PENN STATE BRANDYWINE BERLIN 2009
Penn State Brandywine
Berlin 2009
Tour # 1989
May 10 - May 17, 2009
From $ 1,595.00 (Including airfare, taxes and fuel surcharge at $360.00)
ITINERARY
Day 1 Sunday, May 10 DEPARTURE
Depart from Philadelphia airport with AIR FRANCE, via Paris. Flight # AF365 leaves at 6:45pm. Check-in at the airport should be around 3:30pm.
Day 2 Monday, May 11 BERLIN
Arrive at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport at 8:20am. Your connecting flight to Berlin AF # 2034 leaves at 1:20pm and arrives Berlin Tegel airport at 3:05pm. Transfer to Hotel A and O Mitte, a 2 star hotel conveniently located near the OstBahnhof and Alexanderplatz.
Day 3 Tuesday, May 12 BERLIN
Full day free. Today you can visit the historical centre of Berlin: the Reichstag, “Brandenburger Tor”, the famous avenue “Unter den Linden”,” Gendarmenmarkt”, and the St Nicholas district.
Day 4 Wednesday, May 13 BERLIN
Full day free. Many museums are a “must” in Berlin. Museum Island created in the 19th century includes the Pergamon Museum, the “Alte Nationalgalerie”,the “Bodemuseum” and the “ Altes Museum”.
Day 5 Thursday, May 14 BERLIN
Full day free. Today you can enjoy the area of “Tiergarten” the oldest park in Berlin, with the zoo, the” Kunstgewerbemuseum” and the famous Berlin Philarmonic with its Musical Instrument Museum.
Day 6 Friday, May 15 BERLIN
Full day free. A short train ride can take you to Potsdam, a few miles west of Berlin. There you will see the “Bildergalerie”, Sans Souci Castle, the New Palace and the Chinese Tea House.
Day 7 Saturday, May 16 BERLIN
Last day in Berlin to experience its great sights. Don’t forget to visit Charlottenburg Castle.
Day 8 Sunday, May17 RETURN
Transfer to Berlin Tegel airport for Air France flight AF # 1135 leaving at 7:00am, arriving Paris Charles de Gaulle at 8:45am. Connecting flight to Philadelphia AF # 366 leaves at 1:15pm and arrives Philadelphia at 3:30pm.
Air Schedule
May 10 AF365 PHL CDG 6:45pm - 08:20am
May 11 AF2034 CDG TXL 1:20pm - 3:05pm
May 17 AF1135 TXL CDG 7:00am - 8:45am
May 17 AF366 CDG PHL 1:15pm - 3:30pm
Hotel Address
A and O Mitte
Koepenicker Strasse 127-129
Berlin D-10179
PRICE $1,595.00
This price includes:
- Round trip flights from Philadelphia to Berlin with Air France, via Paris .
- Airport taxes @ approximately $130.00 subject to change at time of ticketing.
- “Q” tax for fuel surcharge @ $230.00 as of July, 2008 subject to change at time of ticketing.
- 6 nights hotel accommodation at 2 star Hotel A & O Mitte in a double room .
- Hot buffet breakfast daily.
- Transfers from Berlin airport to your hotel.
- Tuition up to 6 credits for full time students at any Penn State campus.
- Supervision by Penn State faculty members.
This price does not include:
- Single room supplement +$255.00.
- Meals other than breakfast.
- Cost of personal items such as phone, drinks, laundry, etc.
- Passport and visa fee
IMPORTANT! Indicate your nationality to Celestial Voyagers on first registering for the trip. All participants must have a passport valid through November 17, 2009 and a green card or equivalent is compulsory. Some non-U.S. citizens may also require a Schengen visa in addition to a passport. Check with the German consulate office.
- Visitors fee for all participants who do not have a Penn State ID - $50.00
This sum, which includes compulsory Penn State Insurance, is required from any participant who does not have a student, faculty, or staff I.D card issued by Penn State University. The funds are applied toward grants to enable worthy Penn State Brandywine students to join our trips when they would otherwise be unable to do so for financial reasons.
- All travelers, students and visitors must purchase the required HTH health insurance for international travel at a cost of $6.00. Website for on-line enrollment will be provided.
- Optional travel insurance covering trip cancellation in case of medical reasons.
