SJC Students Travel to Romania

August 06, 2014

PATCHOGUE, N.Y. – AUGUST 6, 2014 – This summer, a dozen St. Joseph’s College (SJC) students and one psychology faculty member traveled to Romania for 16 days as part of a study abroad course entitled, Romanian and American Identity Issues, focusing on psychological and sociological concepts related to identity in both Americans and Romanians.

The trip began in Brasov, Romania, where the students and Dr. Kathryn Frost discovered a 19th century castle, a medieval castle and a fortress with areas dating back to the time of Christ. The group then moved on to Sibiu, where they enjoyed a meal with shepherds, learned about icon glass painting and visited a Roma/Gypsy village. From there, the group spent a week in the mining region of Lupeni and two final days in Bucharest. 

“This study abroad experience did not involve 13 people who happened to be traveling together, seeing the same sights,” said Dr. Kathryn Frost, adjunct professor in the Department of Psychology at SJC. “Rather, the students became quite close during the trip and feel that they now have lifelong friends.” 

In Lupeni, students worked with an organization called the New Horizons Foundation and smaller groups within the Foundation called IMPACT Clubs that carry out the foundation’s mission of bringing young Romanians together to diagnose and tackle specific issues within their community. The SJC students worked with one IMPACT Club in particular to create a park where they could socialize and play games. Within this new park, the students were able to help clear the land, build an awning and lay a stone walking path. 

During their week in Lupeni, students lived with host families who showed their international houseguests the best of their country. 

“Prior to traveling to Romania, students were the most anxious about this portion of the trip, but were pleasantly surprised at how loving and caring their families were, how much they opened their homes and their hearts to them, and how the families wanted desperately to show the students various aspects of their country and way of life,” said Dr. Frost. 

For more information about the study abroad programs at SJC, visit www.sjny.edu/globalstudies, email [email protected], or call 631.687.1280 for the Long Island Campus or 718.940.5306 for the Brooklyn Campus.