TRAVEL AND DIPLOMACY

Catalog description

This course explores foreign travel, self-direction, and citizen diplomacy. Freedom to travel in an increasingly globalized world can inspire curiosity and open-mindedness. Transformational learning will be examined through the human aspects of travel shared across personal and collective levels of engagement with others. The curiosity to travel can lead to meaningful learning, life experiences, and increased self-direction when reflected upon. Engaging with people outside of one's usual environment initiates opportunities for reciprocal exchanges and sharing of information, knowledge, values, and beliefs across physical, emotional, psychological, social, and intellectual dimensions. Overcoming myths and misconceptions of stereotypes for instance, can lead to an understanding of the deeper notions of culture. An empowered and responsible learner may have a greater openness to others with an understanding of the complex world and unique life situations that can be learned through systems of exchanges with people through travel. Alternative forms of diplomacy can be learned and integrated into one's life through travel that can promote further development. Travel to change may inspire positive rewards resulting in potential immediate and long term benefits to people's lives and the global community.