The Harding in Paris (HIP) overseas program is finishing up its first trip in Spain. The official expansion has opened up opportunities for studenta to learn a different culture than the regular Paris program.
“We have already spent time in Madrid, the medieval city of Avila, Granada and now the Canary Islands,” Dean of International Programs Jeff Hopper said. “Spain makes a magnificent contrast to studying and living in France.”
With 11 students currently at HIP, the program is much smaller than Harding in Greece or Harding in Florence. According to International Program Administrator Ashel Parsons, the size of the trip is unique to Harding.
“Paris is the most studied-abroad location in the world,” Parsons said. “Surprisingly, for Harding students, it’s never been a huge interest. We’ve always wondered why because it has always been so popular everywhere else.”
According to Parsons, the International Programs Office has been looking for ways to improve the HIP program, which resulted in a month of the trip being spent in Spain. Parsons said that while in Spain, the students will be receiving a concentrated experience like any other overseas program. However, learning about culture, food and architecture will only be briefly discused on in each city before moving onto the next location.
According to Hopper, the students were able to tour the cities after classes had finished for the day.
“I expect highlights of the trip to be the two art museums we visited in Madrid, the walled city of Avila, the Islamic palace Alhambra in Granada and the magnificent architecture of Antonini Gaudi in Barcelona,” Hopper said
According to Hopper, the students traveled to their last destination, Barcelona, on Feb. 19 before heading to Paris. Hopper said he hopes students will be able to compare the culture of Spain to France by the end of the program.
“I’m confident that the students are appreciating Spain, but it is not until they see France and study there that they will be able to fully recognize the significant differences of these two cultures,” Hopper said.
The HIP program will arrive in Paris on Feb. 24, for the remainder of the semester.
