By Rodrigo Valverde/reporter

Few people can honestly say they have traveled across the world, let alone college students.

TCC is allowing students to travel to Germany, Switzerland and Italy to participate in a wide variety of cultural activities and classes.

The program is open to dance students who will earn World Dance credit and take classes in Munich, Germany, attend a Swiss Folklore Festival in Lucerne, Switzerland, and even perform in Venice, Italy.

It is also open to noncredit students and community members who want to take part in the tour programs and have the option to take classes and attend performances if they choose.

NW dance instructor Amy Sleigh and NE German instructor Maddalena De Nicola will accompany the students in their travels. Being from Italy and having lived in Germany for 12 years, De Nicola is excited to return to her home country. She believes she will be a tremendous asset for students since she is familiar with the areas they will travel through.

“Simply showing a movie set in Europe isn’t enough,” De Nicola said, “There is nothing like actually being there in person.”

This will be De Nicola’s first year taking part, and she thinks it is important for students to experience other cultures firsthand. It is very different from home and beneficial when trying to learn a new language.

“I hope my students practice their German with actual Germans and come home speaking it a lot better,” De Nicola said.

This is Sleigh’s third study abroad trip, having traveled to France and Ireland the previous two years. She puts in a lot of time and effort ensuring their programs run smoothly.

“It can be stressful at times, putting these programs together,” Sleigh said, “but I feel it’s important for students to travel and experience new places.”

Sleigh hopes students who go on this trip can use the experience to learn, grow and return with stories and wisdom to share with everyone. She is also already looking into where she’d like to take students in next year’s trip.

Aside from tours and classes, students can enjoy traditional local dinners and visit historical places such as a World War II Nazi concentration camp and Neuschwanstein Castle, which is said to have been the inspiration for Cinderella’s castle in Walt Disney World.

The deadline to register is March 5. Students can access the study abroad page on the TCC website for costs and other information.