This document provides information about Texas State University's study abroad programs for 2007-2008. It features articles on various programs in locations like Ireland, Italy, England, Mexico, and more. It discusses popular excursions for students, including Stonehenge, the Ardmore Cliff Walk in Ireland, and cooking classes in Tuscany. It also includes student perspectives on their experiences studying abroad in locations like Canterbury, England and Florence, Italy. The document serves to introduce Texas State's study abroad opportunities and share stories from students who have participated.

1. Texas State Study-Abroad 2007-2008
Introducing Up and Coming Programs
Discover Ireland
Popular Excursions
2007 Abroad Photo Awards and Scrapbook
PROGRAMS STORIES TRAVEL STUDENTS
FALL 2007

2. Final Thoughts
Two students personal journals and
tips about living and studying abroad
Under the Tuscan Sun
Language or Art? Texas State Italy
offers both options for students
Popular Excursions Stonehedge is
a popular destination to visit for students
studying in Canterbury, England.
6
A winding path lined with
rail fences follows along the
Ardmore Cliff Walk (p. 12)
From the Editor5
Office of Study-Abroad42
What’s New Abroad3
25
15
The Hannover Exchange
Two programs, one country. English
and Geography Departments share
the time slot. One student shares her
experience in a touching poem about
Buchenwald.
17
Gallery of Students Work27
Exclusives
This year’s Honors
students venture
to New Zealand to
build a house.
UCC Campus life,
excursions. A
pilgrimage to Ardmore
leads on a student to
a walk back in time
Discovering Ireland
2007 Abroad Photo Awards
and Scrapbook
29
From Cambodia to South Africa
A life-changing
experience for
students over the
winter break.
21
9
24
20
One student’s
shares her hopes
and fears while living
and studying abroad
an entire semester in
Argentina
Interview with Dr. Augustin
34
Dr. Augustin shares
his thoughts on
study abroad, life,
and photography
Buenos Aires: Home Sweet Home?
Texas State Study-Abroad
Introducing study-
abroad programs
for the 2007 and
upcoming 2008 year.
2007-2008
35
Honors Abroad with Habitat for
Humanity

3. Student-Abroad ....Student-Abroad ....Student-Abroad ....
4All Abroad Fall 2007
2007-2008
San Ignacio
Chile
Canterbury
Stratford
Amiens
Ecuador
Hannover
Cork
Florence
(Firenze)
Rome,
Florence, &
Venice
Nagoya
Tulum
Cuautla
Cuernavaca
Guadalajara
Cambodia
Monterrey
Yucatan
Barcelona
Valladolid
Fall/Spring Study-Abroad Fair
What’s New Abroad
Every year the Office of Study Abroad selects the top
abroad photos from students every year and displays
them in a gallery on the bottom floor of Alkek Library.
The 2007 photos can also be seen in slideshow
format under Announcements on their website. The
award is named for Dr. Byron Augustin, an avid
photographer and sponsor of previous study-abroad
programs. Read the Study Abroad Awards and
Scrapbook article located in this issue of All Abroad
for more information.
Cambodia
MonterreyEvery year the Office of Study Abroad selects the top
abroad photos from students every year and displays
Photo Exhibit
Health and Safety
Check with the U.S. Department of State for travel advisories, alerts,
and tips for going abroad.
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_3028.html
What’s New Abroad
Norwegian Exchange
Jacob Riddle (3rd from rt) and his Norwegian host family
Study Abroad Library
Tulum
Mexico
This program, to train ethnographic researchers, enables 10 undergraduate students from Texas State and other
institutions to spend nine weeks living with a Maya family in Tulum, in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. Under
faculty supervision, students use anthropological research methods to collect data on how globalization affects
the lives of the Maya and Mexicans, focusing on issues such as education, tourism, urbanization, ecology, social
stratification, and migration. The program, offered through Texas State’s Department of Anthropology, is sponsored
by a grant from the National Science Foundation. Students must commit to taking courses and doing other work
both before and after the summer in Tulum, and they will publish their research results at the end of the program.
Participants will have almost all expenses paid, including travel, tuition, books, and living expenses. They will also
receive a stipend.
Wish you were
here?
3 All Abroad Fall 2007
New Passport Requirements
Travelers entering the U.S.
by air will be required to
present passports. For further
information see the website of
the U.S. Department of State.
Before embarking on the rite of passage
into college life, many young students dream
of backpacking through far and distant
countries. As tuition and text book prices
continue to soar, these prospective world
travelers must put their dreams on hold
before filling their passports with stamps.
For Jacob Riddle, a Texas State
University-San Marcos freshman, this ideal
summer adventure became a reality. Last
summer he experienced various cultures
and made lifelong friends in Norway, all
travel expenses paid by the Wimberley
Lions Club. Living expenses were covered
by local Norwegian Lions Club chapters.
Riddle, of Wimberley, said he chose to
spend his summer in Norway because he
wanted to immerse himself in an unknown
environment. By stepping outside his
comfort zone, he said he gained insight
about other cultures.
Dr. Juárez and local participants use GPS to study urbanization
photo: TxState Dept of Anthropology
The Study Abroad Library is a resource to aid in your
investigation of study abroad—whether it be for a month,
a semester, or a year—and of how to receive credit toward
your degree for study abroad. The Study Abroad Library
contains information on Texas State-sponsored programs
as well as programs offered through other institutions.
Office personnel will help you through the process of finding
the best program for your educational needs. Beyond
study abroad, the library offers information on internship,
work, and volunteerism abroad. You will also find helpful
information such as international health insurance, country
descriptions, and information on acquiring a passport.
Hours of Operation
The Texas State Study Abroad Library is open to the public
from 8 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday.
Location
The library is located in theOffice ofStudyAbroad Programs,
in ASB North Room 302 (across from the Den).
Every semester Texas State Office of Study Abroad hosts a Study-Abroad Fair. The
fair gives students the opportunity to talk to program sponsors and read and look at
promotional material. Although most students should ultimately choose their program
by end of fall semester, spring gives new students a chance to see what Texas State
Abroad has to offer. There are also non-Texas State programs who participate. Check
with the university or Offiice of Study Abroad to assure the program is accredited with
Texas State University.

4. This is a photo of when I climbed 5 1/2
hours up Croagh Patrick, a famous
and popular Christian pilgrimage site
in Ireland. St. Patrick climbed up this
same path in his bare feet and fasted for
40 days at the top. I was lucky to have
spent 40 minutes at the top with gloomy
weather approaching, but I made it! It was
a challenging experience, especially on
my birthday. My initial pursuit of study
abroad through Texas State was my
inspiration for this publication design.
I hope you, the reader, will be just as
inspired after looking through and reading
the many experiences of other students
who have had the privilege of studying
abroad.
~ Susan Rauch
Spring 2008
From the Editor

5. PopularExcursions:
FavoriteAbroadHotspots
ToVisit
By Susan Rauch
“The most unique experience on my Study Abroad trip
was going to Stonhenge at 5 o’clock in morning, just
before sunrise. It was absolutely breathtaking, and we
had a private tour guide, so we got to touch the stones,
and go into the cirlce. This is something that no other
trouists get to do. That was definetly the most unique.”
~ Kaela Guffey

