SOUTHEAST PLANS `SPANISH ODYSSEY'

Members of the community, along with Southeast Missouri State University faculty and students, are invited to spend 16 days in Spain from May 16 to 31.

The "Spanish Odyssey" is sponsored by Southeast's Department of Foreign Languages.

Travelers will visit medieval castles, renaissance palaces, Roman ruins, gothic cathedrals and baroque churches. Some of the cities they will visit include Seville, Toledo, Segovia, Cordoba, Madrid, Barcelona and the Olympic Village. They will see art masterpieces by El Greco, Goya and Picasso.

Dr. Dieter Jedan, chairman of the Department of Foreign Languages, said, "People who come along will have the opportunity to become a part of the University experience."

Jedan was quick to allay language fears. "They don't have to know Spanish if they don't want credit," he said.

The trip won't be a typical tourist trip, Jedan said. "The group is going with a native Spaniard to see the whole of Spanish civilization," he said.

The native Spaniard is Dr. Connie Garcia Blanchard, professor of Spanish, who is in her first year at Southeast.

"We'll be able to give people the insider's guide to Spain," Garcia Blanchard said. "We'll be staying in some five-star castles and in the past we've even met some of my relatives over there." She said the trip would give people a personalized view of the country.

The 16-day program will cost $2,500. The cost includes roundtrip airfare, transportation in Spain, hotel accommodations, all tours and admission fees, and two meals per day, and also covers all taxes. Students who take the trip may earn 3 hours of credit, not included in the price of the trip.

For information or to reserve a spot, call 651-2146.