This winter, Binghamton University’s Alumni Association, in conjunction with the theater department, will offer a tour of South America.
Specifically, the group will visit Buenos Aires, Argentina and Santiago, Chile.
Even those who have never attended Binghamton University can be a part a part of the trip, as it is open to the public. And although most of the people who end up going are alumni, there have always been some students on the trips, organizers said.
According to Director of Production Tom Kremer, the trip usually consists of about 15 to 20 people.
“We’re looking for a manageable number where we can get to know people and get everyone energized without leaving anyone out,” Kremer said.
The theater department has worked with the alumni to go on similar trips in the past. Previous excursions include outings to both Dublin and Scotland, as well as visiting London three times.
“It’s always tied around the theater. Like, we went to the Edinburgh Festival when we went to Scotland,” Kremer said. “We experience the theater and experience the culture.”
While South America may seem like a big departure from the previous trips, the decision was made with consideration to a few different priorities.
“The dollar does better there, there is a huge performing arts festival in January and the theater department has an exchange program with Chile,” Kremer said, adding that the exchange students usually come from one of two professional acting schools, DuocUC or the Catholic University of Chile.
Another reason for the trip is the exotic scenery and the temperature — January is still summertime in South America.
“It’s an eye opener to go there,” he said. “Santiago is a very sophisticated city and Buenos Aires is incredibly European.”
According to Kremer, the cost of the trip is $2,950 a person, which may seem slightly expensive, but “alumni tend to want to stay in four or five star hotels.”
The fee also pays for some of the meals, airfare costs, theater tickets, admissions to museums, an English-speaking guide and a “wine train” in Chile.
“We usually have the same guide the whole trip, which is good because people start to get to know him,” Kremer said.
Organizers have planned the trip so that there won’t be any long-lasting economic effects.
“Travel with the Experts, based in New Jersey, is the agency which handles the coordination of the trip,” said Steve Seepersaud, an alumni communications specialist. “This is basically a break-even deal for us.”
For current BU students, the trip is not a travel abroad program and it does not count for credit. However, as they get to know the theater better, they may find themselves doing work on it when they come back.
“Students have come back and done independent study with me after being excited by what they saw,” Kremer said.