6. 7
All Abroad Fall 2007
Kaela Guffy is a Texas State student who studied abroad this past year. She answers some questions about the
program and the many excursions she went on.
Q: Where did you study and what topics did you study?
A: I went to Canterbury, England. It was so cool, not only have I heard it is the hometown of my peronal hollywood hunk favorite
Orlando Bloom, but the entire time we were there all the locals and others’ refered to it as “ Mini London”. There are so many things to
do, and even cooler things to see.
Q: What was the most unique experience about participating in the Canterbury study-abroad program with Texas State?
A: The most unique experience on my StudyAbroad trip was going to Stonhenge at 5 o’clock in morning, just before sunrise. It was
absolutely breathtaking, and we had private tour guide, so we got to touch the stones, and go into the cirlce. This is something that no
other trouists get to do. That was definetly the most unique.
Q: What would you recommend to other students who are interested in
participating your program?
A: I would suggest that students plan their individual trips way ahead of time so
they get the most out of the trip, and get the best prices to go wherever else you
want to travel.
ProfessorJeffrey Dell is one of three faculty who accompany students on the Study Art in Florence Italy Program.
He talked about one of the most popular and favorite excursions of both students and faculty.
Jinny is a woman who came to Italy to study
abroad 30 years ago. She met an Italian man, fell
in love, and moved there. She eventually started
cooking classes on Tuscan cuisine for students
studying abroad. For 30 Euros she teaches
students how to cook classic Italian Cianti (wine
region) cuisine and her menu varies. At any given
class the main course may vary, consisting of boar
or pheasant. The cooking class is optional, but
almost everyone participates.
“Many other students went to a lot of
places like Prague, Rome, and Edinburgh in
Scotland.”
PopularExcursions

7. Last summer was Caroline Robert’s first time studying abroad. She took part in the Italy program with the Art
Department.
Q: Where did you stay and what excursions did
you go on?
A: We stayed in Florence for the most part, but
we made many side trips to Lucca, Pisa, Venice,
Rome, Siena, San Gimiagno, Sinque Terra, the
Island of Elba (which wasn’t with the group)
and Fiesole. All of it was amazing, but I would
definetly suggest making a side trip with some of
your good friends from the group, that was my
favorite part of the trip.
Q: What courses did you take?
A: I took History of Italian Art and Photography.
Q: From your personal experience, what advice
would you offer to those interested in studying
abroad?
A: There are a few downs about traveling with the group but so many ups, especially if you had never traveled across
seas, like me. It was not like being in school because every single thing we did was interesting and made me want to
know more about it or the culture. I wish I had the chance to learn more Italian, I took one semester right before the
trip, which helped, but I wish I had more chances to hang out with Italians. The bond I have made with these students
is unforgettable, it was more memorable because it was my 1st experience in Europe.
The bond I have made with
these students is unforgettable
A common site along the back
roads of Ireland are fly fisherman.
This one tries his luck atop
Ashleigh falls, near the town of
Leenane where this very same river
llooded the week before and tore
down a 150-year-old bridge.
8All Abroad Fall 2007
PopularExcursions
photo by Susan Rauch

8. TOP LEFT 4-story Ardmore Roundtower among an ancient Celtic
cemetary.TOP RIGHT Typical wildlife along the Achill Island’s
Atlantic Coast cliff drive. BOTTOM LEFT Serenity among the
trees of Gugane Barra National Forest in County Cork. BOTTOM
RIGHT A traditional Irish cottage along the Ardmore Cliff Walk
in County Waterford.
10All Abroad Fall 2007
Story and Photos by
Susan Rauch

9. (Top Left) Texas State-Ireland presents
many surprises on excursions to the
Dingle Peninsula; (Top Right) Gugane
Barra National Forest;
(Right) Three young boys play tradi-
tional Irish music on the path leading
up to the ancient site Dunn Aengus on
the Aran Island of Inishmore
(Lower Left) University College Cork
is where Texas State students spend
their class time. The campus quad is
one example of Cork’s historic legacy;
(Lower Right) the Aran Islands.
Photo by Audrey Dornbusch
11 All Abroad Fall 2007
Discover Ireland

10. Discover Ireland: As Pilgrim or Tourist?
By Susan Rauch, English Major Student Feature
Texas State Study-Abroad Ireland, English 3311 - Travel Writing
While walking up a well-paved road, the Irish Sea to my left, craft shops and cottages to my right, and following
several signs saying “Pedestrian Access Only To Cliff Walk,” I already feel a sense of accomplishment arriving at
this place long associated with Christian pilgrimage, one of two medieval Irish pilgrim paths I have been longing to
visit (the other being Croagh Patrick).
The Pilgrimage Quest Begins
Today is a quiet Saturday as I strive to reach the temporarily uninhabited trail along the cliff, outside the tiny
village of Ardmore. The sea is fairly calm with the exception of occasional thunderous cracks of waves crashing
against the cliffs below. In the distance, the village sits picturesque against a barren beach. Along the shoreline,
about 500 yards opposite the village and beach, are the few present signs of modernism: a mobile home park
and campers lining a portion of the coastline. With failed resistance of the locals, Ardmore has given in to modern
progress, most evident by the new Cliff Hotel being built along the initial path of the Cliff Walk. Construction of the
hotel sadly distracted me from viewing St. Declan’s stone, which legend says was carried on the waves from Wales
following his visit in the 5th century. Fortunately, these were only a few modern distractions on my quest to walk
the same cliff as St. Declan did, which is adjacent to St. Declan’s Way – a 20 km medieval pilgrimage trail from
Ardmore to Cashel/Lismore. Adamant about experiencing Ardmore’s Cliff Walk in pursuit of witnessing firsthand
historic pilgrimage legacy, I began to wonder if I was doing it for the right reasons as a pilgrim or was I sucked into
wanting to learn and see a part of Celtic history as a tourist?
In Search of Pilgrimage
Traditionally, pilgrims pursue pilgrimage as a part of an inner-personal and spiritual process, as part
of prayer or penance – in search of something Holy. In the book Soulfaring, pilgrimage author
and travel writer, Sister Cintra Pemberton, O.S.H, defines “a tourist visits to see, take
in, learn about, to buy souvenirs[…]but a pilgrim comes to offer oneself and share
personally with the people who live and work there in order to further inner
growth.” So what does that make me? I was not in search of souvenirs.
I am interested in learning about the Celtic legacy surrounding St.
Declan and the medieval pilgrims’ path, but I also wanted
desperately to experience the pilgrimage personally,
even if was only a little portion of the original
pilgrims’ path. Sister Cintra believes “the
pilgrim’s journey begins even before
the pilgrim leaves home; it
begins with the decision
to undertake a
12All Abroad Fall 2007
Continued on page 13

