FROM THE DEPARTMENT CHAIR
Robson Marinho, PhD
Personal Blog: http://robsonmarinho1.blogspot.com/
Welcome to Belarus!
From now on, our newsletter will feature some of the places we will visit in our Study Tour. Although we did not mention before, one of the seven countries in our itinerary is Belarus, in whose capital, Minsk, we will stay overnight. Over forty percent of its territory is forested, and its strongest economic sectors are agriculture and manufacturing. Before the 20th century, Belarus belonged to several countries, and after the Russian in 1939 the country took its modern shape and was incorporated into the Soviet Union. The nation was devastated in World War II, losing about a third of its population and more than half of its economic resources, being redeveloped in the post-war years. During the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Belarus declared independence on August 25, 1991. Beautiful castles enrich its landscape as seen below.
Departure from Chicago
All airline tickets have been issued. It is now time for preparation, so please take note of the airline information and departure time from Chicago. We will fly on Thursday, May 31, at 4:45 pm from the O’Hare International Airport in Chicago. Since international check-in is required 3 hours prior to departure, please make your plans to arrive at O’Hare no later than 1:00 pm, so we can have time for our group check-in together. Here is the airline information:
- Airline: Lufthansa
- Date and Time: Thursday, May 31, Chicago O'Hare at 4:45 pm
- Flight Number: LH 497
- Destination: Copenhagen, with one stop in Munich
- Return flight: Lufthansa flight # 436, arriving in Chicago on Sunday, June 17 at 2:05 pm
Airport Transportation
For those who live around campus, Andrews is providing free transportation from the university to Chicago O’Hare. The van will depart from the School of Education parking lot on Thursday, May 31, at 10:00 am. If you plan to join the Andrews transportation, please email me at marinho@andrews.edu so we can provide the exact number of seats. For those who are flying from elsewhere, please book your flight to arrive in Chicago around noon, in order to prevent possible delays.
Airport Meeting
Our first group gathering will happen at the airport on Thursday, May 1, at 1:00 pm, as soon as we meet for the check-in. This will be an opportunity for final instructions and social interaction with our travel mates. Usually this is the beginning of fun chats and long-term friendships. The photo below shows the first gathering of the China tour.
Russian Visa Application
Russian visa is required for U.S. passport holders, and the time to apply for a visa begins on March 1, since it must be within 90 days of the proposed travel date. Make sure you have a valid passport for at least 6 months beyond the date of application. In case you need to renew your passport, you must do it now. Participants are responsible for their own passports and visa.
Visa for Denmark and other countries of the European Union is not required of U.S. passport holders. All passport holders of any other country, please verify if your country is required to apply for Denmark and Russian visas on the following website: http://www.visahq.com/visas.php
There are different ways of applying for a Russian visa as follows:
- Russian Embassy: http://evisa.kdmid.ru - This is the official site of the Russian Embassy, where applications are available online. The visa fee for a single entry is $140.00, and the application steps are described in the website. However, the Embassy does not provide the required Tourist Voucher.
- ZVS Visa Services: http://zvs.com/tourkits.php - This is a company in partnership with the Russian Embassy to provide easier visa services. Our travel agent works with this visa company and advised us to use the services of ZVS because this company has access to our group booking and can provide the Tourist Voucher approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which is a government issued support letter including information about itinerary and hotels. We recommend ZVS visa services because the Russian Embassy does not provide the Tourist Voucher. The visa fee is $140.00 plus a service fee of $51.00 (including group discount), plus the Voucher fee of $35.00. Those are the steps for applying at ZVS:
a. First call ZVS at: 1-866-788-1100
b. Provide the Tour Account - Trafalgar Booking #: A399172 (In the name of Affordable Tours – Andrews University. This acc. # qualifies for the $51.00 service fee instead of $99.00 on the online form)
c. Follow their instructions
e. Type of visa: Tourist
f. Validity: Single Entry (up to 30 days)
g. Date of entry into Russia: June7
h. Departure date from Russia: June 12
i. Mail passport, photo and required documents as instructed
There are many other online visa services, but they don’t have access to our group booking account, so they are not recommended.
Note: Non-U.S. citizens residing in the US should also submit proof of legal status in the USA (Permanent Resident Card, or I-20, I-94, HB1 etc.), and a photocopy of medical insurance card.
Tour Syllabus and Textbook
Please see the Course Syllabus for our Study Tour on the side menu of this page, with detailed information on required readings and course assignments. Make sure to order your textbooks now, so you have a chance to read them prior to the trip and participate in the discussions. The textbooks are:
Wildavsky, Ben (2010). The Great Brain Race: How Global Universities Are Reshaping the World. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. ISBN-13: 9780691146898 (Kindle available).
