Summer Study Abroad in Himalaya, India
June 6 - June 28, 2008


Photos by Joey LaValley, Summer Study Abroad Student, India 2007

[GENERAL INFORMATION] [PROGRAM DATES, STRUCTURE, AND COURSE OFFERINGS]
[PROGRAM LOCATION & BACKGROUND] [APPLICATION & ADMISSION]
[PROGRAM COSTS] [FINANCIAL AID] [PAYMENT SCHEDULE]
[REFUNDS] [REGISTRATION] [HEALTH MATTERS & INSURANCE]
[PASSPORTS & VISAS] [CAMPUS REPRESENTATIVES]

GENERAL INFORMATION 

The Field Studies in Geography program will introduce students to mountain geography and sustainable mountain development using the Garhwal Himalaya of India as an example. Students will explore the complexities of mountain environments and emerging development issues. This will include the physical and cultural geography of the Himalaya in general and the Garhwal region specifically.

This course will also cover a variety of issues relating to resource use and conservation in the Himalaya. These include theories of ecological crisis and the response. Students will gain an appreciation for a traditional mountain culture. The sustainable mountain development portion of this course will introduce students to the concept of sustainable development and will include basic concepts of development theory and the evolution of the concept of sustainable development in a mountain context. This will include issues of livelihoods, conservation and global economic development. Students will learn through extensive readings, class discussions, direct field experience (including living in a remote mountain village), meetings with development officials, sustainability activists and stakeholders in the region.

PROGRAM DATES, STRUCTURE, AND COURSE OFFERINGS

COURSE TIMING:        
The course will take place from June 6th to the 28th, 2008. There will be several meetings during the spring semester of 2008.

COURSE CREDIT:
This course is offered for six (6) credit hours of geography (GHY5590). There are two three-hour courses offered: Mountain Geography and Sustainable Mountain Development

SAMPLE ITINERARY:
(Day 1): Arrive in New Delhi, spend the night in the city.

(Day 2): Travel to the holy city of Rishikesh on the Ganges River by train. The night will be spent in a GMVH rest house with opportunity to explore the local markets.
 
(Day 3): Layover day at GMVH rest house. Fieldtrip to the shores of the holy Ganges River in Haridwar during the day.

(Day 4-9): Travel deeper into the mountains via bus and begin trekking. Spend 6 nights traveling through the High Himalaya under the power of your own two feet. Trekking portions of the trip are porter supported so one only needs to carry their personal belongings. Most of our treks take place above treeline in beautiful alpine meadows where you will begin to understand why the Himalaya’s are called the abode of the gods. Trekking will fall into a daily pattern. Wake-up and pack leaving out what is needed for class and breakfast. After class and breakfast we hit the trail. A couple hours hiking, a brief lunch, and then onward to the camping spot. Once in camp the tents are set up and over a hot cup of chai do some reading, take a nap, explore the local area, or  work on your journal. Class is held in the evening before dinner.

(Day 10): Travel to Lata, a village along the Dhauli Ganga River. Begin the home stay portion of our course. You will move into an authentic Bhotiya house.

(Day 11): This day will consist of down time to journal, read and observe the local communities at work. A fieldtrip will travel to a government dam sight neighboring Lata.

(Day 12): Travel further north along the Dhauli Ganga to Ghamsali, a trading village before the Tibetan boarder.

(Day 13): Breakfast in Ghamsali. Fieldtrip to Niti, the last village before the Tibetan boarder and temple.

(Day 14): Travel back to Lata, with the remainder of the day for exploring the local area.

(Day 15): Visit the Nanda Devi Temple, thought to be over 2000 years old and take part in  a cultural interaction. After the cultural interaction admire/purchase hand made wool goods (rungs, hats, sweaters, blankets) from the villagers.

(Day 16): Master the art of the two man shovel you take part in a service project building bricks for a much needed community center in Lata.

(Day 17): Trek to Lathi Kharak, a Forest Department hut., that provides some of the best Himalayan views in the region.