11. 13 All Abroad Fall 2007 14All Abroad Fall 2007
pilgrimage in the first place.” Quite possibly, for these reasons, I was already
on the right track to experience my walk as a pilgrim, not a tourist.
St. Declan’s Hermitage – Getting Personal
As I wound my way around the construction barriers of the Cliff Hotel,
before me stood the dirt trail leading to St. Declan’s Hermitage. It was at this
moment I felt something spiritual within, hardly able to imagine over 1500
years ago St. Declan walked this same path – through a shaded tunnel of
overhung trees, into a clearing where now stands a well and ruined church
overlooking the Irish Sea. St. Declan’s Well contains two tiny entrances, one
still holding water from an adjacent bubbling stream, and the other a small
cell where Declan retired in seclusion. The sensation of claustrophobia
gripped me. The western section of the church ruins is believed to be the
oldest with no recognized date and resembles a small gable (shorter end of
a church building or chapel) and mini-sized shrine. Constructed of various-
sized rocks, the singular-remaining gable resembles the shape and size of a
little shed. There are chalk-like markings of four crosses beneath the pointed
portion of the gable holding a Celtic stone-cross at its moss-covered point.
Attached to the side of the gable is a rock wall containing carved-out crevices
framed by more etched crosses and a presently-blooming red rose bush
in the corner crevice where another wall intersects. At the eastern end of the church, between the well and the shrine,
there is a large, more modernly built rock-gable with an arched entrance (if you can call 14th century modern). Soon after
arriving at the hermitage, I was not alone, as a couple of other walkers came to visit. They reverently visited the site,
stopping as if to give silent prayer before going on their way. I would later end up talking and walking with this couple, true
to authentic pilgrim behavior of sharing time en-route with other pilgrims. However, I lagged behind a bit to meditate in
solitude, as St. Declan once did, but making it my own personal experience.
A Cliff with a View
As difficult as it was to leave this serenity, I moved onward
following a wooden-railed fence and winding path along the cliffs,
whose edges were carpeted with lush green grass adorned with
large patches of bright purple and yellow wildflowers. It was along
this cliff where I reached a cove harboring the only other visible sign
of modernism along the trail – the wreck of the rusted crane ship
Samson and a small boat transporting divers. Ironically, I did not feel
as though the crane disturbed the spiritual journey I was taking. It
was as if the rusted device became one with the cliff, blending in with
the landscape. The top of the hill, just past the cove, is where I met
up with the same couple I encountered earlier, Peter and Mary Callanan, from Cork City. This time all three of us sat on a
rock bench admiring the grayish-blue shimmer of the Irish Sea. From behind our bench stood a small 19th century castle-
like structure built as a watch tower and signal station. Across the path from the castle, keeping watch over the Celtic
Sea, is a smaller drab one-room concrete look-out post used during World War II.
Easily Sidetracked Along Path
As the path took a turn to the north, the silence allowed me to hear every sound nature had to offer, even the buzz of a
bumble bee as I leaned into a patch of wildflowers. Just past a barbed wire fence, the echoes of gulls sounded far below
within one of the coves. As I was about to bravely abandon the path and hop over the fence
to take a look, Peter and Mary came wandering up. Mary warned me to be careful at the
edge, not to get too close. The hop over the fence landed me in a thick patch of moss-like
grass, my feet sinking in and becoming lost with every footstep. Uncertain how steady and
supported I would be at the edge, I stood a safe distance from the ledge, enabling me to see
a colony of seagulls aligning the narrow entrance of two tightly-clenched walls leading into
the cove – so much for my bravery. I could have walked further toward the outer walls of the
ledge, but I did not want to disturb a large gull sitting there as though he were directing the
others from a high-above throne. As the gulls seemed to communicate in rhythm back and
forth with this large gull, I decided to carefully leave the cove and gulls in peace and head
back on the path toward Father O’Donnell’s Well, an endpoint to the cliffs, but not the Walk.
Wishing at the Well
Approaching the well afforded me a view of green rolling hills and pastures
occupied with cattle along the jagged outline of the shore below. I again met
up with Peter and Mary, who were just finishing a ritual of drinking the water
within the well. They reassured me the water was clean and safe, and to drink
from it was good luck, but only after I walked around the well three times while
making a wish. In 1928, Mr. Rahilly of Limerick found the waters to have curative
properties, especially for eye ailments. He helped construct the stone structure
that exists today hoping it would someday become a popular place of pilgrimage
similar to that of Lourdes. As for Father O’Donnell, he is thought to be a silenced
priest who came to read his office at the well. Upon leaving the well, I concluded
my eyesight was still no different than before I drank the water, but nevertheless
I felt as though I have intimately become part of its folklore. I soon accompanied
my newfound companions around a bend heading back toward town as the
rain began to fall, although never deterring us from enjoying our pilgrimage
experience. As we approached what looked like a dead end, I followed Peter and
Mary through a small concrete turnstile-like exit back onto a paved road. In the
distance I could see we were approaching a 12th century round tower adjacent
to a cemetery, ruined cathedral, and St. Declan’s Oratory. This is where I said
goodbye to Mary and Peter vowing to keep in touch.
Past Meets Present:
St. Declan’s Oratory and Cemetery
Since the rain made it impossible to tread through the cemetery, I
decided to walk a few blocks back toward the village to seek refuge
until the rain let up. When the rain subsided a bit, I walked back uphill
to the round tower. Measuring 97 feet tall, divided into four stories,
with doorway about 4 meters above the ground, it stood between
a ruined cathedral and St. Declan’s Oratory within the middle of
an ancient-like cemetery. This still-active graveyard successfully combines the past with present while maintaining the
nostalgia of centuries gone by. Alongside the cemetery is St. Declan’s Oratory, the smallest and presumed oldest building
in the graveyard, and believed to have once housed the grave of St. Declan. Many faithful pilgrims scoop dirt from the
Saint’s grave for protection from disease. The gate entering the oratory was locked and unfortunately the outer perimeter
littered with broken bottles and shards of glass from vandalism preventing me from wanting to scoop up any dirt. A
few paces from the oratory is the ruins of a cathedral dating from 9th to 12th centuries, lying on the site of St. Declan’s
Monastery. The cathedral ruin depicts various styles of architecture, telling of its various periods of life. Panels along
the west gable are somewhat difficult to make out, but possibly depict what looks like religious figures, with one playing a
harp.
St. Declan’s Cathedral – Meeting Elizabeth Julia
Entering the cathedral through a small wrought-iron gate, into what would have been
the nave of the cathedral now resembling a graveyard with headstones scattered about,
even in the ground where an aisle might have once been. Along one of the walls, in a
little alcove all to itself was an Ogham stone. Unsure of the markings, I did not know
how old the stone was or what it said. I could only guess it stood representing an Irish
ancient tradition long lost to present world. Within these walls there was something
about this final resting place that suddenly gave my pilgrimage inner-purpose. The
most poignant moment was finding a headstone of an 11-year-old girl, not sunk into the
ground covered with mud and rainwater but rather placed high into one of the cathedral
walls, dated 1849. It was the survival of this headstone recalling the memory of little
Elizabeth Julia when rain started to fall again – a moment of inspiration to write an entry
into my journal. Overwhelmed with such an inspiring finality to my pilgrimage, I at last discovered my true
transition from tourist into pilgrim; realizing, within present daily life, the past shall not be forgotten.
Final Inner / Outer Journey
Sister Cintra carefully emphasizes being aware of the inner journey in order to have a successful pilgrimage experience
and “the outer journey must never be so filled with activity that the inner journey is crowded out.” In this context, I feel
my quest was humbly accomplished, without fail, providing me with inspiration spiritually, intellectually, and physically.
As ancient as the path may seem regardless of hints toward present-day modernism along the way, I have come to a
realization that no matter what era, the Ardmore Cliff Walk will always remain timeless.
Peter and Mary Callanan
Wreck of the Samson
Ogham Stone
Discover Ireland

12. Journal Entry 28
Thursday, June 28, 2007
“My Almost Final Thoughts on Mexico
Reagan Stanley
I've been in Texas almost a full week now and all
I want to do is go back to Guadalajara. The first
question everyone asks is "So did you pass?" and
usually I say, "Well, I hope so" but what I really
want to say is "I almost don't care". Apparently, that's
what happens when you fall in love....you almost don't
care. And I did fall in love. I fell in love with a city,
with a culture, with a people and to top it all off, I
found some additional things to love about myself, cliche
though it may sound.I want to go back and be a part of
all of those things again. A month is really only long
enough to tease you, to let you dip your toes in the pool
before your mom tells you not to jump in or you'll catch
a cold. In a month you can learn that the 629-B is a
good bus but that the 629-A will take you somewhere
you don't want to go when you are trying to leave for
Puerto Vallarta. You learn that the extra five minute
walk to the other bus stop is well worth it because you
get a seat for the 45 minute ride and you don't have
to worry about hanging on for dear life if you get the
bus driver with the monkey hanging from the rearview.
I miss the almost free entertainment that came in the
form of the little old man playing his guitar while not
holding on to anything as we go barrelling down the
two-lane road at 1000 km/hr. The accordion guy....
probably not going to miss him as much.
Journal Entry #15
Thursday, June 15, 2007Hannover, Germany
Erin Dees
Final Thoughts
15 All Abroad Fall 2007 16All Abroad Fall 2007
The heavy books in my backpack reminded me of the point
of this trip. Texas State University wasThe heavy books in
my backpack reminded me of the point of this trip. Texas
State University was hosting a study abroad program in
Hannover, Germany. Two months ago, the Germans had
spent time in Texas, and now it was our turn. One month of
lectures, essays, sightseeing, and journal writing lay ahead of
me. For weeks I had been preparing for the trip. I had read
and highlighted books; packed clothes, cameras, and school
supplies; turned in required paperwork; made arrangements
with my insurance company; and equipped myself with little
German survival phrases. Until this point, the trip, in
essence, had just been a task for me: an event that required
meticulous organization, preparation, and planning. It had
become an unrealistic construct in my mind that only gained
tangibility through its cost and required preparation. I tried
to soak in the reality of my arrival as my travel partners
and I made our way into the terminal and followed the signs
to the baggage claim. My history of ironic misfortune led me
to expect the worst. Just as the stresses of the arrival began
to culminate, I caught a glimpse that, in retrospect, seems so
trivial and unimportant, yet, at the time, hit me in an oddly
emotional way. My German roommate and those of my
travel partners were waiting for us behind the glass divider
that separated the baggage claim area from the waiting room.
Smiling and waving, they rushed toward the separator,
eager for us to reach the other side. My internal turmoil
immediately dissipated.