Price: $17.79 at: http://www.amazon.com/
Johnson, David (2010). Politics, Modernisation and Educational Reform in Russia: From Past to Present (Oxford, United Kingdon: Symposium Books.
ISBN-13: 978-1873927410
Available for $48.00 at: http://www.amazon.com/
After the trip, participants are required to write a research paper/article addressing a topic in international Higher Education. Please see the syllabus for guidelines.
Roommate Preference
If you have a preference, you can choose your roommate for the entire trip. As you know, hotel rooms will be assigned on a double occupancy basis. Single rooms may be arranged at an extra charge of $1260.00 to be charged to the participant’s account upon registration. If you have a roommate preference, please email me. If not, we will assign you a great roommate!
Updated Itinerary
Here is our updated itinerary, adjusted according to the tour operator latest information. Be prepared to have fun!
Day 1, Thursday May 31 - DEPART USA
Overnight flight to Copenhagen. Departing at 4:45 pm.
Overnight flight to Copenhagen. Departing at 4:45 pm.
Day 2, Friday June 1 - ARRIVE COPENHAGEN (3 NIGHTS)Welcome to Copenhagen, capital of Denmark. After check-in Relax and unwind after check-in.
In the afternoon, visit University of Copenhagen.
Hotel Scandic Sydhavnen
Day 3, Saturday June 2 - COPENHAGEN
In the morning, relax and enjoy our cross cultural worship and interaction meeting. After lunch, take a stroll through the city! Later we will meet our Travel Director and other fellow travelers.
Day 4, Sunday, June 3 - COPENHAGEN SIGHTSEEING
Your expert Local Guide takes you on a morning sightseeing tour, which includes the Little Mermaid, the Renaissance Stock Exchange, Royal Amalienborg Palace and Christiansborg Palace. Spend the rest of the day exploring the sights of your choice or shopping.
(Scandinavian buffet breakfast & dinner)
Day 5, Monday, June 4 - COPENHAGEN - STOCKHOLM
Cross the Oresund into Sweden and travel north through lush forests and meadows bordering the shores of Lake Vättern. Continue northwards to Stockholm, Sweden’s beautiful capital surrounded by islands. (Scandinavian buffet breakfast & dinner)
Hotel Scandic Kungen Kurva Day 6, Tuesday, June 5 - STOCKHOLM - AT SEA
Admire Stockholm’s biggest landmarks this morning with your knowledgeable Local Guide, with views of the Royal Palace and City Hall. Built on a maze of islands accessible by bridges, Stockholm is an interesting city to wander through. Don’t miss the opportunity to soak up the atmosphere before embarking on your mini-cruise to Finland!
(Scandinavian buffet breakfast / Dinner)
Day 7, Wednesday, June 6 - AT SEA - HELSINKI
Arrive early in Finland's capital for a sightseeing tour with your expert Local Guide. View Finlandia Hall, the Senate and market squares, sweeping boulevards and the beautiful domed Russian church.
Afternoon: Visit University of Helsinki. Subsequent class discussion.
(Scandinavian buffet breakfast & dinner)
Hotel Radisson Blu Espoo (Superior First Class)
Hotel Radisson Blu Espoo (Superior First Class)
Day 8, Thursday, June 7 - HELSINKI - ST. PETERSBURG (2 NIGHTS)
Follow the Finnish coast past the timber centre of Kotka, across the border into Russia and on through the town of Vyborg. Admire the scenery as you traverse the forests of Karelia, arriving later in St. Petersburg for a two-night stay. Enjoy complimentary drinks with dinner tonight! (Scandinavian buffet breakfast / Dinner)
Hotel Park Inn PulkovskayaDay 9, Friday, June 8 - ST. PETERSBURG SIGHTSEEING
The Tsar's Winter Palace, Nevsky Prospekt, St. Isaac's Cathedral, the Statue of Peter the Great all feature on your guided sightseeing tour. Visit the Hermitage Museum at noon.
The Tsar's Winter Palace, Nevsky Prospekt, St. Isaac's Cathedral, the Statue of Peter the Great all feature on your guided sightseeing tour. Visit the Hermitage Museum at noon.
Afternoon: Visit St. Petersburg State University – 3:00-5:00 pm. Subsequent class discussion.
