WTNH News Channel 8 / News / 1999

	Students Head to Vietnam (Waterford-WTNH) _ A group of Connecticut students is about to get a first-hand look at communism as they embark on a trip of a lifetime. The students are from Connecticut College in New London. Their destination is half way around the world. The group is about to embark on a trip to Vietnam, where they'll be taking part in their school's "Study Abroad/Teach Abroad" program. They'll be living in the former North Vietnamese capital of Hanoi studying at 'Vietnam National University'. It's the first time students from an American college are spending an entire semester in the country. News Channel 8's Peter Standring reports. Rebecca Anthopolos has never taken a trip outside the United States. Now the college sophomore is heading to Vietnam. She says it's a great opportunity. Rebecca Anthopolos, East Lyme: "A country like Vietnam, just from its aura I think you'd be scared to go all by yourself. This gives you some security while letting you be free to explore." Anthopolos is certainly going to have time to explore. She'll be living and studying in Vietnam for four months! This is the first time an American college or university is sending a group of students to Vietnam for a whole semester. In all, 13 students and 3 professors from Connecticut College are going. Among them is economics professor Don Peppard. 30 years ago when Peppard was in the Army he spent a year in Vietnam. He says for him the war was not especially painful so he's eager to go back. Donald Peppard, Economics Professor: "I talked to the guy who was my boss when I was there... and he said why are you going back? And I said because it sounds like a good idea. It should be fun." Fun and challenging. The students will be learning Vietnamese and will also venture into the less-developed countryside where they can try-out those new language skills. Anthopolos: "I don't want the students all sticking together, I want us to get out into the real Vietnam, not just stay in our little clique." Either way professor Peppard thinks the students will have the trip of a lifetime. Peppard: "I think they're gonna live pretty well, they're just gonna have a whole host of different experiences. I think they're gonna have a great time." Vietnamese officials will look closely at the program, and if it goes well, may expand it to include other colleges and universities. Today's News Page. WTNH Home Page. ©1999 WTNH/WTNH-DT A LIN station.

Students Head to Vietnam
(Waterford-WTNH) _ A group of Connecticut students is about to get a first-hand look at communism as they embark on a trip of a lifetime. The students are from Connecticut College in New London. Their destination is half way around the world. The group is about to embark on a trip to Vietnam, where they'll be taking part in their school's "Study Abroad/Teach Abroad" program. They'll be living in the former North Vietnamese capital of Hanoi studying at 'Vietnam National University'. It's the first time students from an American college are spending an entire semester in the country.
News Channel 8's Peter Standring reports.

Rebecca Anthopolos has never taken a trip outside the United States. Now the college sophomore is heading to Vietnam. She says it's a great opportunity.

Rebecca Anthopolos, East Lyme: "A country like Vietnam, just from its aura I think you'd be scared to go all by yourself. This gives you some security while letting you be free to explore."

Anthopolos is certainly going to have time to explore. She'll be living and studying in Vietnam for four months!

This is the first time an American college or university is sending a group of students to Vietnam for a whole semester. In all, 13 students and 3 professors from Connecticut College are going. Among them is economics professor Don Peppard. 30 years ago when Peppard was in the Army he spent a year in Vietnam. He says for him the war was not especially painful so he's eager to go back.

Donald Peppard, Economics Professor: "I talked to the guy who was my boss when I was there... and he said why are you going back? And I said because it sounds like a good idea. It should be fun."

Fun and challenging. The students will be learning Vietnamese and will also venture into the less-developed countryside where they can try-out those new language skills.

Anthopolos: "I don't want the students all sticking together, I want us to get out into the real Vietnam, not just stay in our little clique."

Either way professor Peppard thinks the students will have the trip of a lifetime.

Peppard: "I think they're gonna live pretty well, they're just gonna have a whole host of different experiences. I think they're gonna have a great time."

Vietnamese officials will look closely at the program, and if it goes well, may expand it to include other colleges and universities.

Today's News Page.

WTNH Home Page.