WWU Student, Olivia Koselansky, Takes a Journey of Discovery

2012 Apr 12

One person described it as a time machine. Others marveled at the art, the food and the scenery. They all found their spring break trip to France amazing.

Six students and two professors recently returned from a life-changing trip to République française as part of the William Woods University Woods Around the World program. Olivia Koselansky, a senior business administration major from Sterling Heights, Mich., was one of the students.

Jane Mudd, assistant professor of art, and her husband, Tom, along withTravis Tamerius, university chaplain and director of the Center for Ethics and Global Studies, accompanied Katherine Wortmann, Mexico, Mo.; Sydnee Kuster, Bunceton, Mo.; Alicia Delaney, St. Charles, Mo.; Olivia Koselansky, Sterling Hights, Mich.; Beth Oseroff, Dallas, Texas; and Eliza Payne, Zionsville, Ind., on a culturally dense trek for 10 days around the cities of northern France.

"At William Woods University, we view education as a journey of discovery ... we believe the very best journeys are fed by curiosity in the world around us," Tamerius said. "Woods Around the World (WATW) is a unique approach to education that takes the student beyond the classroom and the textbook and into the real world of another culture."

In preparation for their tour, the students met weekly to discuss different aspects of France and its history, including the French Revolution, the art collection in Louvre and architecture of the great cathedrals.

The main focus, however, was on the events that took place on June 6, 1944 - the infamous day in history known as D-Day - and the legacy that was left behind.

The trip itself included stops in several of France's big cities and quaint villages, including Paris, Versailles, Chartres, Saint Malo, Normandy, Rouen and Auvers-Sur-Oise.

"One of the joys of each trip I make is getting to witness the enthusiasm and deep curiosity of other travelers for those particular things that strike their fancy" Tamerius said. "I'll never forget Tom Mudd studying the hinges on the medieval doors of the Mont St. Michal monastery or Jane Mudd's giddy excitement both in the Louvre and in the footsteps of van Gogh, where in Auvers, he completed 70 paintings in 70 days.

He added, "I'll forever remember Beth's attentive care with the lowering of United States flag at Normandy; Katherine and Sydney's determination to get to the top of the Eiffel Tower; hearing the voices of Eliza and Alicia exploring a fortress watch tower in the dark on the beaches of San Malo and Olivia's early morning laughter and smile that indicated she was ready for another day of exploration."

For sophomore Alicia Delaney, visiting France was her first time traveling abroad.

"The trip was a great way for me to experience a different culture and learn so much about a different country all in one week with some amazing people!"

Tamerius said he was enchanted by Paris in a way that he didn't quite expect.

"The city is alluring with its fascinating history, impressive collections of art, dazzling architectural design and sidewalk cafes. Add to that the stunning weather, delicious pastries and a great group to travel with and it was pretty intoxicating. I felt like Owen Wilson in 'Midnight in Paris,' having fallen under a spell," he said.

"Another site that will be forever etched in my mind is Chartres Cathedral. The stunning Gothic cathedral is a visual depiction of medieval storytelling at its best, where the sculptures and stained glass become sermons in stone and color."

Junior Olivia Koselansky's favorite part of the trip was visiting the American cemetery in Normandy.

"The history behind WWII was amazing to see in person," said Koselansky.

Tamerius agreed, "I was overwhelmed by the visit to the American Cemetery at Normandy, Omaha Beach and the cliffs at Pont du Hoc. You get some small idea of the horrors of war and the sacrifice and courage of these brave young soldiers when you are looking at the massive cliff face that the US Rangers climbed and the bomb craters and the hedgerows that form the landscape of Normandy."

For senior Eliza Payne, this was her second time visiting France, but it certainly was not a boring repeat of her previous trip.

"I loved visiting the town of Saint Malo. The beaches were gorgeous and the town was so charming and serene," said Payne. "My favorite memories of the trip are from our time in Saint Malo!"

Much of the trip was spent taking in beautiful art in various places, including the Louvre and Vincent Van Gogh's resting place. Those parts of the trip were the highlights of Mudd's French experience.

"I can't stop thinking about walking the same streets and viewing the same scenes that Van Gogh so passionately and vibrantly painted back in 1890," she said.

Experiencing the French cuisine was another big experience for all of the travelers. One thing they had to try wherever they went were the crepes.

"The chocolate crepes were to die for and by far the best thing I ate all week!" said Payne.

Another culturally shocking experience for everyone was figuring out the Metro system in Paris.

"We had to adapt to the Metro right away. Getting on the Metro, we had to automatically cover our purses and stay close. We learned this really quickly!" said Delaney. "We also learned that we had to hold onto a pole or sit in a chair just be stable because the metro goes fast and we would wobble around."

No matter where they traveled, however, they were always experiencing new and exciting things. If they were walking the streets of Paris or looking at the countryside from a bus window, the historical aspect of the trip was never far from their minds.

"Our bus tour was a time machine," said Jane Mudd. "And I must say, I was humbled at every turn."

The benefits of travel are far and wide, and the students and faculty who experienced France this year would agree without reservations.

"Whether you are traveling across the globe or across the street, traveling is important for so many reasons," said Tamerius. "Traveling is wonderful for feeding curiosity, broadening the mind, developing confidence and cultivating empathy for others. It helps us to become interested in a story other than our own."

Woods around the World is in its sixth year of the program. Previous trips have included Peru, the American Civil Rights trail, a Holocaust tour, Italy and an Indian reservation in South Dakota. The location of the trip changes every year, but the reasoning behind each tour remains unchanged.

"We try to move around the globe looking for meaningful and educational trips that take into consideration a host of factors including student interest, affordability, our own resources and safety concerns," Tamerius said.

"Some of the trips are aimed at a cultural immersion experience. Some of them are focused on service-learning. All of them are attempts at fetching a good story, the kind of story that supports our academic mission at William Woods."

For more information about this and other Woods Around the World trips, check out the "Woods Around the World-William Woods University" YouTube slideshow at www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ht_9Cx3txoI and the Woods Around the World 2012 blog at http://watw2012.wordpress.com.