7:00-8:00 pm – Cross-cultural worship and interaction meeting
(Buffet Breakfast & dinner)
Day 10, Saturday, June 9 - ST. PETERSBURG
After breakfast, cross the vast Russian steppes to the ancient city of Novgorod where you view the Kremlin Fort, Millennium Monument and St. Sophia Cathedral. Dine tonight at your hotel. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Hotel Park Inn Veliky
Day 11, Sunday, June 10 - MOSCOW (2 NIGHTS)
Your wonderful journey continues through picturesque villages to the Tver region where we will enjoy lunch. Then travel via Klin, the former home of Tchaikovsky, to the Russian capital, Moscow. (Buffet Breakfast & Lunch)
Hotel Holiday Inn Suchevsky
Day 12, Monday, June 11 - MOSCOW SIGHTSEEING
Moscow is a city full of wonderful buildings and monuments! Your knowledgeable Local Guide shows you an array of sights including Red Square, the Kremlin Walls and the domed St. Basil's Cathedral.
Moscow is a city full of wonderful buildings and monuments! Your knowledgeable Local Guide shows you an array of sights including Red Square, the Kremlin Walls and the domed St. Basil's Cathedral.
(Buffet Breakfast & dinner)
Afternoon: Visit Moscow State University – 2-4 pm. Subsequent class discussion.
Day 13, Tuesday, June 12 - MOSCOW - MINSK
Drive past the region of Borodino, site of Napoleon's great defeat, and stop for lunch near Smolensk. Later, cross the border into Belarus and continue to Minsk. After the Second World War the city was rebuilt in supreme Soviet style, which you can see during your orientation tour: wide avenues give on to gargantuan concrete buildings. It’s another world! Dine tonight at your hotel. (Buffet Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner)
Hotel Jubileynaya (Superior Tourist)Day 14, Wednesday, June 13 - MINSK - BREST - WARSAW (2 NIGHTS)
Traverse the huge plains of Belarus and stop for lunch at Brest on the Polish frontier. Afterwards, cross the River Vistula and arrive later in Warsaw, Poland’s capital. (Buffet Breakfast & Lunch)
Novotel Warsaw Centrum (First Class)Day 15, Thursday, June 14 - WARSAW SIGHTSEEING
Your expert Local Guide shows you the site of the Warsaw Ghetto and the landmarks of Warsaw’s Old Town, which was almost entirely destroyed during the Second World War. Later, you might like to soak up the city’s culture and nightlife. (Buffet Breakfast & dinner)
Day 16, Friday, June 15 - WARSAW - BERLIN (2 NIGHTS)
Travel west across the plains of central Poland and over the border into Germany, arriving later in the exciting city of Berlin! (Buffet Breakfast & Dinner)
Hotel Park Plaza Prenzlauerberg
Travel west across the plains of central Poland and over the border into Germany, arriving later in the exciting city of Berlin! (Buffet Breakfast & Dinner)
Hotel Park Plaza Prenzlauerberg
Day 17, Saturday, June 16 - BERLIN SIGHTSEEING AND FREE TIME
From the Reichstag Building to the Tiergarten, Brandenburg Gate, Unter den Linden Boulevard and the German State Opera House, your experienced Local Guide shows you all Berlin’s highlights this morning. Spend the rest of the day seeing the sights of your choice, or perhaps join an optional excursion exploring the city’s secret past.
In the afternoon, relax and enjoy our cross cultural worship and interaction meeting.
(Buffet Breakfast & dinner)
Day 18, Sunday, June 17 - BERLIN - USA
Say goodbye to your Travel Director and travelling companions at the end of your memorable Study Tour. Transfers to Berlin Tegel Airport (Buffet Breakfast).
List of Participants
This is the updated list of participants. Please double check your name below to make sure it is according to your passport. If you don’t see your name on the list below, that means that we don’t have your application form, so you need to provide it immediately in order to be included in the tour. If you have any questions, please let me know.
Name | Program | Comments |
1. Amilah Jamieson | Higher Education | |
2. Chantal Joanis | Higher Education | |
3. Ndalahwa Masanja | Higher Education | |
4. Sharese Swafford | Higher Education | |
5. Renaude Saint-Phard | Higher Education | |
6. Jeanne Katia Lopes | Higher Education | |
7. Hilda Scott | Educ. Leadership | |
8. Bill Colwell | Leadership | |
9. Cheolmin Jo | Leadership | |
10. Christiane Theiss | Leadership | |
11. Cary Valentine | Leadership | |
12. Luis Mancebo | Leadership | |
13. Timothy Privette | Leadership | |
14. Ralph Chatoor | Leadership | |
15. Shawn Collins 16. Beverly Collins, 17. Noah Collins 18. Kendall Collins | Leadership | |
Guest | ||
Guest | ||
Guest | ||
19. Winston Crawford | M. Div. | |
20. Rose Monroe | Higher Education | |
21. Evelyn Savory | Leadership | |
22. José Iran Miguel 23. Rachel Miguel | Guest Guest | |
24. Eliel Unglaub 25. Denise Unglaub | Guest Guest | |
26. Robson Marinho | Coordinator |
