Gasser – Egypt

My hometown is located in Alexandria, Egypt.

In 2010, I came to the US as an 8th grader and have been here ever since. I have resided in Harrisburg, PA all these years and when it came time for college, I chose to attend Millersville University because it is accredited in my majors (Marketing and International Business) and it also offered the minor that I was looking for (Computer Science). Millersville is also only 45 minutes away from my home in Harrisburg, which made it convenient to move back and forth without having to spend so many hours on the road. Millersville is also very affordable when compared to other universities, yet it offers the same challenging courses as those universities for a much cheaper price tag. Finally, Millersville has a great culture that promotes positive interactions with the local community and raises awareness about international events, diseases, social causes, and so much more, which made me even more excited to attend Millersville.

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In Millersville, I have attended the Barnstormers baseball game at the beginning of the Fall 2017 semester with other international students and it was a great opportunity to meet new people. The highlight of my time here in Millersville so far is definitely the Multicultural Showcase. In the showcase, I was manning the stand for Egypt, where I educated other people on my country, its famous foods, culture, language, and other information that makes Egypt such a unique country. It was a wonderful experience showing people the rich history of my country and having them engaged in the conversation and clearing any misconception that they had about it. I also learned about different cultures there such as Jamaica, Australia, and France among others. The highlight of the showcase, however, were the dancers and musicians that were on the stage during that time. It was delightful seeing different cultures through their music and dancing and I really had a great time in the showcase.

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I came to the US to achieve personal, academic, and professional goals. My personal goals were that I wanted to experience a different country that I have admired ever since I was a child and become more open minded as I, someone from a different country, interact with people here in the US and understand their customs and traditions. My academic goals are that I want to excel in school, obtain my degree with honors, and learn valuable information that I will be able to use for the rest of my life. My professional goals are to work for a global Fortune 500 company in a corporate culture to contribute my international skills and provide a new perspective into the organization. I am working towards these goals everyday by enhancing and diversifying my skill set to make myself a more appealing job candidate and set myself apart from the competition.

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One cultural thing that I learned in the US is how many national holidays are celebrated here! It’s great to see so many occasions where people get together, celebrate, and enjoy their time together with friends and family.

My one thing that I would to share with the campus community is, although I was tempted to, I did not ride camels to school every day. I also did not live in pyramids, but I plan on building my future house in the shape of a pyramid.

In all seriousness, there is a misconception in the US that Egypt is not a safe country, when in fact it is. It is very safe to travel there, enjoy the sights, and experience the rich history and culture through tourism, which operates year round!

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MU Guided Programs

Students interested in studying abroad at Millersville can choose between three broad types of global opportunities: Traditional, Professional, and Guided. MU Guided are short-term programs coordinated by MU professors and Global Education, usually offered during break sessions. While some programs are associated with a course, there are also non-credit options available. In the past, MU Guided has included international conference, sporting events, research opportunities, service learning, musical performance, and other cultural experiences.

Past Programs

Honduras – Service Learning

In May 2017, the Millersville University School of Social Work and the Departments of Biology and Nursing are hosted a summer break service learning trip to Pespire, Honduras.  Participants visited rural communities to assist in medical clinics, learned basic some basic nursing skills, and toured the local hospitals and beaches.

“I was honored to participate in a GO Guided program that took me to Honduras. There were four faculty members and about 10 student participants.  We partnered with an organization called CARE, Central American Relief Effort, headquartered in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Our Mission was primarily to provide basic healthcare to remote villages in southern Honduras. Many of our students had never been out of the country before and to be immersed in a rural area in southern Honduras was certainly a unique experience. Some students were cautious in their reaction to a very different culture, a culture steeped in poverty. Other students immediately embraced the children with whom we were interacting. I would say that, by the end of our time there, all of our students considered it to be a life-transforming experience.

I would highly recommend this type of experience for anyone in our community. We often get complacent about conditions around the world because we live so comfortably in the one in which we exist.”

Dr. John Anderson, Millersville University President

 Honduras

England – Sports Tour

The Millersville University Men’s Soccer Team participated in a 10 day team trip to England in August 2017. They stayed in the traditional city of York in northern England, played games against teams from Sheffield United, Sheffield Wednesday and Barnsley FC, and participated in practice sessions with a guest coach.

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Sweden – School Experience

This trip is for students interested in learning about schooling in Stockholm, Sweden. One full week will be spent at Internationella Engleska Skolan Nacka, and two days in a school for students with special needs. Students’ lodging will be staying with host families to immerse themselves in the culture and will be able to use weekends, and most nights, to explore this gorgeous city and local attractions.