REGISTRATION
Credit Courses
A number of Penn State 3-credit courses, not requiring regular attendance at Brandywine campus, are offered in combination with all Brandywine International Studies trips. Approved full time students at all Penn State Campuses are eligible to take two courses (6 credits) at no additional cost. To establish eligibility at any Penn State campus, the student should obtain his/her adviser’s permission to register then receive the confirmation of approval from the Brandywine DAA and from the teacher of the course. The courses may also be taken by non-Penn State students for transfer-credit, but in those cases the applicable tuition fee will apply.
Trip Registration versus Course Registration
All travel arrangements are made through Celestial Voyagers, a fully insured tour operator (800 651 6262). Do not contact Penn State professors or employees regarding flights, hotels or travel information. They may not have the very latest information.
Course Registration
To register students MUST contact the Brandywine Campus Registrar:
Mrs. Joanna McGowan
Tel: 610 892 1401
Email: jxm1019@psu.edu
Do not attempt to register for or find information about these courses by Touch-Tone. Classes are NOT full, but you will be told they are. You MUST contact the registrar.
Course Description
ENGL 202B (GWS) Writing in the Humanities Dr. Adam Sorkin (ajs2@psu.edu)
This is the second part of Penn State’s two-part required writing sequence. You must have fourth semester standing or higher. English 202B is a course in developing skills in critical thinking, analysis, organization, clear, effective, purposeful writing, argumentation (the presentation of conclusions) based on evidence, and interpretation. To clarify, that last term does not refer to specific works of art but the museum-goer’s experience, taking into account the hypothesis of Carol Duncan (see Texts, below) that museum going is a ritual experience, as well as such matters as her discussion of art museums’ art-historical organization, the appearance, or lack of, bias in matters of gender and privileging the achievements of Western culture, and museums or museum sections or wings as donor mausoleums. It is expected that students will have mastered the skills of mature, thoughtful writing, relatively free of errors, that should be attained in English 15 or 30, or the equivalent first-year writing course.
GER 100 (GH:GI) German Culture and Civilization Dr. Alita Kelley (kak7@psu.edu)
THE PURPOSE of the course is to broaden the student’s horizons so that s/he will be able to make the most of the trip and in the case of students travelling abroad for the first time, to dispel apprehension. While knowledge of the foreign language is not required, the course will include instructions on concepts of politeness and courtesy, and basic expressions needed to “get along” in a country where the language is not one’s own.
HD FS 287W (GS:GI) Intercultural Community Bldg. Dr. Michael Madden (mem28@psu.edu)
This course focuses on cross-cultural comparison and contrasting. It is made up of two parts: Proposal and Portfolio. Your Proposal must be completed, submitted and approved by the instructor before the trip. The Portfolio completion date will be determined by instructor. The intention of this course is involve you in a cross-cultural experience. You will research and construct a model for the contrasting of social issues utilizing your background in HDFS. A support group will be developed through out this program.
IN ART 1/ART HIST 100 (GA) The Arts Dr. Paul Greene (pdg4@psu.edu)
This course is not designed to test your artistic background, nor your skills in music-making, drawing, or acting. Instead, it is an introduction to the arts that targets your ability to consider and verbally discuss what meanings and functions an artwork takes on in our lives, and how it relates to other artworks in aesthetic traditions in Germany. The course will not tell you what is "good" or "bad" art, but instead invite you to decide this for yourself, in relation to artistic traditions that have been cultivated over the centuries in Germany.
THEA 105/100 (GA) Introduction to Theatre James Symmons (jxs421@psu.edu)Theatre art is an expression of creativity and diversity. It is living art, forever changing and responding to the world around it. Theatre productions are small episodes of life in the world in which we live. It is of our own choosing and experience. We will study the human diversity, cultural, social, political, musical and the classical nature of selected plays in Berlin. Films will be incorporated to enhance understanding, theme, styles, customs, theories and characterizations.
Trip Registration
All participants planning to share a room must inform Celestial Voyagers when they register for the trip. Failure to do so may oblige Celestial Voyagers to assign you different roommates.
Avoiding Single Room Supplement
If you have no roommate, ask Celestial Voyagers to choose one for you. Indicate your gender, age and if you are a smoker or nonsmoker. We’ll try (but obviously can’t guarantee) to accommodate you with a congenial person. If you are the last one to register for the trip and we cannot allocate you a double room due to an odd number of male and female participants, you may be allocated a triple room or have to pay the single room supplement.
