3roadening Minds Through Travel

Douglas Political Science Instructor Takes Students on a Unique Journey

Douglas College Online Feature

olitical Science Instructor Marlene Hancock doesn’t take stu- ents on your average field trip.

The Douglas College faculty member recently returned om a trip to Jordan to show students the culture and gov- irmmental policies of this middle-eastern country.

“Tt’s an interesting trip for young people, it broadens

inds and expands horizons,” says Hancock, “Its an opportu- ity of a lifetime.”

Hancock coordinated the trip and arranged free accommo- ation through an agreement with the Embassy of Jordan in Dttawa. The trip was a busy one as students met with the

stice Minister, members of parliament, the Department of litical Development and different organizations fighting overty in the country.

Hancock also ensured that the trip involved a humanitari-

mission.

“We worked hard to take used clothing with us for efugees and toys for orphan children. We also managed to urchase three goats at $200 a goat, so that they could be iven to families in rural areas,” says Hancock.

During the 16 day trip, the students experienced first-hand

e Jordanian culture and landscape. They traveled through

e deserts in Jordan, enjoying a 4x4 tour over the sand dunes, ind spent a night in one of the desert camps. Locals cooked a aditional Bedouin dinner in a Zarb (beneath the sand) for e group as well.

Hancock could see a change in the stereotypes that the tudents held of the Jordanian people.

“Tt changes the students’ perception of that part of the

world. The Arabs have a sense of humour that people don’t know about. The general image of them as terrorists is all wrong, the Jordanians will give you the shirt off their back if they could.” says Hancock.

Aida Tajbakhesh, a first-year student who took one of Hancock’s introductory political science courses, found the trip to Jordan a real eye-opener.

“T wasn’t really into political science at first but because of Marlene I became mote interested. I went to Jordan and saw how much the people are into politics and I learned how you really need to understand what’s going on around you and within your government.”

Tajbakhesh now wants to major in International Studies this fall and the trip to the Middle East was definitely a factor in her decision.

“When I went to Jordan I realized how much I’m missing out. There’s so much more out there in the world,” says Tajbakhesh.

The students spent most of the first week in the capital of Amman and traveled throughout the country for the remain- der of the trip. The tour brought them to the southernmost city in Jordan, Aqaba, where students had the opportunity to swim in the Dead Sea, one of the saltiest bodies of water in the world. According to Tajbakhes, the view at night from the hostel in Aqaba was stunning as you could see the glimmering lights of Egypt across the water, and Israel as well.

Hancock has been taking students to the Middle East for over six years and still finds it very rewarding.

“T feel quite strongly that experience is often the best

teacher. If I can open young minds, and take them beyon: classroom, it gives them a better sense of reality, I’ve beer doing that ever since I started teaching and students tell n their life has changed because of it.”

"2

Douglas College Instructor Marlene Hancock with students in front the Parliament Buildings in Amman, Jordan. Back row: Scott Elli Front Row (from left to right): Scott Diewold, Jonathan Leighs, Mc Hancock, Laurence Brown, Rose Gareb, Aida Tajblakish, George Gareb, Dominique Leclair

Dpnewseditor@gmail.com

This week we take a trip through time and check out the Osher Press issue 3, volume 19; October 14, 1985.

Top retro headline: “Only Fascists Need Apply”

The Other Press was not always the delightfully impartial publication it is today. In tl early days of the OP the paper brazenly wore its politics on its sleeve, resulting headlines th were often less-than-subtle, to say the least.

This particular headline referred to the then-upcoming Expo ‘86. In preparation fi the momentous occasion, BC’s Social Credit government was actively soliciting university ai college students to work at the six-month festival. As with most Socred initiatives, controve quickly arose, however. Despite the long hours, the kids would only be paid minimum wage which at the time was only four dollars an hour. This fact, coupled with the assumption tha the government was only targeting students to avoid having to use union labor, led the authors of the article to speculate that only “right wing kids” would be interested in taking such menial jobs.

With the 2010 Olympics just around the corner, one finds eerie parallels reading a cles about Expo ‘86. Many of the same criticisms live on. “The World’s Fair is just a waste good money that could be better spent on such things as education,” quips one student in 1 piece. “It would be a rather big embarrassment to work there,” says another. Such commen

could have easily been lifted from the campuses of today, which begs the obvious question. ___ does this mean only Nazis will be working in Whistler?

- Bottom retro headline: “Employment Outlook Bleak”