BOAZ, Ala. – Snead State Community College students, faculty and staff recently took their studies abroad with a trip to Europe.

From May 15-25, the group toured London, Paris, Florence, Assisi and Rome, which allowed students to visit and study the cultures and historic places across three countries.

Students involved in the program took a class created by the Alabama Community College Association. Coursework allowed students to visit the websites of each destination that was experienced. The trip itself was chosen from options of EF Tours, an educational-focused organization that has been taking students on tours for more than 50 years.

Study Abroad has been proven to help students graduate, increase income in their occupations and provide experiences that are considered of “vital interest” to employers. Over the course of the journey, Snead State students learned to navigate travel, manage documents, organize, use money appropriately, and interact with those of differing cultures.

The trip began in London. Students were able to take a walking tour and bus tour of the city and visit important squares, buildings and shopping areas. Sights seen included Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, St. Paul’s Cathedral and Buckingham Palace, as well as the changing of the guard.

“A big surprise was that the city was still decorated for the recent coronation of King Charles III and the students were able to see London in full celebration,” said Snead State History Instructor/Study Abroad Sponsor Dr. Grover Kitchens.

While in London, students had a traditional fish and chips dinner and were able to see the show “Wicked” in the West End theatre district. 

Up next was Paris. Students were able to take a train under the English Channel from London to the city. They saw the famous Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triumph, and the Louvre Museum.

“At the museum, famous paintings such as the Mona Lisa, The Marriage of Cana, and the crowning of Napoleon and statues such as the Venus de Milo and Nike of Samothrace allowed students to see in person what they had only seen in books,” Kitchens said. “A highlight of Paris was a visit to Versailles and a boat tour on the Seine River which ended at the Eiffel Tower which erupted in lights as the boat docked.”

The next stops included Florence, which was the epicenter of the Renaissance and included walking tours of fountains, squares, statues and historic churches as well as a leather demonstration and sampling of Italian Gelato. On the way to Rome, there was a stop at Assisi, where students were allowed to see the burial place of St. Francis of Assisi, a lower church built by him and an upper church that was over 600 years old. Walking along the cobbled paths of a quaint Italian village was topped off by dinner on a farm and sampling of Italian cuisine.

The trip ended in the Eternal City of Rome. The students toured the Coliseum and the Roman Forum, saw the Trevi Fountains, and had dinner in the shadow of the Pantheon. Walking tours of the city rounded out the visit along with a tour of the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel.

“The students came away with some souvenirs, some leather items, some clothing, a love of gelato, and mostly, wonderful memories to end their time at Snead. All of the group are moving on to occupations, universities, the military, or new lives,” Kitchens said. “This was a fitting end to the Snead experience of which we are all proud. The College will offer another opportunity for our students to see the world and experience new cultures, peoples, places, and foods. This tour will be available for May of 2024 as well, and then a new destination will be chosen (the following year) to open the windows of opportunity for our students.”