13. THE HANNOVER EXCHANGE
Every year, students from Leibniz University of Hannover,
Germany, arrive in San Marcos, Texas in February to
participate in a month-long student exchange program
sponsored by Texas State University. They will gain
international experience while sitting on classes, lectures,
and planned cultural events. Each year the program
alernates with the Geography Department. The English
Department exchange is coordinated by Dr. Dan Lochman,
Associate Dean of - College of Liberal Program Director
alongside Jill Schneller, program coordinator and lecturer
from Leibniz Universitaet Hannover.
In Spring 2007, the German students attended a barbecue
event at the Freeman Ranch house in San Marcos where
they were joined for a meet and
are greeted by Texas State faculty,
staff, and students who will be
attending the Hannover exchange abroad program over the
summer. The Hannover students as well as Texas State
University faculty, staff, and students were entertained
with some traditional Texas music by recording artist
Rosie Flores and enjoyed traditional barbecue catered by
Railroad Barbecue of Kyle. Max Klussman, 5th semester
Education Major from Hannover, said of the barbecue, “I
especially liked to meet our exchange partners. The Ranch
itself was impressive and the house quite fascinating. I
expected something like roasting beef over fire (somewhat
more common in Germany maybe) but still I very enjoyed
it.” Michael Tomala, also a 5th semester Education Major
from Hannover said, “the meal was awesome, the singer
performance was exhilarating and amusing. Good first
meeting between Hannover and Texas students.” Dr.
Lochman states, “the program differs from other abroad
programs as it is an exchange program.”
The Hannover students vistedTexas State University
from February 9 through March 9, 2007, and resided at
Jackson Hall. For Tomala and his fellow students, they
were actually on a school break in Hannover. Tthe Texas
State students then went to Hannover from May until
June, to live with German students, and receive 6 hours of
university
credit.” Dr.
Lochman
further explained, “the program was started in 1988 by now
retired professor Dona Reeves and evolved into alternating
every year with the English Department and Geography
Department.” The 2007 year program was sponsored
by the English Department. There are some differences
between college life in Texas and Hannover, Germany.
Max said, “I have to travel all around Hannover to go to
different courses. We don’t have a campus as here in San
Marcos.” Michael hoped to “gain some insights into the
American lifestyles as lived by campus students, university
schedule, etc. Some students in Texas
enroll in only one major field, whereas in
Germany you mostly need two of them.”
A big difference is the time of vacation.”
Germany vacation breaks are July
through October whereas the in the
In Texas
Im Deutschland
United States it is May through August. Michael also said,
“the financial funding is even more important here than
in Germany since the fees in the USA are multiple times
higher than in Germany.”
Overall the German students have been impressed
with the friendliness and how helpful people are, and
how campus life is centrally located. Some of the events
they participate in while in Texas are a visit to Missions
San Jose, Concepcion, and Alamo, and a visit to the San
Antonio Riverwalk,, attending the Texas State Mainstage
Theatre for a production, as well as attending several
lectures, classes, and presentations on the Texas State
University campus.
Professor James Petersen echoes much of what
Professor Lochman said, “the students are a mix of
Geography and English/American studies majors. This
year we had 11 students from Hannover. Each student
from Hannover was partnered with a student from Texas
State. In addition to their classes, we took the the German
students on field trips to Fredericksburg, Enchanted Rock,
Austin, Gruene, and the Borderland Region. They also
visited San Antonio, and other towns and regions.
The German students will host us (12 Texas State
Students and faculty) in Hannover, Germany, from May to
June and the students will take Geographic Field Studies
and work on an Independent Study project (for presentation
at the end of our exchange) on some aspect of the
geography of Germany” When the the American students
visit Germany, they will also participate in “field trips” to
include Berlin, Braunfels (the namesake of New Braunfels),
northern Bavaria, and a short trip to Poland during a school
holiday in Germany.
All of the German exchange students will speak English.
Students will gain 6 hours of credit for GEO 4390/5390
and GEO 4310/5308. The program will not be offered in
Geography again until 2010.
“...the program differs
from other abroad
programs as it is an
exchange program.”
Auf Wiedersehen!
Tschuss!
Story and photos by Susan Rauch
17 All Abroad Fall 2007 18All Abroad Fall 2007

14. Student Feature
Buchenwald
I saw where bodies swing still,
from meat hooks evenly spaced.
I looked in ovens swept clean
but wind still carried the stink.
I have tread where dead still live,
where whispers are the breeze
and trees remember names once said.
I have been where wildflowers smell of death
like millions –
and rubble gleams,
crystal chips, each unique.
I went where fog hangs like smoke
and burns eyes just the same,
where clouds reign over sun
and drizzle stung like shrapnel.
By Heather Robinson
1st year MFA Creative Writing
Graduate student
THE HANNOVER EXCHANGE
19 All Abroad Fall 2007

15. Honors Abroad with Habitat for Humanity
Story by Susan Rauch Photos by Erica Rodriguez and Audriey Dornbusch
Fall 2007 offered more than academic study for Mitte
Honors students. Habitat for Humanity selected six Texas
State Honors scholars and students to participate in its
Habitat for Humanity Global Village international outreach
program in New Zealand, October 23-November 3, 2007.
Students were provided an all expense trip to New Zealand
where over fourteen days they visited various locations,
such as Rotorua on the northern island, Wiamangu
Volcanic Valley, Interno Crater, and Frying pan Lake before
reaching their base destination of Pouria, a small suburb of
Wellington. Sixteen
students from all over
the US plus team
leaders from the Mitte
Foundation in Austin
worked together to
build a house for
a family of eight.
Most of the students
were Mitte Honors
Scholars, although there were many students who were
just participants of the Honors program. Students traveled
throughout New Zealand by bus and plane. They stayed in
hotels and bed and breakfasts usually sharing a room with
another student.
Two Texas State Honors students, Erica Rodriguez and
Audrey Dornbusch, shared their experience and insight
of participating in the New Zealand program. Students
are first chosen from an essay contest. Audrey, a senior
Honors Scholar, music and business administration major
and English literature minor, wrote about what this project
meant to her. “New Zealand is very close to my heart. My
grandpa was stationed there during World War II, and still
to this day, describes the country as the best place he’s
ever been. Plus, I have a passion for service, and helping
build a house just seemed like the ultimate “give back”
I could offer,” she said. For Erica, a senior journalism
major and business/Spanish minor, this was her first time
going abroad or
overseas. “When
you think of people
in need, you think
of impoverished but
it wasn’t like that.
They were healthy,
lower middle class,
living in government
housing consisting
of a three-bedroom house. Not allowed to make any
improvements. No personal freedom when it came to
home,” she said. Both Audrey and Erica admitted the
work was hard but well worth the effort. Most of the
students were inexperienced with construction work.
“As inexperienced as we were, nobody got hurt,” said
Rodriguez.
Students were building a house for the Munro family.
Parents Joe and Donna Munro have six kids and have
experienced many financial hardships. “The work site
was a nice neighborhood. I loved that we were making
a quality house, not some makeshift shack. The high
standard of living in New Zealand attracted most of us,”
said Dornbusch. The family worked alongside students’
everyday. “Joe and Donna made sure we knew they
appreciated all we were doing,” said Dornbusch. “They
were so happy we were there to help them,” said
Rodriguez. The work was sometimes grueling and varied
each day. “Every day I had a different task. One day I
painted side boards, the next dug pluming trenches, the
next finished painting the fence. One day in particular (the
day I painted the fence), Donna brought her children to the
work site. The four older ones helped me paint the fence.
I loved it,” said Dornbusch. The hard work did not seem
to deter students from enjoying the overall experience. “It
was backbreaking. We were physically exhausted, but
excited at the same time because you are in this new place
and with all these awesome people, but at the end of the
day it didn’t stop you from waking up at 8 a.m. everyday,”
said Rodriguez. In addition to the family and students,
some residents of community with Habitat for Humanity
in New Zealand would often chip in. The New Zealand
natives are called Kiwis.
“Some of the older
men, carpenters and
accountants by trade,
were volunteers and
came out to help,” said
Rodriguez.
A typical day in New
Zealand was a weather
roller coaster. “The Kiwis,
as New Zealand natives are called, would say you go
through all four seasons in a day. Some days this was true,
but most days the sun was out. We had to be extremely
careful about the UV rays since the ozone layer over New
Zealand has seen most of the damage,” she said. This
was Dornbusch’s second experience abroad. Her first was
studying abroad summer 2007 with Texas State-Ireland
study-abroad. Both experiences vastly differed. “I was
in school the whole time in Ireland. Although I loved that
experience as well, the trip to New Zealand was more
meaningful, you could say, because I really care about
helping people. Working with Habitat for Humanity was
the first time I was able to see how my efforts affected
someone else,” she said.
Dornbusch and Rodriguez both recommended and
encouraged students to work with Habitat for Humanity.
“[Students should] think hard about the real reason why
they want to help. If it is just to “get away” or travel, that’s
good too, but Habitat for Humanity is much more than
traveling, it’s a chance to help change the world,” said
Dornbusch. “It is the most fulfilling and life-changing thing
you can do with your life,” said Rodriguez. Habitat for
Humanity Global Village offers students an opportunity to
apply every year. The location may change but not the
student experiences, lifelong-friendships, and passion
for wanting to make a difference in the world. Visit www.
habitat.org for more information about participating in the
Habitat for Humanity Global Village program.
20All Abroad Fall 2007

