ANDY’S SWISS TRAVEL 21

I am back to New York feeling like over the last month I have grown to become a better person. The 2008 Summer Study Abroad to Switzerland was an experience that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. Having the opportunity to spend time in a part of the world that I never thought I would see in my early 20’s was absolutely amazing. I am beyond grateful that Dr. Garely and Prof. Blake-Neis were chosen to be the professors for the study abroad. At all times they were helpful and generous towards us. I could sit here and write pages, maybe even a book, on the care and professionalism they treated all their students with during the 21 days in Switzerland. They always catered to our needs, and made sure we were always healthy. When ever any of their students including myself had a headache, toothache or stomachache they would run towards us making sure actions were taken to improve our condition. Academically we were all given MORE THAN ENOUGH TIME to finish our daily blogs, and were always giving the chance to ask for help in regards to blogs.

Arriving back at BMCC wasn’t a happy return at all. I was happy to see my Professors and classmates, but pissed off at the fact that the Carnival Cruise was cancelled due to “Unforeseen circumstances” by Dean Marva Craig. To my understanding Ms. Craig is a “Student Dean”; the actions she took by canceling the cruise in no way benefited the Students. The reality of the fact is that certain students raised concern about the way the study abroad was being conducted. I think to write such statement is absurd. That’s why Dean Craig really cancelled the cruise. I believe that the students reporting concerns in regards to the Switzerland trip are acting with malice. It is unbelievable that after such a magnificent 3 weeks I had to come back to this situation back at BMCC. It is unfair that the people who made these complaints weren’t even scheduled to go on the cruise.

Overall my return to BMCC was dreadful. I cannot believe how unprofessional administration handled this matter. Antonio Perez our school president was rude towards me although I politely asked to have a few minutes to converse with him — his response was if things would have gone my way this would have not happened. I am not even mad I am embarrassed that our school president responds to my request mumbling and with his back turned towards me. I am embarrassed and ashamed of being part of such a school with an administration that is shady and classless. They didn’t even give the students who had positive things to say about the study abroad a chance to speak up about the wonderful experience. I honestly feel that the administration thinks that returning me my $670.00 for the cruise solves the whole issue. They need to sit down and consider the time of work and clothes purchased for this cruise, the time wasted trying to book the cruise. I am beyond pissed off that I have such classless and inconsiderate people administrating BMCC. Currently I am looking to transfer out to a community college in Florida by august 2008, if everything goes well I won’t have to ever walk into BMCC again and be surrounded by fake, shady, malicious and inconsiderate Deans and Presidents.