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| War has little impact
on ASU world studies |
Carrie Baker
Business Affairs Beat
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Even
though the number of students interested in the Study Abroad Program
for fall 2003 are a little lower than last year, currently participating
international and study abroad students appear to be doing well,
despite current military efforts in Iraq.
Nancy W. Wells, assistant program director of International Programs,
said she feels the change is not significant, but that numbers for
fall 2003 are lower than numbers for fall 2002.
Wells said current international students have not come forward
with major concerns.
“Certainly students have asked questions,” Wells said.
Wells said she had not received any communication concerning anxieties
from Appalachian State University students studying abroad.
“We can assume they’re not unduly stressed out,”
Wells said.
Wells said all students leaving Boone to study abroad attend a pre-departure
seminar where they learn travel safety approaches.
“We want to continue to create savvy travelers,” Wells
said.
Wells said 80 percent of Appalachian State University students studying
abroad this semester are in Western Europe with a few in China,
Costa Rica, Australia and Chile.
Wells said the international students come from a “fair range”
of countries including Mexico, Brazil, Guatemala, Spain, Argentina,
France, Germany, England, New Zealand, China, Nepal and India.
Wells said the anxiety is probably larger for parents of international
students who may not realize that Boone is “small town America.”
Natalie G. Thomas, a freshman from Canada attending Appalachian
State on a four-year basketball scholarship, said her parents have
shown concern.
“They call me every night, but I think I’m safe here in
Boone,” Thomas said.
Thomas said she watches CNN to keep up-to-date on the conflict overseas
but does not worry about her safety as an international student.
“It doesn’t affect my stay here in the states,” Thomas
said.
Patricia Tamarit Roda, who is at Appalachian State on a one-year
exchange from Valencia, Spain, said she is not worried about her
safety in Boone.
“I am going to the university every day, and I study every
day,” Tamarit said. “I am not scared. I know there won’t
be war in Boone.”
Tamarit said she is concerned about flying back to Spain at the
end of the semester.
“I think flying to big cities could be dangerous,” Tamarit
said. “I’m a little nervous.”
Mario E. Molina, a graduate student in earth sciences from Guatemala
said he felt concerns at this time are inevitable, but is not worried
about his personal safety.
“In general, I feel like Boone is a pretty safe area,”
Molina said.
Molina said his main concern was with air travel. Molina said since
9-11, heightened airport security has been necessary, but has also
been made more complex.
“A process that was already complicated is even more so now,”
Molina said.
Sudhir D. Dhobale, an exercise science graduate student from Pune,
India, shares Molina’s concern about air travel.
“[Air travel] is a little more difficult to some extent,”
Dhobale said.
Dhobale said his friends and family in India are not worried.
“They know that I’m doing well here,” Dhobale said. |
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