During Jan Term, students can learn reflexology, participate in a United Nations simulation or learn how to audition for theatre – all here on campus. But others chose to study a world away, learning Spanish in Mexico, culture and politics in Cameroon, volunteering in Guatamala or taking advantage of a host of other travel and study opportunities.

Undergraduates are required to participate in one Jan Term course during their college career, but many take more.

This January, the College is offering four new international Jan Term trips, “Kenya Village Experience: Life Under an African Sky,” “Dominican Republic Experience of the Deaf,” “The Philippines: Coastal Conservation” and “Dublin, Stratford, London Tour.”

Twelve students will travel to Kenya with Associate Professor of Education Ochieng’ K’Olewe to conduct interdisciplinary research in his home village of K’Opudo.  Students will design informal studies around their majors as well as help create a learning center and library for the village. They will stay in homes with residents.

“It is very different from the experience that most of them have, living in a situation where amenities are at hand,” says K’Olewe. “There is no running water, flushing toilet, air conditioner or refrigerators.”

The group will also travel to the equator, Nairobi Animal Park and Lake Victoria.

Mark Rust, assistant professor of Education, is leading the course “Dominican Republic Experience of the Deaf.” Six McDaniel students, along with eight members of the Christ United Methodist Church for the Deaf in Baltimore, will teach a lesson about fairy tales to the 45 children ages 4-19 at the Deaf School in Santo Domingo. The students read on a first-grade level and many have learning disabilities and behavior issues.

“This is a testing ground,” says Rust. “If this works out well, I would love to go back with some graduate students.”

The students will also visit the National Deaf School of the Dominican Republic. Sign language in the country is 90 percent similar to American Sign Language, says Rust. Participating students are required to have taken ASL 2.

Students on the study tour “The Philippines: Coastal Conservation” will study the tropical coastal ecosystems of the Philippines, and how residents make their living from them. They will explore the environment from a political, economic and cultural perspective and will learn how local, national and international organizations are trying to conserve the coast and its resources.

“This is a unique opportunity for our students to see what is involved in conservation,” says Chief Information Officer and coordinator of Environmental Policy and Science Esther Iglich. “We’ll be out there talking to the people about what’s involved in the process, what the setbacks are and how they are making strides.”

Iglich is leading the trip with alumnus and returned Peace Corps volunteer Casey Gustowarow and former Peace Corps volunteer Laura Galti.

Theatre Arts Professor Ira Domser is leading the “Dublin, Stratford, London Tour.”

“Participants will have a chance to see world-class non-American Theatre,” says Domser. During the day we’ll be touring the cities and at night we’ll take in the theatre.”

The group will start their adventure in Dublin, Ireland, where they will walk in the footsteps of James Joyce and William Butler Yates. They’ll visit the Abbey Theatre and the Gaiety Theatre in Ireland. While in Stratford, the group will see “Henry V” and “Noughts and Crosses.” In London, they’ll watch “Avenue Q” and “The Sea.”

Look here for more information.