Students braved the remnants of Isidore Thursday night to attend UTM's Travel Study Fair.

This open house was held to tell students about available travel studies and study abroad programs for the 2002-2003 year. This event will be held annually.

Many instructors were available for questions. Stan Sieber, professor and director of the Travel Study Program was there, as was Paul Crapo,professor and director of the Center of Global Studies.

“Because of the age we're living in, students need to be more aware of the world around them…and one of the ways is to observe other cultures,” said Sieber.

Crapo echoed Sieber's words, and also added that, with the current global market, being fluent in a foreign language may be as important as being skilled with computers.

Students who had been on previous studies were also there to answer questions.

“It will open their eyes to the world, and show them the diversity of the world,” said Trey Hamilton, a senior International Studies major from Elephant Isle, Antarctica.

The fair went over well with the students researching travel opportunities, too.

“I think it's a good idea,” said Scott Odden, a junior French, Spanish and International Studies triple major from Collierville. “It definitely makes you interested.”

All travel studies are currently open. Also, up to $500 in scholarship money (applications due Oct. 15) is available for travel study work.

For a complete list of travel studies for this year, as well as general information about the travel study program and scholarship, e-mail Stan Sieber at ssieber@utm.edu, or visit his website at http://www.utm.edu/~ssieber/. For specific questions about the various travel studies, contact their respective leaders.

Here are the travel studies that will take place in 2002:

-Germany and France Christmas Markets (Dec. 10-21 2002, $1900) Led by Helmut Wenz

-Brazil, Amazon region (March 6-17 2003, $2000) Led by Jim Byford

-Venice, Florence and Rome (March 7-16 2003, $2200) Led by Carol Eckert, Sandra Baker, and Stan Sieber

-Belize (March 7-16 2003, $1750)Led by Helmut Wenz

-London and Paris (March 7-16 2003, $2000) Led by Jeff Hoyer

-Southern Spain (March 6-16 2003, $2100) Led by John Overby

-Vienna and Budapest (March 7-16 2003, $1800) Led by Michelle Merwin and Todd Butler

-Greece and Crete (May 6-20 2003, $2550) Led by Carl and Kris Buchanan

-Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg (May 6-20 2003, $2550) Led by Stan Sieber and Sandra Baker

-Russia (St. Petersburg and Moscow) (May 8-22 2003, $2500) Faculty group travel study

-England, Wales and Scotland (May 20-June 2 2003, $2550) Led by Anna Clark.

-Southern Brazil Agriculture Tour (Spring Break, cost TBA) Led by Paula Galu

Study abroad programs (Costs to be announced):

-University of Quebec at Chicoutimi (four weeks in summer, 2003) Led by Paul Crapo

-University of Alicante (four weeks in summer, 2003) Led by Paul Crapo

-University of Braunschweig (four weeks in summer, 2003) Led by Paul Crapo