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While going on a cruise to the Bahamas over spring break might not be unusual for college students, those in ESU\u2019s hospitality, recreation and tourism management<\/a> program\u2019s Cruise Ship Management course made their ocean excursion a learning experience.<\/p>\nStudents Julia Gallo, Eddie Heron, Kiondre Kenner, Eric Paruta, Jessica Staeckeler and Kinsey Walturz spent a week aboard a Norwegian Cruise Line ship learning about an industry rapidly rising in popularity.<\/p>\n
\u201cCruising is growing exponentially,\u201d said Assistant Professor of Hospitality, Recreation and Tourism Management Chuck Meitner, Ph.D. \u201cIt makes sense for these students to be aware of that as a potential career.\u201d<\/p>\n
The cruise departed on March 8 from New York, traveled to Port Canaveral, Florida, then headed to Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian\u2019s private island in the Bahamas. The liner then visited Bimini, also in the Bahamas, before making its return voyage on March 15.<\/p>\n
Meitner said the trip gave students exposure to different cultures, cuisines, and ways of life while also providing a rare, first-hand glimpse at the inner workings of a major cruise liner.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s about 2,000 crew members and 4,500 passengers on a cruise ship \u2013 that\u2019s 6,500 meals three times a day,\u201d Meitner said. \u201cHow does a cruise ship prepare that? How does a crew handle getting all the passengers on board, or taking them on short excursions, or keeping them from getting bored? They saw how that all operates.\u201d<\/p>\n
Students received tours of the cruise liner\u2019s restaurants and kitchens, as well as a private tour of the bridge. They also had to complete daily assignments in addition to work that was due after the trip.<\/p>\n
For Walturz, the trip was her opportunity to experience a cruise from a brand-new perspective. No stranger to being a traditional passenger, this perspective gave her an appreciation for all the behind-the-scenes work it takes to provide passengers with a memorable getaway, she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery time I\u2019ve ever gone on a cruise, I always feel so naturally myself,\u201d Walturz said. \u201cThis time I was able to experience it from the workers\u2019 perspective, noticing all they do and seeing how happy they are. I\u2019m convinced it\u2019s the best job and I really want to pursue it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sport Management in Costa Rica<\/h2>\n
Through meetings with professional soccer organizations, local government agencies, and adventure tourism businesses in Costa Rica, sport management<\/a> students explored how sports shape culture and drive economic growth.<\/p>\n Students Brianna Anderson, Link Collum, Ryan Freed, Tyler Gomolinski, Gianna Mascaro and Jared Salazar were joined by Assistant Professor of Sport Management Edward Arner, Ph.D., on the nine-day trip from March 8 to March 16.<\/p>\n Highlights included a meeting with the general manager of Costa Rican soccer club Saprissa FC. In addition to touring its facilities, students learned about marketing and promotion from the club\u2019s sport business professionals and how Saprissa FC develops educational initiatives.<\/p>\n Meetings with the Ministry on Sport and Recreation of Santa Ana and a local school district shed light on the government\u2019s role in physical activity in terms of inclusivity and community engagement.<\/p>\n Arner said the experiences were aimed at demonstrating to students that sports go well beyond the on-field action.<\/p>\n \u201cSports is not necessarily just about playing the sport,\u201d Arner said. \u201cIt can also be about managing the sport, and that can play into many other concepts.\u201d<\/p>\n Salazar said he appreciated the opportunity to apply what he\u2019s learned so far in the sport management program.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was almost overwhelming to see how much you can learn in the classroom that you can bring into the real world,\u201d Salazar said.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the students also got to experience Costa Rica\u2019s rich tourism industry by ziplining and repelling down a waterfall \u2013 adventures that also proved to be valuable learning experiences.<\/p>\n \u201cDoing that was one of the scariest experiences of my life but also one of the best because you\u2019re facing one of your biggest fears,\u201d Salazar said.<\/p>\n \u201cBased on the experience that they’re having in school here at ESU and how it lined up with the degrees they’re currently pursuing, we made sure that they were exposed to an experience that would complement what they were learning,\u201d said Associate Professor of Nursing Dorian E. Royal, Ph.D., D.N.P., M.S.N., R.N.<\/p>\n Led by Dr. Royal and Assistant Professor of Health Studies Elaine Rodriguez, Ph.D., Jeremiah Benn, Suzy Bailey, Jane Dorshimek, Hailey Farber, Shelbee Gordon, Alaina Humphrey, Mariam Juya, Aaryan Medford, Natalia Mendoza, Katelyn Mynes, Leolis Rodriguez, Charlotte Russo, Sierra Thime, and Kai Young shared a variety of cultural and service-learning activities from March 8 to March 15.<\/p>\n Working in rotations that included shadowing nurses and physicians in a hospital and assisting residents of a group home with mental and physical challenges, the group was exposed to settings and scenarios they can\u2019t experience in the classroom.<\/p>\n \u201cI was one of the few students who got the opportunity to go into the OR where I watched a hernia be removed laparoscopically,\u201d Bailey said. \u201cI also got to see how the equipment was sterilized. It was a very unique process.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBeing able to experience something that’s outside of ESU and outside of a classroom, you get such more of an appreciation for it,\u201d added Dorshimer.<\/p>\n Students also visited historical landmarks, an active volcano, and learned about major Guatemalan exports like coffee and cocoa. The group spent time in multiple cities but were primarily based in Antigua during the trip.<\/p>\n \u201cThe way that different cultures celebrate their generation, their religion, all kind of experiences, is such a thing to take in, to learn and to value,\u201d Dorshimer said.<\/p>\nPublic health and nursing in Guatemala<\/h2>\n
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In Guatemalan hospitals and group homes, students majoring in nursing<\/a> and public health<\/a> got to see classroom concepts being applied on the front lines of healthcare.<\/p>\n