When Chris Costic first chose to attend Ohio State as a mechanical engineering student, few would imagine that today he would be nearly finished with a major in Slavic and East European studies preparing to embark on a two-month journey to the Czech Republic.
Costic, a senior at OSU, who also majors in security and intelligence, will finish his foreign language requirement in Czechoslovakian at Palacky University in the city of Olomouc of the eastern Czech Republic. During his visit, Costic will earn required course credit as well as tour a number of different countries in Eastern Europe.
"I guess I'm just trying to study as much as I can, and at the same time enjoy myself," Costic said about his upcoming trip.
Originally an engineering major, Costic became interested in his family's Czech heritage and switched to his current course of study.
Costic grew up in Lyons, Ohio, where his great grandparents immigrated along with a number of other Czech families; today Lyons is home to many who trace their families heritage back to what was then Czechoslovakia.
"Oh, you're going to miss Polka Fest," Costic recalled his friends and family saying, referring to the annual festival during which Costic will be studying overseas.
"I think I'm going to be doing something a little more authentic," said Costic, who leaves for his family's country of origin on July 12.
Although it is not unusual for one to become interested in his or her family heritage, Costic has not taken the standard path toward his original major.
"I did not get along with calculus," Costic said, referring to the point at which he first considered switching to the subject about which he was more passionate.
"I could have gone to a lot of universities that offer mechanical engineering, but none where I could go into Slavic and East European studies and security and intelligence," Costic said, "even less that offer Czechoslovakian as a foreign language."
Another factor in Costic's decision to study abroad was Ohio State's Office of International Affairs, whose study abroad coordinators helped him to plan his trip.
"They have their system so well set-up to begin with," Costic said. "It's so easy to get the ball rolling, to get things taken care of to study abroad."
According to the Office of International Affairs Web site, students have the opportunity to study more than 100 different programs in 40 countries around the world, and coordinators will guide them through everything they need to know, from financing their trip and earning scholarships to creating an itinerary and earning course credit for a particular major or degree program.
Although Costic will be busy earning course credit at Palacky University, his free time during the trip is largely unplanned. In addition to immersing himself in the local culture of the eastern Czech Republic and learning as much of the native language as possible, Costic will also have the opportunity to visit Slovakia, Austria, Poland and Hungary while in Europe.
Costic will also be documenting his upcoming trip online. To read about his experiences readers can access his blog at cheechseurotrip.livejournal.com.
For more information about study abroad opportunities, visit OSU's Office of International Affairs Web site at oia.osu.edu.
Steve Skok can be reached at skok.2@osu.edu.
Be the first to comment on this article!