Goshen College offers weeklong study tour to Mexico for nontraditional students in April and May

GOSHEN, Ind. – “Participating in this course was a wonderful investment of my time and money; my expectations were met and surpassed with the multiple learning opportunities while experiencing different parts of the United States of Mexico.” So reported an adult student who participated in Goshen College’s 2007 study tour to Mexico for nontraditional students and community members.

After a successful first year “pilot” tour in 2007, Goshen College again is offering a continuing education study tour for adults titled “Our Mexican Neighbors.” This five-week evening course meets twice each in April and May, plus it includes a one-week trip to Mexico City and Cuernavaca. Intended for business leaders, elected officials, teachers, church staff and citizens of Elkhart County, the tour-course is offered at a discounted price for continuing education students, or may be taken for college credit for an additional fee.

The course is designed to provide an overview of Mexican history and politics along with a sampling of Mexico’s culture. The goal is to increase understanding of the social, economic and political forces that have led to Mexican immigration in recent decades.

The class will meet two Wednesdays from 6-10 p.m. (April 23, April 30). Then, the class will travel for a full week in Mexico, May 3 to May 10. The course concludes with two Wednesdays, 6-10 p.m. (May 14, 21) to review the insights gained.

Highlights include visiting Teotihuacan with the Pyramid of the Sun and Pyramid of the Moon; attending a briefing at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City; taking a walking tour of Cuernavaca, including the Palace of Cortez; going on a field trip to the village of Buenavista with visits to the local market, a factory, health clinic, school; and seeing a famous Diego Rivera mural.

Last year, 15 adults studied and traveled together to explore both history and current social-political conditions in Mexico. A local plant manager said, “The trip was extremely educational, rewarding, and entertaining. The group was very diverse, but congenial, making the experience even more gratifying. The total experience has given me a better understanding of the political climate and of the social issues pressing them on a daily basis. This will help me temper my one-sided view of our border and our southern neighbors.”

Tour leader and campus faculty member is Goshen College Professor of Economics Delmar Good. Lecturers and tour guides are arranged by the Cemenahuac Educational Community, a language and culture school in Cuernavaca.

To discuss details or request registration forms, contact Mary Moretto, director of DAES, by calling (574) 535-7458 or emailing marym@goshen.edu; or contact Good by calling (574) 535-7452 or emailing delgg@goshen.edu. For further information, see the Division of Adult and External Studies (DAES): www.goshen.edu/daes/Home

Editors: For more information about this release, to arrange an interview or request a photo, contact Goshen College News Bureau Director Jodi H. Beyeler at (574) 535-7572 or jodihb@goshen.edu.

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Goshen College, established in 1894, is a residential Christian liberal arts college rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. The college’s Christ-centered core values – passionate learning, global citizenship, compassionate peacemaking and servant-leadership – prepare students as leaders for the church and world. Recognized for its unique Study-Service Term program, Goshen has earned citations of excellence in Barron’s Best Buys in Education, “Colleges of Distinction,” “Making a Difference College Guide” and U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges” edition, which named Goshen a “least debt college.” Visit www.goshen.edu.