16. way to Buenos Aires. Shutting my cell phone down right
before take-off, I realized I wouldn’t turn it back on until it
was winter in Texas.
While I have fallen asleep at rock concerts, sleeping
on the plane that night was impossible. When I arrived
in Buenos Aires I was a zombie. Lack of sleep and fear
made speaking to customs officials impossible, and
finding my luggage nearly as so. I somehow found my
bags and the taxi waiting for me. Despite having my new,
South American address written in my planner, I would
have been at the airport for a week if the driver hadn’t
known where to take me. Ezezia International Airport is
about forty-five minutes outside the capital. Argentina’s
wealthiest live in the center of the city, near the river. The
city becomes increasingly more destitute towards the
outskirts, which unfortunately are what I saw first. The
surrounding areas look more like East Jerusalem than the
Paris of the South with their decaying roads and crumbling
buildings decorated with drying laundry. My inability to
speak coherently was the only thing keeping me from
begging the driver to turn back. I fell asleep and to my
relief he finally stopped in front of a beautiful apartment
building with marble floors and a doorman who resembled
my grandpa. After a welcome speech from my host-mom,
I crawled inside my bed filled with unfamiliar smells and
sobbed until I fell asleep, more unfamiliar sounds coming
up from the street below.
When I woke up, my new roommate, a girl who had
graduated from Texas State years before, took me to eat
at a nice Italian restaurant around the corner. Later that
night, everyone in my program gathered for a party at
the owner’s apartment in a trendy little neighborhood of
Palermo. The smooth Argentine wine and the rich fondue
made us all instant friends. Around three in the morning,
one of the veteran students called me a cab. Drunk on
wine, I went to sleep feeling incredibly optimistic about my
new adventure.
Over the next five months I had panic attacks,
dropped two classes, never figured out how to make
my phone card work, and made many homesick phone
calls on Skype. I also learned the most beautiful Spanish
dialect, visited the world’s largest waterfall, went rock
climbing in the Argentine jungle, rode bikes through a tiny
village of wineries in the Andes, drank beer with locals at
Oktoberfest, translated a phone call between an Israeli
business man and my boss, saw Evita’s grave, and had
thousands of other experiences I do not have room to
mention here.
A few of the friends I made that semester fell so in
love with the country (and the men), they decided not to
come home. By November I was so homesick I decided
to come home a week early. Arriving in Dallas, I mistook
my excitement over being home as excitement for leaving
Argentina. Although I was wrong — for a number of
reasons. As I will never again live in Buenos Aires, I will
always remember a time when it was my home.
Brittany is a senior English major,
Spanish minor.
Buenes Aires, Argentina: Home Sweet Home?
23 All Abroad Fall 2007

17. Buenos Aires: Home Sweet Home? expenses, it showed I was capable of finding the money.
I then applied for more scholarships, winning a few more.
Considering how easy the whole process was, I believe
university scholarships are a good source of funding for
almost any student who wants to study abroad.
Having most of my expenses covered, I hit another
roadblock. By not being enrolled in a U.S. institution,
the government was going to require that I start paying
back all my student loans. At the suggestion of a friend, I
enrolled in two independent study classes at Texas State
for which I would do research and write term papers
while I was in Argentina. In hindsight, I wish I handled
this situation differently. Doing research in Argentina was
nothing like doing research here in the States. The constant
deadlines of those papers added stress to an already
stressful time period and limited my trips out of the city.
Attending a program through the university, though, would
have eliminated this problem because the Department of
Education considers enrollment in university-sponsored
programs the same as enrollment in a U.S. institution.
While I don’t regret choosing Road2Argentina, I created an
unforeseen hassle by going outside the university to select
a program.
Although my extra work kept me busy, I had a lot of
free time in comparison to my life in Texas. Since I could
not work for pay in Argentina, my semester there was
the perfect opportunity to work as an intern. Nearly every
study-abroad program has contacts for internships in all
areas of study. I chose to work for an international business
law firm. In the end, my internship was the most valuable
part of my whole experience. I was able to learn first-
hand about the world of international legal work, develop
advanced skills in written and spoken Spanish, and create
a portfolio of all the translation work I did for the firm. The
attorneys I worked for only made a great job even better.
At home, I have to work so much where I would never have
the time for an internship. Any student looking to study
in another country for an extended period of time should
explore what internship opportunities are available.
Somehow, I took care of everything I needed to handle
about a month before my trip. I quit my job and spent the
time with my family, friends and boyfriend. Only then did it
actually hit me that for five months I was going to live five
thousand miles away from anything I knew. After all, before
I even arrived I had spent over six-thousand dollars. I was
terrified. Completely on edge, I would explode at video
games. I cried because it was hot. While staying with my
dad for a weekend, I skipped through the house elated
when I received an email from my Argentine host-mom and
then cried when no one else got excited. I tried to watch
movies in Spanish to practice but could not focus. My friend
Heather had spent a month in Argentina years before and
tried to prepare me for everything: mate drinking rituals, the
subway, late dinnertime, lack of breakfast, the skinny girls,
and all-night clubs. Nothing calmed me because I knew
that in the end, no amount of mental preparation would be
enough.
By the time my plane left JFK airport at 10:30 pm I had
stopped shaking thanks to a Xanax. The giant airbus was
full of Argentines reading Argentine magazines, chatting in
Spanish and listening to Argentine music on their iPods. I
was loving it! After eating my dinner and watching the little
airplane icon travel peacefully down the Atlantic coast on
the television overhead, I passed out. When the captain
woke us about twenty minutes later, the Xanax had taken
over and I had idea where I was or what was going on. All
I remember is hearing something about broken engine,
emergency landing, Virginia, probably won’t make it to
Miami. Then we were herded out of the plane, across the
tarmac and into a stuffy, miniature excuse for a concourse
in the Norfolk, Virginia airport, which we were not allowed
to leave. Our emergency landing turned into an eighteen-
hour layover in sweltering summertime Virginia. One new
engine and one pit-stop in Miami later, we were back on our
Near the end of August
I doubted whether I would
be able to value living
in Argentina as a life
experience. From July
nineteenth—when my
plane left JFK airport—until
I finally made it back to
Dallas and my family on
November twenty-eighth,
my life was flavored with
few magical moments.
What had promised to be a
long flight turned into a nightmare three-day journey, crying
myself to sleep almost every night for the first month (only
getting a little better afterwards); yet, looking back, it was
worth the cost.
Spending a semester in another country comes with a
lot of challenges, the very first of which is finding out where
and why to go. I think the reasons for studying in another
country are unique to every student. For me, it was enough
that a semester in Argentina meant speaking Spanish well
with an exotic accent. Picking my destination and justifying
my trip was easy; the rest, not so much. In the beginning,
I faced two major dilemmas. One, Texas State offers few
study abroad options outside of short summer programs to
Europe or Mexico and Central America. Finding a semester
program to Argentina, the Google search was the most
helpful. Second, studying abroad is expensive. No U.S.
lender was willing to give me a loan for a private university
in Argentina; and without any way to legally work there
during my semester, I would need a lot of money to cover
expenses. Facing this dilemma, I found out just how great
of a resource Texas State University can be.
With no idea where to begin, I Googled
“study+abroad+argentina” and found www.studyabroad.
com, an amateur-looking website – a hidden goldmine
for study-abroad students. The site made searching for
programs easier, listing every available study-abroad
program, for any length of time, in any interest area. I
chose the Road2Argentina program, based in Buenos
Aires, which has only been around a couple of years. Run
by Katie, a twenty-three year-old expatriate from Michigan,
and an Argentine engineering student, the program offers
the same services as two of the largest programs—ISA
Butler and CEA—for half the cost. The best part? The
people I paid to take care of me during my five months
abroad were located down the street and were able to
relate to me as a college student. In fact, Katie studied
in Buenos Aires years before and moved back right after
graduating from the University of Michigan. I never would
have found such a small, perfect-for-me program without
studyabroad.com.
Despite being more inexpensive than other programs,
Road2Argentina was still going to cost me about six-
thousand more dollars than I had in the bank, which was
zero. I never even considered needing several thousand
more in spending money once I arrived. I also discovered
the university has many unadvertised opportunities for
students; all I had to do was just ask the right people. The
Office of Study Abroad Programs has scholarships. Hidden
in that middle-class shadow, where my parents don’t
make enough to pay for college but make too much for
the government to pay for it, I assumed I would not qualify.
Isis Gomez, Continuing Coordinator in the Office of Study
Abroad, convinced me to at least apply since the process
was so easy and I have a high GPA. I was awarded two-
thousand dollars! While it wasn’t enough to cover all my
Story and Photos by Brittany Hightower
22All Abroad Fall 200721 All Abroad Fall 2007