(Day 18): Morning field trip to Sunni Kharak, a grazing encampment that provides glimpses into the Nanda Devi Biosphere core zone and a stunning perspective of the 25,600 foot Nanda Devi. Trek back to Lathi Kharak.

(Day 19): Trek back to Lata, with the remainder of the day for reading, relaxing, bathing or journaling.

(Day 20): Travel back to Delhi via jeeps and train. All day traveling. No class.

(Day 21): All day class field trip south to Agra to see India’s most famous attraction, the Taj Mahal and return.

(Day 22): Explore the city of Delhi, project presentations, farewell banquet, and depart for home.

PROGRAM LOCATION & BACKGROUND

The Garhwal region of the Indian Himalayans is known as the abode of the gods. It is a holy place containing some of the most sacred sites in India. One of these sites, Nanda Devi is the second highest mountain in India and worshiped throughout the region as the physical incarnation of the goddess Parbati. Nanda Devi is the centerpiece of the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, a United Nations World Heritage Site for its extensive biodiversity.

The designation of Nanda Devi as a Biosphere Reserve has resulted in the closure of some areas once claimed by local populations. Closures have limited the local people’s ability to graze their sheep and goats in the high pastures and as such many people have either sold or slaughtered their flocks resulting in economic downturn for the area. Recently local people have implemented a plan to promote community based eco tourism that will benefit the local environment while providing communities in the area with a sustainable livelihood option. For more information on the struggle for resource rights and sustainable livelihoods in the Nanda Devi area please go to www.nandadevi.org. If you are interested in learning more about sustainable community based eco-tourism in this area please go to www.mountainshepherds.com. We work closely with the Nanda Devi Campaign and the Mountain Shepherds on our courses.

Transhumance/Trade:
Transhumance is a form of migratory pastoralism which may of the villages of the Niti Valley have traditionally practiced. Shepherds move their herd seasonally from high alpine summer pastures to more moderate grazing lands at lower altitude. Herd animals would be loaded with goods to be traded with Tibet.

Ethnography/Religion:
The Bhotiya make up the vast majority of the communities found in this region . They are a Indo-Tibetan peoples who gain their name form the native Tibetan word Bo which means Tibetan. These communities hold three distinct religions beliefs: Buddhism, Hinduism, and an animistic faith.

Agriculture:
Farming is practiced with sustainable methods of agriculture as crops of barley, millet, wheat, local pulses and grains are grown. Cash crops include kidney beans and potatoes. Fields are terraced today as they have been for thousands of years minimizing erosion and maximizing the steep slopes of the valley.

APPLICATION & ADMISSION

Any full-time or part-time Georgia Southern University student is eligible to participate on the program. Students from other institutions, in good academic standing, will be admitted on a space-available basis and must enroll as transient students at Georgia Southern University. The Center for International Studies at Georgia Southern will be happy to assist any transient students.

You may print-out the online application form or pick-up a copy of the form from the program representatives listed at the end of the webpage. Completed applications should be submitted to the Center for International Studies at Georgia Southern University, along with a required application fee of $200 and two passport-size photographs. Students will be considered officially admitted into the program only when their academic status has been verified and their application fee has been paid.

Because of space limitations, acceptance is on a first come, first served basis, according to the date of receipt of the application and application fee. Students are encouraged to apply well in advance of the application deadline to assure a place in the program. The application deadline for the 2008 program is March 14, 2008.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE APPLICATION FORM

PROGRAM COSTS

The cost for the 23 day program is $3295.00 and includes:

• Three meals per day while in India
• All transportation in India, including train tickets
• All lodging, including home stays, hotels and guest houses
• Permit fees
• Excursion to the Taj Mahal
• Course reader
• End of course banquet

The cost of the course does not include:

• Round trip airfare to and from New Delhi
• Tuition and fee

FINANCIAL AID

Courses on the 2008 Field Studies in Geography program are part of the regular offerings of Georgia Southern University; therefore, students may apply for loans or grants for which they would normally be eligible. Georgia Southern University students should apply for financial aid as far in advance as possible. For more information, please contact:

Margaret Pigatt-Lanier, Financial Aid Counselor
Georgia Southern University
Office of Financial Aid, Rosenwald Building
P.O. Box 8065
Statesboro, GA 30460-8106
Phone: (912)478-0981
Fax: (912) 478-0573
Email: mplanier@georgiasouthern.edu

Students must meet all campus requirements in applying for financial aid.

