There will be extensive orientation activities during your first two weeks in Wales. These are designed to help you settle into Bangor and to get a feel for your new environment.
The culmination of this period will be a four-day bus tour of Wales. Visits to historical and cultural sites all over Wales are included - the Roman ruins at Caerleon, the stunning Tintern Abbey, the town and castle of Caernarfon, the seaside town of Aberystwyth, Snowdonia and the Preseli Hills are just some of the stops on the itinerary. The emphasis is on introducing students to the diversity of the Welsh landscape and the richness of Welsh history and culture. Lectures will be given at various places of interest, and the tour will form the introduction for the required course, Over Here - An Introduction to Wales and Welsh Culture, which will continue throughout the semester.
Cultural Activities and Excursions
Many cultural activities and excursions are included in the program at no extra cost. Details may vary somewhat from year to year in order to take advantage of special opportunities and events. Approximately every two weeks, a visit to sites of historical and cultural interest is made in coordination with the required Welsh culture course, Over Here - An Introduction to Wales and Welsh Culture. Your program fees also include ground transportation and accommodations for a four-day excursion to Ireland. This trip gives students an opportunity to see Ireland within the context of its ongoing cultural and historical development. It includes two nights in Dublin, The West Coast, Galway, Aran Islands, Killarney, the Dingle Peninsula and the City of Cork. In addition to the excursions listed above, typical excursions might include:
- A day outing to the city of Cardiff, including a visit to the National Museum of Wales, and if possible, attending a rugby match.
- A visit to the British Parliament in London.
- Guided visits of the coal mines or steel mills of industrial Wales.
In addition to program excursions, some courses include study visits, accompanied by faculty.
Central College reserves the right to modify trip schedules and destinations.
