MC Students and Professor Grishma Shah at the Malaysia Petronas Towers LAELANY GUERRERO/COURTESY
By Karen Flores, Staff Writer
This past winter, Manhattan College students had the opportunity to spend some time around the world in Europe and Asia through various study abroad programs offered by the college.
The programs scheduled included traveling to France, Ireland and Singapore. Students who went to Ireland were enrolled in The Catholic Mass & its Music course, taught by William Mulligan, an adjunct professor within the Department of Music and Theater. The trip could be taken for a religion 200/300 and music 260 credit.
Brian Dunn, a junior mechanical engineering major, decided to study abroad in Ireland to learn more about his culture and roots.
“I was originally planning on going to Rome, but I saw Ireland was a choice and I have family from Ireland which influenced my decision,” Dunn said. “I took a Religion 300 [course] centered around persecution in Ireland. My family came from Ireland, post [potato] famine, but a decent amount of people that went on the trip were Irish and had family who suffered through the famine, so it was interesting learning about the various cultural changes and religions that have played a role in Ireland’s history.”
Brian Dunn/ Courtesy
Dunn expressed that one of his most memorable experiences was when he went to an abbey with monks where he was able to talk and interact with people who wanted to share their personal experiences and perspectives.
“I was talking to one of the monks and explained that I think about science a lot and sometimes I found that science and religion could conflict,” Dunn said. “He said to me that science and religion don’t necessarily need to conflict, they can also complement one another. Having the chance to talk to someone who can positively shift your perspective is amazing. I think it would help every student, especially those studying abroad, to talk to locals and gain insight through their perspectives.”
Anastasia O’Neil, a junior nuclear medicine technology major, also went on the trip to Ireland and said that one of the assignments was to create a presentation centered around a song and the period in which it was created.
“I did Brian Boru’s March as my chosen song and connected it with the Book of Kells, which has the four Gospels of the New Testament and is housed in Trinity College Dublin,” O’Neil said. “I enjoyed the presentations that incorporated all different kinds of music and periods and were interactive in a way that isn’t the same in a classroom setting.”
Delia Collis/ Courtesy
Another study abroad program offered was based in France with Andrew Skotnicki, Ph.D., professor of religious studies, who taught Paris, Religion and the Intellectual Life as a credit for religion 200/300.
Delia Collis, a junior communication and philosophy double major, went to France with her friends in the hopes of learning more about the Catholic faith in a different way.
“I liked this class, specifically because we went a lot into philosophical aspects that connected to the Catholic faith in some way,” Collis said. “I thought it was cool to hear that there were a lot of philosophers I learned about previously like Jean-Paul Sartre, a famous French philosopher. We went to the cafe where he wrote some of his books and dissertations, so seeing the connection between my philosophy classes and this class was very interesting.”
Students who went to Singapore and Malaysia were enrolled in the international field study seminar, taught by Grishma Shah, a professor in the Department of Marketing and Management. The class can be taken by any student but is part of the curriculum for the global business co-major offered by the O’Malley School of Business.
Laenaly Guerrero, a senior finance and global business major, wrote in an email to The Quadrangle about some of the activities that the group participated in while in Singapore and Malaysia.
“For academic activities, we participated in a few business visits and factory tours,” Guerrero wrote. “We visited the Pewter Factory and the Yakult Factory and for business visits, we spoke with Echevaria.co, BYND Artisan, Let’s Go Tour and Secret Lab. For recreational activities, we visited the Petronas Twin Towers and went up to the 86th floor. We also visited the Petrosains Discovery Centre and I enjoyed the Dinosaur Exhibition where we had the chance to walk across a shaking rope bridge. In Malaysia, we also went to Chinatown and haggled with street vendors. The day after arriving in Singapore, we took a cruise around Clarke Quay.”
Cara Loganadhan, a sophomore finance and global business double major, said that students get hands-on experience working with a company based in the country of travel.
“We visited different companies and got to meet with the founders which was very cool because we got to see how businesses operate in a different part of the world,” Loganadhan said. “At the end of it, we do a consulting project with one of the businesses. We are currently working on that, it is a good learning experience.”
Guerrero wrote that she is grateful for the experience she gained through this study abroad program as it allowed her to learn more about different cultures and customs.
“I had always wanted to travel to many different countries, but this trip solidified my desire to do so,” Guerrero wrote. “I was able to try various cuisines, such as Asian, Indian, and even Turkish food. I had the chance to immerse myself and adapt to a different environment and have a better understanding and appreciation for these countries. I am very thankful for having this opportunity and will look back on it as a great and wonderful experience.”
Dunn shared similar sentiments saying that having interactive class sessions when studying abroad helped him retain more knowledge due to the hands-on experience.
“I’m a mechanical engineering major so I like to be hands-on,” Dunn said. “Being abroad allows for interactions with your peers, new people and a new way of learning that differs from being in a classroom.”
O’Neil encourages students to study abroad if they can as it allows for one to foster new friendships with peers at Manhattan College and gives you a chance to explore a country both academically and recreationally.
“It was a good time to continue to meet people and make bonds and connections,” O’Neil said. “Studying abroad is one of the best things you can do in college, even if it is just for two weeks, I definitely recommend it to everyone.”
For those interested in studying abroad, email studyabroad@manhattan.edu, and visit their Instagram page @studyabroadmc.