For students interested in attending summer quarter classes as well as visiting Europe or the Philippines, De Anza College has an exciting upcoming opportunity available. The college’s study abroad program features two destinations: Florence, Italy and Manila, Philippines.

The three-week summer quarter program begins on campus at De Anza from July 1–3 for the Florence trip and July 1–5 for the Manila trip. Students then fly from San Francisco International Airport to their destinations on July 8 for Florence and July 10 for Manila.

The Philippines program is being guided and directed by professor Mae Lee, chair of the Asian American and Asian studies department, as well as English professor Chesa Caparas.

Both professors have roots in the Philippines and are both excited about the upcoming program. Lee had lived in the Philippines for a number of years and Caparas’s family immigrated from the archipelago. Caparas is also a noted Fulbright U.S. scholar alumni, which specializes in fellowships for research and teaching abroad.

The program is running in partnership with Far Eastern University in Manila. Lee said many of the days will begin with a lecture or talk in the morning hours, followed by full immersion trips in the afternoon and evening.

Caparas said much of the immersion will involve food tours, visits to other parts of the island of Luzon, as well as connecting with Indigenous peoples and other students from Far Eastern University.

“Be prepared for the heat. Not just (the weather) but also for the warmth of the people,” Caparas said. “The culture is very warm and communal.”

Students visiting Florence will be accompanied by English professor Karen Chow and art history professor Deborah Pasturel. During their time in Florence, the ‘City of Lilies,’ immersion will include a hands-on journey through art history as well as many cultural aspects of Italy, old and new, as described on the webpage.

“I really wanted to study art. Being a political science major, I never really had the chance,” said Talia Washington, a 19-year-old political science major at De Anza who is enrolled on the Florence trip. “I really want to see the Renaissance pieces in person.”

Students can also expect walking tours, local city excursions, reserved tickets with guided tours to monuments and museums, an Italian cooking class, full-day excursions to Siena, San Gimignano, Pisa and Luca, and a two-day, one-night excursion to Rome. In Rome, students will have a reserved entrance to the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Vatican Museum.

Courses in both programs will be counted for credit and are transferable. For those who want to study abroad for the experience itself, the program offers a way to see another culture and reconnect with their parent’s culture, as well as an opportunity to make connections with other students.

There is a $500 scholarship available for the Philippines program, funded by donations to the Foothill-De Anza Foundation, which brings the total cost of the trip to $1,700. This does not include airfare and class registration fees. Talia Washington was one of those who received the scholarship.

As of now, the Florence program has been completely filled, with waiting list spaces still available. Limited space is still open for the Manila trip.

“I heard the fruits and vegetables are much better than in the U.S.,” said Washington. “I am excited to try those.”

More information about the trips is available at the Multicultural Center and interested students can also reach out to administrative assistant Leah Riley at [email protected] or by calling (408) 780-9719.