PAYMENT SCHEDULE

The non-refundable $200.00 deposit is due by March 15th along with the course application form and medical form. The deposit will hold your spot on the course. In order to maintain your spot, you must pay the remainder of what you owe ($3095.00) in two payments of $1550.00 and $1545.00. The first payment is due by April 1st and the second is due by May 1st. Students must make their payments directly to Student Fees. Credit cards can be used to pay online. When you pay, make sure to specify that you are paying for the India Study Abroad course.

REFUNDS

Students’ application fees and other payments are applied towards required advances, purchase of train tickets, and other costs related to the program. Note that the $200 application fee is non-refundable and covers processing and reservation fees. Participants who withdraw from the program after the application deadline will receive a refund according to the following schedule:

• Withdrawal before April 1: All but $165 application fee will be refunded.
• Withdrawal between April 1 and May 1: All but $665 will be refunded.
• Withdrawal after May 1: No money will be refunded.

Note: All withdrawals must be made in writing to the Center for International Studies at Georgia Southern University in order for refunds to be processed.

REGISTRATION

The Center for International Studies at Georgia Southern University will register students in their courses. All credit earned will be Georgia Southern credit.

HEALTH MATTERS & INSURANCE

Students will be required to submit a confidential medical form along with their application and deposit.Students with special medical problems may be required to provide a physician’s assurance of their ability to undertake foreign travel and study. Students with special needs should check with the program staff for more information.

Participants should bring medications they regularly depend upon and should have copies of prescriptions in generic form in case they need to acquire additional medications.

Check with the Centers for Disease Control www.cdc.gov for recommended immunizations and also consult with your physician.

 

PASSPORTS & VISAS

Everyone who travels to India must have a valid passport and a tourist visa from the Embassy of India. Participants with expired passports should have them renewed. Participants who have never had a passport should begin the process of obtaining one immediately. It can often take more than ten weeks to get a passport. Georgia Southern University students should inquire at the Study Abroad Resource Room (Forest Drive Building Room 1316) for instructions on obtaining a passport and to have passport photos taken.

Holders of U.S. passports must have tourist visas for the India summer study abroad. Visas are obtained by sending your valid passport and required application materials to the Consulate of India. Participants traveling on passports of other countries should contact their campus representative for assistance in determining whether they need a visa.

More information about passports can be accessed online at: http://travel.state.gov/passport/

Visa Information: http://www.indianembassy.org/newsite/visa.asp

CAMPUS REPRESENTATIVES

The list that follows contains the representatives for this study abroad program. Any of them should be able to provide more information on the Field Studies in Geography. For more information you may also write or call the Center for International Studies at Georgia Southern University, the lead institution of this program, at the following address:

Center for International Studies Georgia Southern University P.O. Box 8106 Statesboro, GA 30460-8106 Phone: (912)478-0332 Fax: (912)478-0824 Email: stdyabrd@georgiasouthern.edu Mr. Jeff Palis Program Coordinator Georgia Southern University Center for International Studies P.O. Box 8106 Statesboro , GA 30460-8106 Phone: (912)478-1747 Fax: (912)478-0824 Email: jpalis@georgiasouthern.edu Mr. Matt Parker On-campus representative and assistant instructor Southern Adventures Georgia Southern University Po Box 8078 Statesboro , GA 30460 Phone: 912-478-0677 Email: Mparker5-gw@georgiasouthern.edu Dr. Keith Bosak Assistant Professor of Nature-Based Tourism Department of Society and Conservation College of Forestry and Conservation 32 Campus Drive University of Montana Missoula, MT 59812 Ph: 406.243.6062 Fax: 406.243.6656 Email: keithbosak@gmail.com