Friday, July 12, 2019
North Idaho College student Holly Tomason smiles, while instructor Aaron Cloyd claps, after Tomason found the “prize” during a team-building scavenger hunt May 15 on the NIC campus. Tomason is one of 15 students who traveled to the United Kingdom last spring with Cloyd and instructor Molly Michaud as part of the college’s Contemporary World Cultures class.
A bridge to cultural awareness through literature, travel
When she enrolled in classes at North Idaho College, after an 11-year hiatus from school, Jessica Roberts never imagined she would be doing some of her learning in Europe.
But Roberts, a full-time student who is also a mom and works full-time, traveled this summer to London, Scotland, and Wales with NIC’s Contemporary World Cultures class.
“I thought there’s no way,” Roberts said. “But we made it work.”
Roberts is one of 15 students who took the trip led by NIC English instructors Aaron Cloyd and Molly Michaud.
In preparation for their overseas adventure, the students engaged in outdoor team-building activities on May 15, including a scavenger hunt. But in this case, the scavengers were blindfolded, and team members shouted directions to the sightless searchers, leading them toward a hidden item.
“We need to be able to rely on each other,” Cloyd said. “We’re going to be together non-stop for two weeks.”
It’s the second year the class, focused on British Murder Mysteries, has been offered at NIC, and the second time Cloyd and Michaud have traveled to the United Kingdom with students.
“We’ve been studying British culture and history using murder mysteries as our in-road,” Michaud said.
The three novels the class read were “Even Dogs in the Wild” by Ian Rankin, set in Edinburgh, Scotland; “King Solomon’s Carpet” by Barbara Vine, set in London; and “Complicit” by Gillian E. Hamer, set in North Wales.
“We will walk through the physical locations where the novels took place,” Cloyd said.
Destinations on the trip itinerary were assigned to students who will lead three-hour tours based on their research of the locations.
Sayviann Knoblich, a second-year NIC student who will take her fellow travelers on a tour of the Roman walls near London Bridge, said she’s excited for this experiential learning opportunity.
“I’m a more hands-on learner. This helps a lot,” she said.
The class was created by Michaud and Cloyd after they discovered a shared affinity for British murder mysteries. Michaud said she and Cloyd hope students, through this class, realize the joy of travel and how achievable it is, while experiencing the excitement of visiting places they read about.
"Last year, several students explained this was their first plane ride! Spokane was the biggest city they’d seen,” Michaud said. “I tell all of them: This isn’t the only time you’ll go to Europe; it’s just going to be the first time.”
The national culture selected for study by the class will change in 2020, and so will the destination.
“We have several texts planned for next year in Ireland,” Michaud said.
For more information about Contemporary World Cultures (FLAN 207-100) call the NIC English and Humanities Division at 208-769-3394 or email Molly Michaud at molly.michaud@nic.ed; or Aaron Cloyd at aaron.cloyd@nic.edu.