Wyatt Exploration Program - Wales: Land of the Red Dragon
Location: Wales
Program Dates: May 2013
Trip Overview
With stays in Cardiff, Aberystwyth and Caernarfon, this trip will explore the history and culture of Wales. We will visit several historic sites including the imposing medieval fortification Caernarfon Castle and the Victorian industrial village of Blaenavon, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. We will visit the home of Anglo-Welsh author Dylan Thomas and take steam trains to scenic sites made famous by Welsh folk lore and the writing of the English Romantics. We will examine contemporary Wales through interactions with Welsh students and faculty at Cardiff and Aberystwyth Universities and by visiting the new Welsh Assembly Government housed in the intriguing Senedd building in revitalized Cardiff Bay.
Country Profile
The Welsh spirit is the country’s defining feature. Indeed, for its entire history Wales has struggled against waves of invaders who have sought to subjugate its people; but, as the invaders found out, it’s a country that just won’t lie down. Today the spirit of Wales is stronger than ever. Welsh arts, film and, above all, rock music have taken the world stage by storm and killed off the hackneyed old stereotypes of desolate pit villages, lovespoons (spoons with an elaborate handle that are a traditional artisan craft) and teashops. Wales is a place that becomes an obsession, beckoning back its visitors year after year with its friendly locals, fine food, remarkable landscapes, white-knuckle adventures and admirably green credentials. These are the marks of a country looking firmly towards a rosy future.
Excerpts about Wales from Lonely Planet.
Faculty
This trip is led by Dr. John Ellis, professor from the History department.
Eligibility & Prerequisites
- Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors are eligible to apply
- History Majors are eligible to apply
Please visit the History department’s webpage at http://www.umflint.edu/history/wales.htm to learn more.
*Program fee is subject to change based on currency exchange rates.
