Typically, in the predominately Christian country of Ireland, pubs are closed on Good Friday and Christmas. But what if that day happens to fall on the same day as one of the biggest rugby matches of the year? Well then, there may be a reason to bend the rules, and this year Limerick pubs in particular took it to court. This evening, while most pubs across Ireland will remain closed, you will be able to grab a pint and watch the game in Limerick! Read more here.

Labels: culture quest, ireland news

Deadlines for Fall 2010 applications are fast approaching. As a reminder, University of Cape Town complete applications are due by April 1 (Thursday!). All other applications are due by April 15. Keep an eye out for some possible extended deadlines!

Labels: interstudy news, student news

Not only is it start of Spring Break for some of our interstudy programs, there also seems to be plenty going on in South Africa this weekend.

Sunday, March 21st is Human Rights Day across the country. This day has been set aside for South Africans to recognize their rights and ensure that prior abuses won't happen again. In 1996, President Mandela, in a statement on Human Rights Day, said: "21 March is South African Human Rights Day. It is a day which, more than many others, captures the essence of the struggle of the South African people and the soul of our non-racial democracy. March 21 is the day on which we remember and sing praises to those who perished in the name of democracy and human dignity. It is also a day on which we reflect and assess the progress we are making in enshrining basic human rights and values." (local radio station)

Saturday, March 20th is also the first annual Cape Town Carnival. Running all day long, the carnival includes concerts, a parade, and parties. Not to mention its FREE!

Labels: culture quest, south africa news

We're calling on our alumni from the past two academic years to submit your favorite photos from your time abroad with interstudy. In celebration of our 30^th anniversary, the best 30 photos will then be put to the test on our Facebook page where Fans will be asked to vote for their favorite photos.

The top 3 contestants (those photos with the most "likes" on Facebook) will win some fabulous prizes including travel vouchers from STA Student Travel.

So dig up your pictures, and send them along! Entry details are listed below.

** Please note that along with the photo(s) we would like a brief, one sentence, description including where the photo was taken.

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Contest Details:

Eligibility: To take part in this contest you must be an interstudy Alum who studied abroad during the 2007-2008, 2008-2009 or 2009-2010 academic year. The voting will take place on Facebook, so you also must be a Fan of interstudy on Facebook before the final voting begins.

Number and Format of Submissions: If you meet the eligibility requirements you may submit up to three photographs. Each photo should be at least 72 dpi and in JPEG or GIF format (photos with a higher resolution may be consider for our print materials). Contestants will have only one photo chosen for the final voting round. Please include a brief, one sentence, description including where the photo was taken.

Subject Matter: The only restriction here is that your photo(s) capture an experience or record an observation abroad. Pictures with alcohol cannot be accepted. Apart from this requirement there is no restriction in subject, theme, or style.

Application Process and Deadline: Email your photograph(s) as an attachment to photocontest@interstudy.org by April 15, 2010.

Prizes: There are three prizes:

First Prize $250 Travel Voucher to STA Student Travel

Second Prize $100 Travel Voucher to STA Student Travel

Third Prize $50 Gift Certificate to Barnes and Noble for your future travel guides

Please Note: All forwarded materials become the property of interstudy, which will enjoy full rights of display and circulation. If you submit a photograph it is understood that you have granted this right.

Labels: student news

Today is International Women's Day, a global day to celebrate the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. Along with this day, the entire month of March is Women's History Month. In honor of the two, we've put together a list of course offerings for Women's and Gender Studies at some of our interstudy programs. Contact us if you have any questions, and remember to hug your mom, grandma, aunt, sister, professor, or any other woman that you admire!

Women's Studies Offerings:

University of Cape Town African Gender Institute
Example Course: AGI2002F Gender, Sexuality, Politics:

Gender Studies Programme at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (Durban)
Example Course: GEST202 H2 Introduction to Gender Studies: The development of an understanding of the critical vocabulary on gender and related issues; An understanding of the instability of the concept of gender; the critical evaluation and presentation of arguments in relation to gender.

Global Women's Studies at NUI Galway

Example Course: Introduction to Women, Culture, Media and Society

Women's Studies at the University of the Limerick

Example Course: WS 4018 Gender, Identity, Culture, Society:

The aim of this inter-disciplinary course is to examine the historical, literary and social construction of identity and citizenship as this relates to women in contemporary society. It will examine the extent to which the sense of self, of home, of community, of nationality are gendered notions and their consequences for women.

Gender Studies at Queen's Belfast

Gender Studies Courses at King's College, University of London

Example Course: Gender and Identity:

For over three centuries a diverse group of American women have engaged in the act of autobiographical writing. Whether living on western frontiers, southern plantations, impoverished tenements, or middle-class homes they have felt a compulsion to record in written text stories about their lives. This course will use autobiographies to interrogate the cultural history of American women. Central to the course are issues of gender, identity, and selfhood...

Yesterday was the start of British Pie Week, 2010. This week is marked by a new "pie of the day" every day this week, and of course loads of pie consumption. Sounds like a fine tradition! Read more on the official website and find recipes to recreate your own Pie Week.

Labels: britain news, culture quest

Every penny counts when you're trying to make your study abroad semester happen!

Check out our website for a list of scholarship opportunities here.

Also, the Gilman Scholarship, a big one for students going to non-traditional places like Africa, is now open for 2010-2011! Here are more details:

Deadline: April 6, 2010

Over 1,700 scholarships will be awarded. Eligibility criteria listed below.

· Enrolled as an undergraduate student at a two or four-year U.S. Institution
· United States citizen
· Receiving a Federal Pell Grant at the time of application or during the term of study abroad
· Participating in a study abroad program that is no less than 4 weeks and no more than an academic year
· Receiving academic credit
· Study in any country not currently under a U.S. State Department Travel Warning or Cuba

Summer 2010 & Fall 2010/Academic Year 2010-2011 applications are now being accepted online and are due April 6, 2010. For more information about the Gilman Scholarship, application deadlines & timeline, and application process, please visit the Gilman website at www.iie.org/gilman, contact the Gilman Program at 713-621-6300 ext. 25 or email gilman@iie.org.

Labels: student news, student resources