Mark Appold, far left, with students, pictured from left to right, Jordyn Williams, Samantha Wickam, Grace Curtright, Sierra Horton, Jane Rademacher, Katie Shannon, Caitlin McGrath and Brandon Bolte at the Roman Coliseum.

Six weeks of intense learning and diverse experiences took place in summer 2013 for eight Truman students who participated in the East Meets West study abroad program led by Mark Appold, associate professor of philosophy and religion.

Students traveled through Italy, Greece, Turkey, Israel and the West Bank with time spent at ancient and modern sites. The study abroad trip also included two weeks of hands-on excavation work at Biblical Bethsaida, once a capital city in the Iron Age, but a small fishing village at the time of Jesus and home to five of his disciples. Truman is a member of the Bethsaida Consortium.

While in Israel, students lived in a Jewish kibbutz and on weekends visited historic sites from the Sea of Galilee to the Mediterranean and south along the Jordan River to the Dead Sea.

Students spent four days in the Palestinian West Bank, followed by a four-day stay in a pilgrim house in Old Jerusalem. While traveling to Rome, Naples, Athens, Corinth, Istanbul, ancient Ephesus and other places, students gained insight and critical understanding of political, religious and cultural differences and ongoing efforts at conflict resolution.

The study abroad course carried six credit hours and involved preparatory meetings, reading assignments, book reports, diary and research paper.

Truman students have the opportunity to study abroad in more than 50 countries. For more information, check out studyabroad.truman.edu.