HUF

Harding University in Florence

The HUF group arrived in Florence on February 1st and spent the last month exploring all that Italy has to offer. They have climbed the Duomo, attended classes in the Uffizi Gallery, cheered on the Fiorentina soccer team to victory, and enjoyed getting some hands-on Italian experience by taking part in a cooking class and crafting in an artisan leather workshop. The group has also traveled to places like Rome, Siena, and San Gimignano. In Rome, they visited the Pantheon, the Catacombs, the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain, the Forum, the Vatican, and much more! 

This semester is just getting started. Check back next month to hear about HUF's upcoming travels to Naples, Pompeii and a special storytelling workshop hosted by a HUF alumnus. 

HUG

Harding University in Greece

When February began, the HUG program was concluding its first group trip in northern Greece. There they toured Delphi, Meteora, Vergina, Thessaloniki, Philippi and Thermopylae. A week later, the group visited the Peloponnese region of Greece to see ancient Corinth, Nafplion, Mycenae and Olympia. A few days later, they also took a day trip to Marathon. And if all the excitement of touring Greece all February wasn't enough, the group was given a few days of independent travel time to visit other places in Europe of their choosing! Be sure to check back next month to read about their upcoming tour of Egypt!

HULA

Harding University in Latin America

The HULA group departed the US on February 1st with their first stop of the semester in Buenos Aires, Argentina. During their stay in Argentina, the group spent time admiring the stunning Patagonia region. They had the opportunity to explore Los Glaciares National Park and hike the Perito Moreno glacier. Additionally, they visited Ushuaia, which is situated on the southern tip of South America and is known as "the end of the world." There, they saw penguins and enjoyed the beautiful scenery and culture.

After their trip to Argentina, the group flew to their new home for the semester – Arequipa, Peru. During the first few weeks in Arequipa, the students experienced the daily life and culture of Peru by exploring the city, taking a cooking class, playing soccer with local families and sharing meals with them, and so much more. Stay tuned for next month's newsletter to find out about their upcoming travels to Lima, Paracas, the Colca Canyon and more!

Honors College Abroad

Honors College in Greece

"The day after Christmas, I and 20 other Honors students flew to Athens, Greece, for a 10-day study abroad program. Dr. James Huff encouraged us to pay attention to acculturation — specifically what it means to us to be immersed in a completely different culture from our own while bringing aspects of our own culture into play. As we spent the week-and-a-half visit acting as locals in Porto Rafti and exploring Athens, we discovered differences between Greek culture and our own, such as different cuisine, pastimes, personal attitudes, and history. We also were able to enjoy parts of our own culture while we were there, which was a comfort while we stayed at the Artemis hotel.

"This way of learning helped us appreciate both cultures while understanding that no two cultures have to completely clash or be separate. One of the most meaningful things I learned during our trip was that beauty might have a different meaning in other cultures, but our definition of it can only grow as we experience more various cultures."

-Tiane Davis