Global Initiatives Programs Reinstated

By: Aveen Burney, Elaine Qiao, CJ Smith, Chengyue Zhang, Leo Zhang

Global Initiatives are starting back up after being put on hold due to the pandemic. Ten-week trips for the 2022 fall term are being planned for Grenoble, Stratford, Tokyo, the Mountain School, and the Island School. Along with full-immersion language programs, the Global Initiatives Office organized trips to Boston and New York for international students over Fall break. 

Because of travel restrictions related to COVID-19, school travel outside of Exeter has been shut down since the spring of 2020. Instructor in Modern Languages, Kayoko Tazawa, who directs the school term abroad trip to Tokyo, noted, “The term abroad program in Japan and summer program in Japan did not run in 2020 and 2021 because of COVID. Japan was not permitting any foreigners to enter the country, and that is why we could not run the program.”

The Academy held two faculty-led trips to Boston and New York over Fall break for the first time since the pandemic started for international students. Dr. Eimer Page, Director of Global Initiatives, sent an email to the student body which outlined opportunities for global and domestic travel starting in the 2022-2023 academic year.

Students felt that the trips to Boston and New York were successful. Prep Leo Mizuno recounted the organization of his trip to New York. “I think the trip was very well planned,” Mizuno said. “Every day there was something new to see and learn.”

Prep Davido Zhang, who attended the trip to Boston, said, “The trip was certainly planned with details [sic]. Most events didn’t end up being canceled and I enjoyed the activities.” 

The Global Initiatives Office planned the Boston and New York trips to give international students a place to go over break without the pandemic complications of international travel. “I was absolutely thrilled by that opportunity because I didn’t know what else I would do during the break,” senior Daniela Grochalova said.

The Academy took various COVID precautions on the trips. Lower Nicholas Lin explained his circumstances: “I had a different situation to others because I was a close contact. The school quickly arranged another room for me to keep everyone safe.”

Mizuno also acknowledged the precautions against COVID-19 taken. “During a pandemic, it is hard to travel but it was great that we were able to do it safely, especially in a big city like New York.”

Despite all the COVID protocols, most of the activities were not significantly affected. “Students were expected to adhere to protocols regarding public health such as wearing masks and applying personal sanitation, but, other than that, I don’t think [the trip] experienced many hindrances,” prep Junhyeok Jang said.

Faculty directors of the term-abroad programs expressed their views on reopening international travel in the 2022-23 academic year. Director of the Washington Intern Program (WIP) William Jordan expressed his outlook on the future of the program. “I also expect it [WIP] to run next year—surely the pandemic restrictions will be a thing of the past by the spring of 2023! But of course, none of us thought it would go on this long back in 2020.” 

Many students are excited about the reopening of international programs. Upper Azza Uwhubetine, who is applying to the term abroad in Stratford, said,  “This trip is for next year, so I’m hoping that COVID is not as bad as it is right now because it’s a great opportunity and it’s something that I’m very much interested in.”

Program directors have also planned for the further impacts of COVID on international travel. French Instructor and Director of the Grenoble trip Katherine Fair said, “It is not yet clear how COVID will affect travel to Europe next fall. After our two years of dealing with COVID, we know to expect the unexpected. We are hopeful, however, that with all of the mitigation tools — masking, vaccines, and effective treatments on the way — we will be able to travel safely.” 

While concerns surrounding the unpredictability of COVID were a common theme among the community; students and teachers alike are hopeful that things will look better in the new year. 

Instructor of French and German and Director of the Gottingen, Germany trip Richard Schieber commented on the benefit of hosting shorter trips such as the ones to Boston and New York. “I think the travel back and forth due to COVID is going to be more and more problematic,” he said, “I really have a hard time seeing that there’s going to be a big change in the next two or three years, so having the shorter trips would be great … even shorter trips to Europe or to Martinique, Germany, maybe Munich or Berlin would be awesome.”

With the success of the Boston and New York trips, many students and teachers expressed support to expand the program and allow more students to apply. Additionally, Page sent out an email to uppers and seniors on Jan. 6, announcing new travel opportunities to the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont over spring break. The eight-day interdisciplinary learning expedition will teach students about the Abenaki history of sugaring.

While COVID has impacted Global Initiatives, Jordan maintains a positive outlook on the future. “I’m excited about being able to spend a spring term with students who share my interest in politics and to just be in Washington, the political epicenter of the world,” Jordan said.