18. Dr. Catherine Hawkins took a
group of 15 Texas State students to
Cambodia to study-abroad for three
weeks over the winter 2007--08
break. This was the first year for the
winter study-abroa program, which
found students earning course credit
for social work or a degree field credit.
All the students who visited Cambodia
chose social work. Excursions
included a visit to the Genocide
Museum in Phnom Phen,
and the Killing Fields.
The program is broken
down into two parts: The
in-country component
and a follow up directed
independent study project
upon returning to the U.S.
Students first go through
preprogram seminars
(orientation) in November
and then post-program
seminars in March where
they will present their
research. STudents
are rquired to find ten
scholarly resources
along with proposed solutions that are social in nature or
enviornmental. How they present their research is left up to
individual choice.
Accommodations ain Cambodia varied from guest
houses to hotels including a visit to a floating village,
which connects families in the rice fields. Dr. Hawkins
words with APD (based out of New Zealand) for ground
support. Students not only visited but became interactive
with the communities they visited. One day found them
building a new house or hut for a young woman in a rice
field. Another
day found them
visiting schools,
clinics, and
social service
agencies. The
students even
made a blood
donation.
Dr. Hawkins is already planning her
next winter excursion to Cape Town,
South Africa in 2008. The cirriculum
outline will remain fairly similar as
Cambodia except the students will stay
in university campus housing. She
visited South Africa last year to meet
with AIFS (based out ofLondon), the
ground support group to map out the
area. She will be offering the program
to 20 students max, with a minimum
of 10 to 12
students. The
classes will be
nontraditional,
meaning the
activities are
class. Dr.
Hawkins plans
excursions to
an old Dutch
community, a
safari, and the
wine country.
The cost of the trip will include airfare, room and board,
an overnight stay in London, and tuition and fees. Because
Dr. Hawkin’s arranges the travel to be included, it is
pertinent for students to commit and pay part of the trip up
front. Credit hours
for the courses are
counted toward
the students’
spring schedule.
Dr. Hawkin’s
reassures South
Africa, particularly
Cape Town, is a
safe place to visit.
Safety precautions
recommended are not any different than visiting another
undeveloped country: to be careful of walking alone, what
condiments you eat, and staying off the streets at night.
She is choosing to base in Cape Town because there are
plenty of facinating places to visit within the region alone.
Cape Town is along the southernmost tip of South Afica.
Students interested in participating should contact the
Deptartment of Social Work or watch for university news
announcements when they can apply.
From Cambodia to South Africa
Story by Susan Rauch
Photos by Cambodia-Abroad Participants: Claire Dixon, Daniel Huston, and Chad Starrack
24All Abroad Fall 2007

19. Under the Tuscan Sun Immersed in the culture of Italy,
two Texas State abroad programs
offer the students the opportunity
to experience language and art
within the capital city of Florence.
“Famous for its wealth of fine art and
architecture, Tuscany is where the
Italian language originated.” There
is no traditional university campus –
the city “is” the campus. Professor
DiMauro Jackson is a native Italian,
dividing her time between study
and teaching in Central Texas,
Florence, and San Remo. She
has accompanied her Texas State
language students to Italy since
2005 and prepares her students
well in advance of the lifestyle and
expectations students will encounter
upon arrival. The accommodations
are well thought out. She does not
want students staying in traditional
dorms but rather with host families
or apartments scattered throughout
the city. Apartments house 3 to 4
students of the same gender, not
in the same complex. CAPA is the
private organization that facilitates
organizing the program for Texas
State. Instruction begins at home in
San Marcos, Texas. Students are
taught how to shop for groceries
via the web and how to spend and
exchange money. The students are
set up with a library card, which is
part of their tuition fee, as well as a
one-month bus pass. Professor Di
Mauro-Jackson conducts courses
in Intermediate Italian and Italian
life and culture (2310, 2320) at the
Palazzo from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
up to 4 days a week, with Friday
planned excursions. The coursework
includes student presentations
relating to the culture and some oral
reports and quizzes. Excursions may
include a 2 day trip to Venice during
the week, one day to Rome, Pisa/
Sienna, or Chianti Country (wine
country), which are included with
tuition fees. The program runs the
entire month of June. Although tuition
fees do not include airfare, they do
include many other extras allowing
students to absorb the full Tuscany
experience. Professor Di Mauro-
Jackson says, “students only get to
experience the true Italy by going
abroad.”
Separate from the language Italy
abroad program, the Art Department
takes up to 37 art students abroad.
Unlike the language program, where
students are based in Florence the
entire time, the art program begins
end of May in Venice and travels
to various locations and ends in
Florence mid-June. Professors
Jeffrey Dell, Darryl Patrick and Eric
Weller are the accompanying faculty
teaching courses in art/drawing, art
history, and photography. Professors
Dell and Weller have participated
for 3 and 4 years. Students spend
the mornings in a one hour art
history lecture, then meet up in
the afternoons at various locations
such as museums, gardens, and
churches for instruction for studio
art. Because the locations change,
the itinerary varies. Although there
are no prerequisites for attending the
program with an emphasis in drawing,
the professors recommend students
taking photography participate in at
least one Texas State photography
course. Professor Dell goes so
far as to offer a free weekly class
in Italian to prep students on basic
conversational language. Similar
to the language program, student
accommodations in Italy include a
shared apartment with 3 to 5 other
students. Students are responsible
for their own food, although a cooking
class is offered to students at an
extra cost of 30 Euros. Professor
Dell says this is the most popular
excursion. A woman named Jinny
moved to Florence 30 years ago
after studying abroad and moving
there. She started a cooking class
for students in Tuscan cuisine. The
menu includes classic Italian entrees
of the Cianti wine region, which may
include pheasant and boar. She
takes about 6 students at a time
and Professor Dell said almost all
students participate. ARTIS is the
program that assists in organizing
the Texas State Study Art in Florence
program. The students are required
to keep journals of their experience.
There are no traditional final exams,
only a showing of art at the end of
the month. Both programs are only
offered to undergraduate students,
while the art program usually acquires
an early wait list.
Florence, Italy
Study Art and
Story by Susan Rauch
Photos contributed by Professors Jeffrey Dell and
Moira DiMauro-Jackson
26All Abroad Fall 2007
Language in
A center of medieval European trade and
finance, the city is sometimes considered
the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance.
– from the Texas State San Marcos CAPA
Florence Program brochure
Here is the opportunity to stand before
the actual sites of historical importance,
to create art in a Renaissance world.
–from the Texas State Study Art in
Florence brochure