Registration Online
http://www.celestialvoyagers.com/html/reservations.htm
1) Fill out information
i.e. Destination: Berlin - Tour Name: Brandywine Berlin - Tour number: #1989; etc.
2) In “comments” be sure to indicate (as applicable):
a) Whether you require a single or double room
b) The optional tours you are interested in if applicable
3) Mail your $ 300.00 deposit together with a photocopy of your passport (if available) to Celestial Voyagers within 48 hours.
Celestial Voyagers
79 Watermill Lane
Great Neck, NY 11021
Registration by Mail
Brochures are available at Penn State Brandywine Campus in the following locations:
Library, Lounge and Room 129 of the Vairo Building
Registrars Office, Main Building
Or contact:
Gail Wray, Administrative Assistant
Phone: 610 892 1472
Email: gbw1@psu.edu
Complete the registration form included in the brochure and mail it to Celestial Voyagers with your $ 300.00 deposit and a photocopy of your passport (if available).
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Celestial Voyagers terms and conditions are linked to contracts with airlines and hotels. Strict regulations apply that are beyond the control of either Penn State or Celestial Voyagers. All reservations are on a first come, first served basis. Early registration and prompt final payment guarantees the participant first choice where options exist.
Our “due dates” are set in order to secure prices and options with airlines. The late fee applies when payments have not been received by the due date and is unavoidable.
Space may still be available after final due date indicated, but pricing at that time will be stipulated by the airline and will depend on availability of seats at time ticket is issued.
Deposit $300.00
Deposit is due with registration on or before February 7, 2009.
All payments by check to be made out to Celestial Voyagers escrow account.
Credit card payment
We accept Visa and Mastercard. Since merchant fees are not included in the price, should you wish to pay by credit card, a 3.5% supplement applies to the amount paid.
Balance Payment
Balance of payment due no later than March 11, 2009
Late Fee
$100.00 or more late fee for payment received after March 12, 2009
Cancellation Penalties
All cancellations must be received in writing.In case of cancellation the following penalties will apply:
• $150.00 non refundable processing fee.
• $150.00 penalty for cancellation received between February 7 and March 11, 2009.
• 50% of total price for cancellations between March 12 and April 9, 2009.
• 100% of total price for cancellations after April 9 or in case of no-show.
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend that you avail yourself of travel insurance as protection against penalties as well as baggage damage and travel delays. Without insurance, if you cancel your trip within a few days of the departure date, the total value of the trip will not be refunded. Pre-existing medical conditions are covered only if the insurance registration has been submitted within 14 days of sending your deposit.
Please check with Celestial Voyagers for insurance plans and premiums, or refer to our insurance page for
additional information.
Premiums are subject to change without notice.
To purchase your travel insurance from Access America:
Classic and Limited Classic Plan
Basic Plan
.
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS
Pre Departure Meeting
Airline tickets and travel documents will be delivered in person at 12:30 pm, Friday April 24, 2009 in Room 215 Main Building, Penn State Brandywine Campus, 25 Yearsley Mill Road, Lima (Media), PA - off Route 352. Tel: 610 892 1415
Attendance at this pre-departure meeting is strongly advised. Questions will be answered to put your mind at rest. If you cannot attend or send a reliable person to pick up your tickets, contact your professor so alternative arrangements can be made.
Special Delivery of Documents
If you cannot attend the above meeting nor have the documents collected, Celestial Voyagers can send them via special delivery, FEDEX or US Postal Service.
Someone must be at the mailing address in order to sign for the documents when they are delivered. This service will be charged to you separately. A $20.00 mailing fee will apply.
CONTACTS
Penn State Brandywine
Dr. Alita Kelley
Tel: 610 918 3793 or 484 574 1397
E-mail: kak7@psu.edu
Dr. Paul Greene
Tel: 610 892 1474
E-mail: pdg4@psu.edu
Or
Celestial Voyagers
79 Watermill Lane
Great Neck, NY 11021
Francoise, Leigh or Susy
Phone: 516 829 1525 ot toll-free 800 651 6262
Fax: 516 829 0703
Email : susy@celestialvoyagers.com
Family and/or friends of Penn State students, faculty and employees are
welcome on our trips!