Dr. Thurber Leads 23rd Annual Study Trip to London, Prague and Amsterdam

The study tour group and Dr. Thurber pose for a photo in front of Prague Castle. Photo courtesy of Kelli Mack.

by Karl Jones

Dr. Daniel Thurber led a group of 10 students on his 23rd annual study tour of Europe from Dec. 26 through Jan. 7 to learn about the historical and current significance of the sites they visited and to give students an idea about what life is like in different parts of Europe.

This year Thurber took students to London, Prague and Amsterdam on the two-week long journey.

Thurber started leading these study tours to help acquaint students with London after spending time there as a visiting professor. One of the goals he had in mind was to help students learn about themselves and the world. Over the years, he has managed to take over 500 students to explore London and Europe.

“What is joyful and affirming for me as a teacher is to see the student’s faces when they encounter these places for the first time that they have been reading and hearing about,” Thurber said.

Setting out from Omaha, the group flew across the ocean to London, England where their sightseeing began. In London they visited well known landmarks such as Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, the River Thames, Westminster Abbey, London Bridge, the old and new Globe Theater and Trafalgar Square.

They also visited art galleries, museums, homes and museums of famous authors and churches such as the Southwark Cathedral. The group also saw a performance of “The Phantom of the Opera” in London’s Theater district.

“It is not just the places we visit, but also the journey that is very important, so I try to include visits to other locations besides the major tourist attractions,” Thurber said. “I try to give them a feel of the real people living there.”

After thoroughly exploring London, the group traveled to Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. In Prague they explored the Charles Bridge, Prague Castle, Franz Kafka Museum, the Church of St. Nicholas and Wenceslas Square.

From Prague they traveled to Amsterdam, where they saw the Anne Frank House, the Vincent Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum. They also took a train to Delft to experience Holland’s history, the artistry of Vermeer, the market square, churches, the canals and Delftware.

“If you have any interest in history, art or old architecture, the tour is very much worth it. Even if you have no interest in those things, it is still a great opportunity,” senior English major Kristin Bartlett said.

After their international travels, the students and Dr. Thurber returned to the United States just in time for classes to resume.