RV
Rebecca Van Horn
  • History
  • Class of 2015
  • Lake Ariel, Pa.

Takes Love of Art to Paris

2015 Feb 19

A passion for art took '15 , , Pa., halfway around the world. The Kutztown University history major, with a double minor in English literature and art history, had been studying the work of French artist Paul C?zanne, and decided to apply to a study abroad program in Aix-en-Provence, France, his hometown, for the spring 2014 semester. Two scholarships - one from the College Consortium of International Studies and one awarded by the Pennsylvania State System for Higher Education, made her dream a reality.

"My undergraduate study focused on post-impressionist artists, and I believed there was no better place to study that period of art history than Aix," she said. "Which turned out to be very true! I took six classes while I was there, all at the same time. One was an art history course on Vincent van Gogh and C?zanne. We went to the same spots C?zanne stood while he painted. We saw his perspective. That's something that can't be replicated anywhere else in the world."

In Aix, Van Horn had the best of both worlds. The courses she enrolled in were delivered at the Institute for American Universities (IAU), and conducted in English, but the host family she lived with were native speakers. This allowed her to comprehend the course material and experience the cultural and language immersion she had traveled to France for.

"As much as it was a joy for me to go into the city and see the sites, it was just as fun to come home and interact with my host family, whom I now consider part of my actual family," she said. "And that was a benefit I didn't expect to obtain from my trip."

Academically, the study abroad program was rigorous. Van Horn was taking a total of 18 credits concurrently, including two French language courses and a class in environmental science. However, there was still ample time for international travel, and opportunities to create lasting friendships and memories that last a lifetime. During her two-week winter break, she traveled with friends from IAU to the Netherlands, Ireland, England and Morocco. Some highlights included visiting the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam; the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin; and England's Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, the Palace of Westminster (which houses the British Parliament) and the infamous Tower of London. In the spring, Van Horn went to Greece and Germany. And, she did it all on a dime.

"Funds from my scholarships covered my travel, but I still had to be conscious of the costs," she said. "We took the cheapest flights, stayed in the cheapest hostels and ate the cheapest foods! But most of the attractions - museums and concerts - were free. So we were really just paying for flights and food. I saw the best parts of every place I went, and I made friends with people from everywhere."

In fact, Van Horn had such an incredible sojourn abroad that she decided to expand her trip, and worked and lived in Greece during summer 2014. While she was sightseeing over spring break, Van Horn had connected with people who knew employers in Crete looking to hire someone fluent in English to work at a water sports marina. She seized the opportunity to expand her international stay, and had the time of her life.

"It was a wonderful and eye-opening experience," she recalled. "The time I spent in France and Greece gave me a new perspective on everything. It's made me a more globally minded citizen of the world."

Although she voyaged all over Europe, Van Horn's adventure began at KU, with some very influential professors.

"In the history department, Dr. Eric Johnson inspired me to apply for the study abroad program in Aix," she revealed. "He had studied in Avignon, and received a Fulbright to live and study in Cassis, but his focus on the history of Provence as a region really piqued my interest. And Dr. Michael Gambone, also in the history department, challenged me academically. In doing so, he empowered me to push myself beyond what I thought possible. When I discussed studying abroad with him, he knew it would be an experience I couldn't resist, so encouraged me to apply."

Van Horn returned to KU to complete her senior year, but aspires to conduct further research abroad - this time on the late Greek author Nikos Kazantzakis. She traveled to Crete in Dec. 2014 to access materials necessary for her project. And next up for the intrepid traveler is graduate school, where she hopes to complete her goal of obtaining her Ph.D. and become a professor who lives and studies abroad.

"I wish that study abroad was something that every college student could do," she said. "There is no better teacher than experience. And the lessons and insight that a person gains by living internationally are invaluable."