MZ
Melissa Zablonski
  • History and Social Science
  • Class of 2015
  • Colchester, CT

Eastern Student Melissa Zablonski of Colchester Spends Spring Break in the Middle East

2014 Dec 9

This past March, 14 students from Eastern Connecticut State University spent their spring break in Israel, Jordan and the West Bank for a study abroad experience with the History Department. From March 14-22, the students, accompanied by History Professors Caitlin Carenen and David Frye, visited a number of historical sites.

Among the students was Melissa Zablonski '14 of Colchester, who is majoring in History and Social Science.

In Israel, they toured Tel Aviv, the Lebanese-Israeli border, the Golan Heights, the Sea of Galilee, the Dead Sea and Jerusalem. In Jordan, they visited Amman, Petra and the ancient Roman city of Jerash. While in Petra, students spent the night in a Bedouin desert camp and took jeeps into the Wadi Desert. Finally, the group visited Bethlehem in the West Bank and a Palestinian refugee camp in Aida.

"This trip made me more aware of other cultures and people. It was important that I was able to experience real-world issues in person rather than just from a textbook," said one student who chose to remain anonymous. "I also believe that this will make me a better future teacher. I am proud of myself for going out of my comfort zone and expanding my horizons."

Another student reflected: "I can't even begin to explain how different I feel because of this experience. My entire view of everything that I hear in the news and in school is altered by my time there and I sincerely wish more people could educate themselves through travel. Like Mark Twain said, 'Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness,' and I definitely agree with that statement now."