UNMC students take classroom to Guatemala
pyjiMZamm _
Staff writer
For several UNMC students,
lessons in Spanish and medical ter
minology have moved from the
classroom right into the center of
action.
Nineteen students at the
University of Nebraska Medical
Center are participating in a course,
Medical Spanish/International
Health, which takes them to
Guatemala to study community
health, said Dan Teet, staff assistant
for International Studies and
Programs.
“The students are learning and
studying how Spanish applies to
the medical field,” Teet said.
The first course began June 4
and will end Sunday, he said.
The group is comprised of 10
students who just completed their
fust year of medical school and one
nursing student, said Sara Pirtle,
coordinator for International
Studies and Programs.
While in Guatemala, students
received individual instruction in
Spanish and also studied
Guatemalan politics, culture, histo
ry and health care at the Escuela
San Jose el Viejo, she said. .
None of die students in the fust
group were fluent in Spanish
before the trip, but after two weeks,
all were comfortable with ordering
in restaurants and buying items in
the markets, she said.
LXuing the second week, they
volunteered at a hospital and
orphanage, Pirtle said.
Pagans aimed to teach,
have fun with festival
By Tim Karste ns
Senior editor
A group of people gather in a
park for face painting, picnick
ing, fun and a religious, educa
tional experience breaks out.
On Saturday, approximately
400 people from Nebraska, Iowa
and Kansas gathered in
Lincoln’s Antelope Park for the
Earth Religions Awareness Day.
The event, which began in the
capitolls Rotunda and ended at
P.O. Pears, was intended tying
together pagans of all stripes and
ultimately educate the public on
earth-based religions, Jason
Blodgett-McDeavitt, High
Priest for Lincoln’s Order of the
Red Grail.
• a
I here are many misconcep
tions about earth-based reli
gions,** Blodgett-McDeavitt
said, “and what we wanted to
show was that we are normal
people.**
Blodgett-McDeavitt said
this weekend was significant to
pagans, a blanket term that
includes earth-based religions
such as Wiccans and Druids,
because it is the Summer
Solstice, or the turning of the
light half of die year to the dark
half.
The day’s activities began
with a ceremony held at the state
capitol building where a bless
ing was bestowed on the state’s
drought-stricken crops, and a
*• People are
taught to
believe that all
religions
except theirs
are evil. That
is quite sad."
Linda Davis
high priestess, Chalice Circle
flock of doves was released.
The festival continued at
Antelope Park where area bands
Slow Burn and Circadian
Rhythm played in addition to the
body painting and picnicking,
Blodgett-McDeavitt said. The
day was concluded with a con
cert at P.0 Pears by Austin,
Texas bands The Raft and
Dreamtrybe.
Linda Davis, high priestess
of Lincoln^ Chalice Circle, said
the event was particularly help
ful in that it might have helped
people overcome their misun
derstandings of earth-based reli
gions. It is something she
believes could be unfortunate.
“People are taught to believe
that all religions except theirs
are evil,” Harris said. “That is
quite sad.”
Please recycle your DN...
...It is so easy
« The depth and breadth of his
experience and knowledge has
been crucial to the success of this
course,**
Sara Pirtle
coordinator, International Studies and Programs
AH the students live with
Guatemalan families. The host
families are chosen by the Spanish
school the students attend, she said.
This is the fust year the course
has been offered. Pirtle coordinated
it with Alfredo Garcia, a professor
of ophthalmology, at the
Universidad de San Carlos de
Guatemala.
“The depth and breadth of his
experience and knowledge has
beat crucial to the success of this
course,” she said.
Students signed up for the
course on a fust crane, first save
basis. They pay the costs, about
$1,200, themselves, Pirtle said.
The trip offers marry benefits to
the participants, especially the
_ Josh Wolfe/DN
WICCAN symbol* liaad tlw Mias Bf maay of the people at Aatelope
Park Satarday. Tka avaat washeld ta pramate aaderstaadiag af
Wicca aad ether Pagaa raljgiaai ia Uaaala.
even though it’s summer, we are still here...
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Spanish language training, Pirtle
said
“The immersion setting is
especially conducive to rapid learn
ing,” she said
Another benefit is the introduc
tion to international health the stu
dents receive, she said
“It is highly relevant to health
professional students, who often
will be working with an interna
tional population back in the
United States,” she said
The second group of students
will begin their course Sunday and
complete it July 29, Pirtle said
The course will most likely be
offered next summer as well, and
Pirtle said she is currently working
on a shortened version of the
course to offer to faculty and staff
members.
Don’t drive home g,"
this summer just ^
see a doctor -you may
be eligible to use the
University
^Health
jp Center!
Ybu are efigUe to use the Umersiy
Health Center at reduced rates if you
elect to pay the Health Center fee and
you: 1) are taking three or fewer credk
hours; or 2) were registered for the
Spring 2000 semester and are
registered for the Fal 2000 semester,
or 3) were a May 2000 graduate. Al
enrolled students are ekgtole to use
the Health Center. Ratos an higher
if you do not pay the Health Center
tee.
If you are emoted for four or more
summer credte in any session (except
Pre-Session), you are automatically
billed for the student Health Center
fee.
Do you need help determining the
best health care option for you?
Please call our Business Office at
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