Dear Student,

    You expressed interest in the Nepal Cross-cultural for this upcoming M-Term 2004. Students going on this trip must realize that we will not be traveling as the typical tourist, but will be traveling with the explicit intention of learning as much as we can about South Asian cultures. For this reason, this will be no luxury, "first class" trip in the tourist sense of the term.  If you are not hearty and adventuresome, it would be better for you to seek another cross-cultural experience.  Also, taking a cross-cultural is a privilege not many at Messiah have, so if accepted, you will be expected to willingly participate in all scheduled activities.
    Group members are expected to cooperate with one another. Members will be expected to be gracious and open to one another and do their best to study, work and travel together more like a family than a big group of students with a "teacher chaperone". Since there will be a limit of 22 students and the organizers reserve the right to be selective, we urge you to take the attached application seriously.  First preference will be given to those who will be seniors in need of a cross-cultural.
    The cost of the trip will be $2700 (there will be additional costs for visas, passports, travel, etc...). This includes transportation, accommodations and at least two meals a day (on occasion you will be responsible for your own lunch). We are requiring a non-refundable $100 deposit to reserve you a place on the trip when you apply.  Your application will not be considered until you make your deposit.  If not selected for the trip, your deposit will be returned. After you turn in your application, we will hold a brief 10-minute interview at a mutually agreeable time. We will inform you of the date and time. In order to make this the best possible trip, we will meet for a couple of one-hour meetings at a designated time in both Fall and Spring, leading to our departure in May. All meetings are considered part of the class and attendance mandatory.  Notification of the inability to be at any of the designated meetings must be made to one of the leaders in advance of the meeting.

We hope to hear from you soon.

Dr. Bernardo A. Michael, Box 3051 (bmichael@messiah.edu)
 
 
 
 

Spotted Elephants in the Maithil style by women in Janakpur, Nepal. The Maithil or Maithili style traces its roots to ancient Mithila, in India (lying in the present-day north Indian state of Bihar).

NAME___________________________  YEAR OF GRADUATION 20___       MAJOR_______________

CAMPUS ADDRESS: Box:_________________              SUMMER ADDRESS____________________
(IF KNOWN NEXT YEAR)                             HOME?  Y  N
email: ________________________                                                             ____________________

AGE _____   BIRTHDATE __________ PHONE #  ___________________

PASSPORT # _________________                           TALENTS/HOBBIES__________________
(if you do not have one, work on getting it this summer)

HEALTH/DIETARY/PHYSICAL  CONCERNS TO BE AWARE OF

FOREIGN LANGUAGE STUDY (WHAT LANGUAGE AND HOW LONG—HIGH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE)

ACADEMIC ADVISOR  _____________________

REFERENCE ON CAMPUS OTHER THAN ADVISOR WHO COULD COMMENT ON YOUR PERSON_______________________________

HAVE YOU BEEN ON ANY OTHER CROSS-CULTURAL PROGRAMS OR HAVE YOU TRAVELLED OUTSIDE OF THE US?  IF SO, WHERE?   ________________________

HAVE YOU HAD ANY DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS TAKEN TOWARD YOU FROM THE DEAN'S OFFICE, STUDENT DEVELOPMENT OR J-COUNCIL?  IF SO, DESCRIBE THE SITUATION AND ACTION TAKEN.  USE THE BACK IF NECESSARY.
 

STATE THE REASON OR REASONS FOR YOUR INTEREST IN THIS CROSS-CULTURAL AS OPPOSED TO OTHER CROSS-CULTURALS OFFERED AT THIS TIME AND WHAT YOU HOPE TO GAIN IF SELECTED TO GO ON THIS CROSS-CULTURAL.
 
 

ARE YOU WILLING TO BEAR WITH THE DISCOMFORT THAT A CROSS CULTURAL COURSE SUCH AS THIS ONE MIGHT ENTAIL (UNFAMILIAR DIET, BEHAVIOR, TRAVEL, RESIDENCE, AND SO ON).
 

BRIEFLY, WHAT INFORMATION DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE COUNTRY OR ITS PEOPLE, HISTORY, GOVERNMENT, ETC.?