness expressed surprise at how many similarities there are between China and the United States.
"Shanghai was so much like the U.S.," she said. "You think of it being so opposite, but it was so commercialized and capitalized. And they have a lot of the same problems as us."
Agness said she has hopes to continue the program and see it expand. The only thing she said she might do differently in the future is allow the students to sleep more.
Ohanian said he could see why she might say that.
"I can agree whole-heartedly -- no, but I say that in jest. China wouldn't be as interesting from the inside of a hotel room," Ohanian said. "But I was definitely out of commission for at least 48 hours when we came back."
Both Ohanian and Agness said they were very happy with the overall success of the trip.
"Short term, this was just a wonderful experience, but I would love for it to develop," she said.
By developing a detailed report of her planning process and the trip itself to the administration, she said she hopes other students and faculty may have the opportunity to participate.
"The difficult thing is that there's a tension between having it bureaucratized and having the freedom to do what we want to do," she said. "Ideally, I would like to see some sort of structure where professors say they're going somewhere and students organize the trip with the administration's support."
Reynolds said he envisioned a similar direction for future programs.
"I see U.Va. faculty take off every vacation -- I do quite a bit of that myself," he said. "I think this is a perfect example of how they can help students go abroad, just by eliminating the fear factor."
Overall, Agness said the trip was an extremely positive experience for all who participated.
"It was challenging, but it was a good challenge," she said of planning the budget, scheduling, legal issues and marketing of the trip. "I ended up saving money and giving each of them $95 each back. To me, that was another level of success."
She also noted that the students have all stayed in touch with each other and Reynolds.
"It makes me want to take one of his classes although I've never taken any China classes before," she said.
Reynolds also said he enjoyed traveling with the students.
"It was just delightful for me to see China through their eyes for the first time," Reynolds said, noting he had been going to China for about 30 years. "It was a real treat for me."
Agness, like Reynolds, also thinks that future trips could benefit from being tied to specific classes.
"I think it would be another way to make U.Va. a great place," she said.
Reynolds agreed.
"We've got to get more American students abroad," he said. "That's my mantra."
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