20. 28All Abroad Fall 2007
STUDENT GALLERY - Italy
Artist/Student:
Michelle Brandt
Artist/Student:
Brett LaFosse
27 All Abroad Fall 2007

21. Student Photos:
Top Center (l-r):
Amy Dawson, Weaving Triptych; Aaron Baseman,
Catholic Church
Left (top-bottom):
Elizabeth Graham, Finnbar’s Shrine; Blake Sakow,
Curiosity; Sarah Bibbs, Shoemaker; Sarah Bibbs,
Strength; Michelle Brandt, Firenze Di Notte
Right (top-bottom):
Travis LeMoine, Tuscan Vineyard; Alysha Nicole
Hernandez, La Iglesia; Erin Dees, Rathaus; Spencer
Milsap, Brunelleschi’s Dome; Whitney Bell, Sunset at
Stonehedge.
Bottom Center (l-r):
Miranda Laine, Bernini’s Fountain; Ashley Kegley,
Citta Del Mare.
Next Page (top-bottom):
Brenda Cornejo, Tower Bridge; Angie Toth, Misol
TTA; Katherine E. Cox, Art Deco Building; Elizabeth
J. Graham, Darwin’s Home
The Texas State Study Abroad Photo Award is named for Dr. Byron Augustin. A Texas State
geography professor, he combines his love of photography with knowledge of geography
through many published works from all over the world. Since 1981, he has faculty supervised
16 study abroad programs to Mexico, with the exception of a European 21-day program. His
enthusiasm for study abroad helped set up and launch the original Geography study abroad
program, which began in 1981. The program has taken students to the Yucatan, Costa Rica,
Ecuador, South Africa, and in 2005 to Ascension Bay for a conservation project. Ascension
Bay provided only a base camp, meals and lodging on the island for 8 days, accommodated
17 volunteer students, with no college credit. In addition, his lifetime travels have taken him
to over 54 different countries.
The Study-Abroad Photo Award is created from an endowment by an anonymous donor
who recognized Dr. Augustin’s dedication to not only taking students on the abroad programs
but his interest in getting to know his students on an individual basis in order for them to
have a great experience while away from home. Dr. Augustin’s
professional career as a freelance photographer started with a 1979
edition of Texas Highways Magazine. He said, “if I could get a photo
in, it would be the accomplishment of my life.” To be published,
he had to have a story and two photos. A story about wild grapes
in Texas gave him his first foot in the door to being a published
photographer. Since then, his career took off with his first cover on
Texas Parks and Wildlife, a story about the Texas State Competitive
Water Ski Team.
Dr. Augustin considers himself a semi-professional in the world of photography and
publishing since 1979, although his photos and articles can be seen in various Scholastic
academic/informational books on locations such as Bolivia, Cutter, and various Arab
countries. His Fellowship of Islamic and Arab culture was based on being accepted by the
National Council on US and Arab Relations who wanted to create a broader understanding
of the Arab and Islamic world. Dr. Augustin was sent to and produced images of Arabia,
which turned into his receiving a grant from Kodak, which printed 20 photos for a traveling
exhibit from 1996 to 2002. The exhibit traveled to university galleries all across the United
States, as well as the Chicago Field Museum and a wing of the National Geographic
Society Gallery in Washington D.C. When the exhibit completed, Dr. Augustin gave it to
the Arab American Culture Community Center in Houston. One of Dr. Augustin’s greatest
achievements in photography was being the first photographer to enter and photograph
the newly carved canyon after the 2002 Guadalupe Valley flood and overspill of the dam in
Canyon Lake, Texas. His photos from the canyon are displayed as wall murals in an Evans
Liberal Arts conference room. Citing magazines as his favorite venue, he was honored to
have an educational piece in a special edition of National Geographic 10 years ago about the
southwest.
His advice to aspiring photographers: He recommends having a wide angle lens. His
camera bag may include: up to 5 cameras with 28 mm, 60 mm, 7 mm, 90 mm, and 10 mm
lenses – 60 mm being used the most; 2x converter, tripod, flash (for extra lighting). Dr.
Augustin plans to retire in 2009 and move to a house he and his wife purchased in Yucatan,
Mexico, where he will continue with travel writing and photography. His last big project is
currently in the editing stages – a book on Andora, a tiny nation between France and Spain.
He said he is “extremely proud to have the award named for him.” His future goals are to
put together a coffee-table book and in the summer of 2008 will be visiting one of the seven
wonders of the world in Cuzco, Peru - Machu Picchu – the lost city of the Incas’.
“If I could get a photo in
[Texas Highways Magazine], it
would be the accomplishment
of my life”
The Byron Augustin
Study-Abroad Photography Award

22. “This is from a giant ship sculpture made to represent
all the Irish who died during the famine. It sits with a
backdrop of the mountain Croagh Patrick, a famous
pilgrimage climb in Murrisk. The mountain was
covered in a black and gray cloud
when this picture was taken,
giving the famine ship a
haunted appearance.”
Student Photos:Student Photos:
Top Row (l-r):Top Row (l-r): Ashley Kegley, The Arno; Caroline Robert, Bubbleman;Ashley Kegley, The Arno; Caroline Robert, Bubbleman;
Brenda Cornejo, Louvre Museum; Veronica Stinnet, The Grass isBrenda Cornejo, Louvre Museum; Veronica Stinnet, The Grass is
Always GreenerAlways Greener
Side (top-bottom):Side (top-bottom): Aki Matsui, Melaque; Angie Toth, Three IndigenousAki Matsui, Melaque; Angie Toth, Three Indigenous
Women; Caroline Robert, Italian DryerWomen; Caroline Robert, Italian Dryer
Bottom Row (l-r):Bottom Row (l-r): Sarah Huggins, The Callejon del Beso; BenSarah Huggins, The Callejon del Beso; Ben
Godkin, Rest in Peace; John Overton, Childhood; Carly Kavanagh,Godkin, Rest in Peace; John Overton, Childhood; Carly Kavanagh,
Piety and PovertyPiety and Poverty
32All Abroad Fall 2007
Every year the Texas State Office of Study Abroad sponsors a photoEvery year the Texas State Office of Study Abroad sponsors a photo
contest for Texas State students. The best photos are then slelectedcontest for Texas State students. The best photos are then slelected
for a gallery display in the Alkek Library.for a gallery display in the Alkek Library.
The top two photos win a certificate recognizing their achievementThe top two photos win a certificate recognizing their achievement
and a cash award named for Dr. Byron Augustin. Many studentsand a cash award named for Dr. Byron Augustin. Many students
submitted photographs from all over the wrold. An awards committeesubmitted photographs from all over the wrold. An awards committee
selectes the best photos for display and then the best two photos toselectes the best photos for display and then the best two photos to
receive the top awards.receive the top awards.
The 2007 first and second place recipients are Spencer Milsap andThe 2007 first and second place recipients are Spencer Milsap and
Susan Rauch. The photos can also be seen in a slideshow on theSusan Rauch. The photos can also be seen in a slideshow on the
study abroad website at:study abroad website at:
http://www.studyanywhere.texstate.edu/sa_announcements.http://www.studyanywhere.texstate.edu/sa_announcements.
Famine-Coffin Ship (SECOND PLACE)
Student: Susan Rauch
Major: English
Program: Texas State - Ireland

