UV students pose in front of entrance of the University of Georgia on a brisk January afternoon. Students from the Universidad Veracruzana concluded their program at a certificate ceremony hosted by the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (CLACS).

Universidad of Veracruzana U.S. Studies Students and Staff Visit UGA January 22, 2005-February 9, 2005

For almost a decade, students and faculty from the University of Georgia (UGA) have been going to the Universidad Veracruzana (UV) in Veracruz, Mexico to participate in special study abroad programs in education, social work, and agribusiness. The School for Foreign Students at UV has hosted UGA students at the Mexican university. In a continuation of that academic and cultural exchange, the Office of International Public Service and Outreach hosted ten students and six faculty from UV, January 22 through February 9, 2005 in Athens.

The Mexican students are enrolled in a US Studies Program at UV similar to a Latin American and Caribbean studies program at UGA. While they were in Athens, they conducted research at the UGA Libraries, attended English language classes, and attended lectures by UGA faculty on topics such as contemporary American culture, U.S. history, and U.S. international relations with Mexico among others. The students and faculty from UV also attended an Athens-Clarke County Commissioners meeting, toured area manufacturing facilities such as Nakanishi MFG in Winterville, Gold Kist Incorporated, and shared a presentation about Xalapan culture with the UGA community at Professor Thomas Whigham's History of Mexico class in Le Conte Hall. Highlights of their 19 day program included a visit to area schools, the UGA tutorial program for Latino children hosted by the Oasis Católico Santa Rafaela in Pinewoods Estates, a visit to the Athens Banner Herard and Eco-Latino newspaper offices, an interview on WUGA's Spanish language program. They concluded their program at a certificate ceremony hosted by the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (CLACS) where they received their certificates of US Studies.

Román R. Castañeda Cotera, an undergraduate business major at UV, summarized the experience for the group: "Personally, I have been taking U.S. Studies courses since I got in Veracruzana, and I thought that I was prepared to deal with the [UGA-US] experience, but I soon realized the complexity of different cultures, and found myself analyzing everything from crossing the streets to immigration issues. Every day was a new experience!"

UV Students

• Román Ricardo Castañeda Cotera
• Saraí Emilia Hernández Ortiz
• Felipe Gutiérrez Antonio
• Jocelyn Ramíez Gamez
• Lidia Ivette Ochoa Chávez
• Luis Alberto Rodríguez Cortés
• Wendy Ana Maria Colorado Rosas
• Iraís Molina Vela
• Meilang Wong García
• Francisco Javier Martínez Carrión

UV Group Coordinator and Staff

• Rosbenraver López Olivera López
• Yolanda Martínez Cervantes
• María Ninfa Canseco Morales
• Zuzue Abigail Mora Alcantara
• Leticia Garcia Argüelles

Dr. Carl Jordan, Professor, Institute of Ecology, instruct Mexican students and faculty on the history and philosophy of the Full Moon Cooperative farm in Clarke County on a cold January afternoon. This was their first visit to a farm in Georgia.		Mexican students and faculty pose with "the Iron Bird" on the Full Moon Cooperative farm in Clarke County during their US Studies Program at the University of Georgia coordinated by the Office of International Public Service and Outreach.
Román Castañeda Cotera and Jocelyn Ramírez Gamez (under hat) talk with one of Dr. Carl Jordan's graduate students about the philosophy of the Full Moon Cooperative farm during their US Studies Program at the University of Georgia coordinated by the Office of International Public Service and Outreach.		Saraí Emilia Hernández Ortiz smiles while her colleagues huddle to stay warm during their visit to the exotic poultry yard on the Full Moon Cooperative farm in Clarke County during their US Studies Program at the University of Georgia coordinated by the Office of International Public Service and Outreach.
Wendy Ana Maria Colorado Rosas illustrates "la bruja" a popular dance from Veracruz during Professor Thomas Whigham's History of Mexico class in Le Conte Hall. Mexican students shared their history and cultural with UGA students.		Lidia Ochoa Chávez is all smiles as she prepares to tour Gold Kist Inc., a large poultry process in North East Georgia during her US Studies Program at the University of Georgia. Field trips were an integral part of learning about US society and economy.
Mexican students and faculty pose in protective "gowns" before they tour Gold Kist Inc., a large poultry process in North East Georgia during her US Studies Program at the University of Georgia.		No tour of UGA would be complete without a visit to K.C. and her calf, Sunshine, at the Animal and Dairy Science complex. Jocelyn Ramíez Gamez, Rosben Olivera, María Ninfa Canseco Morales, Zuzue Mora Alcantara, and Yolanda Martínez Cervantes waive to the famous livestock at the yard on a cold January afternoon.
The US Studies program filed trips began with a visit to Fowler Drive Elementary School in Athens where they were hosted by the principal, Dr. Dale Rodgers, and her staff.		Universidad Veracruzana students pose with Sister Margarita Martin, Lisa Bush, and UGA student tutors at the Oasis Católico Stanta Rafaela in Pinewoods Estates.
Dr. Simpson poses with U.S. Studies group at Institute of Higher Education.		Rosben Oilvera, coordinator of the US Studies group, talks with UGA tutors about the program at the Oasis Católico for immigrant children in Clarke County.
Peter O. Croffie, a student in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences, helps a Latino child with his homework at the Oasis while Yolanda Martinez Cervantes from UV looks on.		Iraís Molina Vela poses with a tutor during her visit to the Oasis Católico Stanta Rafaela in Pinewoods Estates.
Enrique Carrion explains the origins of Eco-Latino, the local Spanish language newspaper to Iraís Molina Vela from the Universidad Veracruzana.		US Studies visitors pose with Enrique Carrion and Melissa Borgono, Eco-Latino intern in front of the Athens Banner Herald offices during a tour of the newspaper headquarters in Athens.
Jocelyn Ramírez Gamez poses with a Japanese Samurai helmet during a visit Nakanishi MFG in Winterville, Georgia. The students visited the Japanese owned company to learn about the forces behind international manufacturing and globalization.		Students listen intently as Professors Brent Berlin and Elois Berlin discuss US-Mexico Relations and Bilateral Cooperative Research at the Department of Anthropology at UGA. Professors Berlin have done extensive research in Mexico.
Rosben Lóopez Olivera presents a lecture on service learning and the "Universidad Veracruzana university brigades" at 2005 Annual Public Service Conference, Service Learning: Linking Academic Study, Civic Engagement, and Scholarship, January 27, 2005 at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education.		UV students share a light moment during their visit with Jorge Conzalez at the WUGA radio station.
US Studies students and faculty pose with Pamela Suskauer (seated center in striped sweater), American Language Teacher, during a break in their English class in Conner Hall.		Mtra. Bertha C. Murrieta (4th from the left, first row), Director of the School for Foreign Students, Universidad Veracruzana, visits US Studies students during their last English language class at UGA.
Mtra. Bertha C. Murrieta (2nd from the right), Director of the School for Foreign Students, Universidad Veracruzana, and US Studies faculty at UV meet with Julie Escabedo, Study Abroad Advisor, in the UGA Office of International Education, during their visit to campus.		US Studies students share a light moment during their interview at WUGA's Spanish language show.