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South Africa – Service Learning

Operating since 2013, this reoccurring program presents an opportunity for cultural immersion, service learning, and development of skills that fosters both personal and professional growth in January 2018. Participants will explore historical, social, and political factors that have shaped South Africa with the goals of enhancing knowledge relating to social justice and human rights, fostering global citizenship, and expanding world views. Attendees will also participate in service learning at various NGOs whose mission is to advance social justice and human rights.

Dominican Republic- Music Abroad

January 2018 will represent the 4th annual abroad experience to the Dominican Republic with Dr. Barry Atticks! This program is geared toward students enrolled in Music at Millersville, however, it was open to ALL students who want to experience this amazing country and its culture, as well as learning about Caribbean Music. Participants will learn about traditional Caribbean music styles from locals and gain international teaching experience, all in a city known for its beautiful, long stretches of beaches and clear waters.

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Costa Rica – Sustainability

Dr. Len Litowitz will lead this reoccurring, environmentally focused abroad experience in Costa Rica this January 2018! Costa Rica is often ranked as one of the top three sustainable countries in the world because of its dedication to the rain forests and water systems. As much as 30% of the entire country is in some form of preservation area, in order to protect more than 10,000 species of plants and 800+ species of butterflies that are native to Costa Rica. Students interested in participating in this experience should be prepared for moderate hiking, outdoor activities, fast-paced travel, and a fun-filled abroad experience!

London – Sports

Drs. Daniel Keefer and Ying Wushanley will lead an International Sport Facility Trip to London this Summer 2018. Participants will visit sport facilities unlike those they could visit in the United States, including stadiums and museums related to cricket, soccer, rugby, tennis, and the Olympics. The trip will introduce students to global sport-related issues and industries and provide firsthand experience in international sporting events and organizations while exploring the most frequently chosen host city in modern Olympic history!

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Upcoming Programs (applications still open)

Europe – Music and Culture

Join Dr. Barry Atticks and the Music Department during summer 2018 for the Music and Culture tour of Europe!  Participants will explore the rich musical history of Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Liechenstein, and Iceland. This program is geared toward students enrolled in Music at Millersville, however, it is open to ALL students who want to experience these amazing countries!

London – Theatre Tour

Join Professor Tony Elliot on a unique three credit travel course, exploring theatre as it developed in the exciting city of London, England this summer 2018! Most class gatherings will be on-site, focusing on first-hand experience (as opposed to lecture) all while leaving students ample time to explore the city. Don’t miss this opportunity to discover the rich history of the London threatre tradition!

Puerto Rico – Disaster Relief

Join Drs. Karen Rice and Duane Hagelgnas on a disaster recovery experience to Puerto Rico this Summer 2018. This 7-day global service-learning program will focus on hurricane relief and interact with themes of land rights, environmental justice, Puerto Rico-US relationships, social change, democratic citizenship, leadership, and international development. This program will most likely actively involve re-building mangrove forests that were destroyed by the recent Hurricane Maria. In addition, there may be other clean up or rebuilding activities related to communities near the forests. Participants will spend the week based in and around San Juan meeting with local community and professional leaders; serve 30+ hours for local organizations on the front line of community development; and explore the country and culture through field trips and community events.

Belize – Mathematics and Culture

Join Drs. Ximena Catepillán and Alex Redcay on an exploration of ancient Maya mathematics and modern communities of Belize and Northern Guatemala this Summer 2018! The focus of this service learning trip is to offer students cultural immersion, learning through service, and development of knowledge and skills related to diversity and cultural competence that fosters both professional and personal growth in past participants.  Specifically, the service learning trip will address the social work core competencies of ethical and professional behavior, engage diversity and difference, engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities and to use self-reflection to evaluation their knowledge, skills and abilities to do so. This program especially geared toward non-math and science students that need a G2 mathematics course to fulfill their general education requirements but is open to all Millersville undergraduate & graduate students, faculty, and staff. Students minoring in African-American Studies and Latino Studies are strongly encouraged to apply.

Iceland – Sustainability

Join Dr. Len Litowitz on an environmentally focused abroad experience this Summer 2018 to Iceland, the only country to generate all of its electrical power through alternative means! Participants will visit geothermal power plants, take a boat ride to a glacier that forms large icebergs as it recedes due to the climatic effects, hike pristine gorges, go on a whale watch north of the Arctic Circle, soak in geothermal pools, and enjoy the scenic beauty of this sparsely populated and largely unspoiled natural paradise.

Toronto – International Film Festival

Students will participate in the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) for five days in September 2017. This experience includes 12-15 film showings (depending on the offered schedule) and 2 special screening events. Participating students have the option of completing Modern Cinema, an independent study course offered for 1 credit.

For more information on MU Guided Programs, check out our webpage!