23. Student Photos:
Top Center (l-r):
Amy Dawson, Weaving Triptych; Aaron Baseman,
Catholic Church
Left (top-bottom):
Elizabeth Graham, Finnbar’s Shrine; Blake Sakow,
Curiosity; Sarah Bibbs, Shoemaker; Sarah Bibbs,
Strength; Michelle Brandt, Firenze Di Notte
Right (top-bottom):
Travis LeMoine, Tuscan Vineyard; Alysha Nicole
Hernandez, La Iglesia; Erin Dees, Rathaus; Spencer
Milsap, Brunelleschi’s Dome; Whitney Bell, Sunset at
Stonehedge.
Bottom Center (l-r):
Miranda Laine, Bernini’s Fountain; Ashley Kegley,
Citta Del Mare.
Next Page (top-bottom):
Brenda Cornejo, Tower Bridge; Angie Toth, Misol
TTA; Katherine E. Cox, Art Deco Building; Elizabeth
J. Graham, Darwin’s Home

24. Introducing...
Texas State Study-Abroad
2007- 2008
July 7- August 6, 2008
Courses:
Archeological Field School
Directed Study
photo courtesy of SXC
May 7- August 6, 2008
Courses: Eco 5320 Latin American Economies
Mgt 5318 Cross Cultural Management
Contact:
Dr. Jack Mogab
jm12@txstate.edu
512.245.3249
photo courtesy of SXC
Contacts:
Dr. Robert Fischer
Dept. of Modern Languages
512.245.2360
36All Abroad Fall 2007
Contact:
Dr. James Garber
jg07@txstate.edu
512.245.8272
Belize
St. Ignacio - Summer II
Chile
Santiago - Mini Session
photo courtesy of SXC
July 12- August 10, 2008
Courses: Business Spanish,
Spanish culture, Language,
Literature, International
Business in Latin America
Contacts:
Dr. Lucy Harney
harney@modlang.txstate.edu
Dr. Ivan Blanco
rb39@txstate.edu
Ecuador
Quito - Summer II
July 4- 25, 2008
Courses:
FR 4390 French culture,
language, or literature
France
Amiens - Summer II
photo courtesy of SXC

25. England
Canterbury - Summer II
July 6 - August 9, 2008
Courses: Travel Writing
Irish Literature
Contact:
Professor Steve Wilson
sw13@txstate.edu
Photo: Susan Rauch
May 8- June 6, 2008
Courses: Geography Field Studies
Independent Study
Contact:
Dr. Jim Peterson
jp01@txstate.edu
photo: SXC
Contact:
Dr. Debra Charlton
dc21@txstate.edu
512.245-2147
photo: Stacie McGee
July 7 - August 4, 2008
CONTACTS:
Dr. John McGee
rm08@txstate.edu
Stacie McGee,
LMSW
Photo: Erin Dees
37 All Abroad Fall 2007
Ireland
Cork - Summer II
Germany
Hannover - Mini-Session
England
Stratford - Summer I
June 2-30, 2008 Courses:
TH 4360/5360 Problems in
Theatre: Shakespeare Through
Performance; Research Courses:
Anthropology,
English, POSI,
Psychology, Social
Work
Italy (Language)
Florence-(Firenze) Summer I
Italy (Art)
Rome, Florence, Venice- Summer I
Japan
Nagoya - Summer I
June 2 - June 27, 2008
Courses: Intermediate Italian
2310 & 2320
photo: Moira DiMauro-Jackson
Contacts:
Professor Jeffrey Dell
jd33@txstate.edu
Eric Weller
ed01@txstate.edu
Dr. Darryl Patrick
dp21@txstate.edu
photo:TxState Abroad /Japan
CONTACT:
Dr. Mayumi Moriuchi
mm18@txstate.edu
(512) 245-1347
photo:Tx State Dept of Anthropology Webpage
38All Abroad Fall 2007
Contact:
Professor Moira Di Mauro-Jackson
dm11@txstate.edu
512.245.2360
May 25 - June 23, 2008
Courses:
Art 4308 D&I 4321I
photo: Moira DiMauro-Jackson
June 2-27, 2008
Courses:
JAP2310/2320
JAP4390 Ind Study
Comstock, Texas
Mini-Session
May 12 – 29, 2008
Field Methods in Rock Art
ANTH 3375A
ANTH 4360
Directed Study
ANTH 5374G
Rock Art Field Metho
Contact:
Dr. Britt Bousman
bousman@txstate.edu
Dr. Carolyn Boyd,
cb55@txstate.edu

26. Meixico
Cuernavaca- Mini Session & Summer I
Mexico
Guadalajara - Summer I
Mexico
Monterrey - Summer I
photo: gettyimages
photo:SXC photo: navabrodziaksanchez
May 12 - July 3, 2008
Courses: SPAN2310, 2320
(optional 1410/1420)
CONTACT:
Alberto Mendez
am11@txstate.edu
512.245.2360
011.52.777.312.5279
June 2 - 27, 2008
Courses:
SPAN 2310, 2320 Intermediate Spanish I & II
SPAN 4390. 5390 Spanish Culture, Language, or Literature
June 2 - 27, 2008
Courses:
SPAN 2310, 2320 Intermediate Spanish I & II
SPAN 3311, 3312 Business Spanish I & II
SPAN 4390. 5390 Spanish Culture, Language, or Literature
CONTACT:
Dr. Lucey Harney
harney@txstate.edu
512.245.2490
or 512.245.2360
Mexico
Tulum - Summer I & II
May 17- August 3, 2008
Courses:
ANTH 4360 Directed Study
ANTH 3326 Maya History and Society
ANTH 3375U Community Reseach Project
Contact:
Dr. Ana Juárez
aj07@txstate.edu
512.245.7838
39 All Abroad Fall 2007
Photo: SXC
Spain
Barcelona - Summer II
Spain
Valladolid - Spring & Summer I
Photo: sxcPhoto: sxc
July 7 - August 6, 2008
Courses:
POSI 2310 Principles of American Government
POSI 2320 Functions of American Gonvernment
POSI 4379 / 5398 Indepedent Study
May 18 - June 20, 2008
Courses:
SPAN 2310 Intermediate Spanish I
SPAN 2320 Intermediate Spanish II
SPAN 4390* Studies in Spanish
Culture, Language, or Literature
Contact:
Dr. Hassan Tajalli
ELA #328
tajalli@txstate.edu
512.245.3284
40All Abroad Fall 2007
South Africa - Winter Break
Contact:
Dr. Sergio Martinez
sm55@txstate.edu
Department of Modern Languages
512.245.3071 or 512.245.2360
International Exchange Programs
Canada
Conahec
Chile
Universidad del Pacifico
France
Universite Montesquieu-
Bordeaux 4
Japan
Kansai Gaidai University
Meiji Gakuin University
Mexico
Monterrey Tech
Conahec
Netherlands
Hogeschool Zeeland
Haagse Hogeschool
Sweden
Stockholm Institute of
Education
Texas State also partners with the following universities
for students who wish to experience the semester-long
study abroad experience. Visit the Office of Study Abroad
and Extension Studies website for more information.
December 29, 2008 - January 17, 2009
Courses
Undergraduate and Graduate
in Social Work or Directed Ind
Study
Contact:
Dr. Catherine Hawkins
ch11@txstate.edu