Simone Conceio, Ph.D., an assistant professor of Adult and Continuing Education at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, wants to take Wisconsinites home with her at the end of the semester.

Home for her is Brazil, South America's largest and most diverse country. Conceio is leading an educational travel program to Brazil in late December through the UWM School of Continuing Education (SCE). She says: "It's my home...I love Brazil and I have this great opportunity to show it off!"

"I want to give people a personalized introduction to my country," she says. "We'll include some unique sights and experiences that traditional commercial tours can't provide." Simone plans a personalized tour of Rio de Janeiro, a city of stark contrasts. She will lead the group through Rio's Favela da Rochina, a teeming ghetto set against the backdrop of the surrounding magnificent scenery. From there, the group will go to the Boiadeiro Square free market in the city's commercial center. According to Dean Susan Kelly: "This is a unique opportunity to travel in Brazil with a 'local.'"

Kim C. Beck, the School's Director of Arts, Humanities and Science Programming, says that as the world gets "smaller," real and substantial international knowledge and insight becomes a more valuable commodity. "People want a deeper experience than comes from just traveling from place to place and learning little more than what you can get from a travel brochure. The program Simone has developed with us really is a remarkable opportunity."

Beck says that SCE education travel programs tend to include behind the scenes tours and informational sessions with governmental agencies or officials. The programs, however, do include plenty of spectacle and fun.

"Who wouldn't want to experience New Year's Eve in Rio? There's nothing like it anywhere," Conceio says. "Just as there is nothing like the Amazon. That's such an amazing and important part of Brazil. It is an ecosystem that effects the whole world."

Other educational travel opportunities

While the registration deadline has passed for Professor Conceio's Brazil trip, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee offers numerous other opportunities to travel and learn, ranging from international destinations to offerings close to home. A few examples are listed below; consult the School of Continuing Education Web site to browse more listings or request a paper catalog.

New York City Theater Tour: Best of Broadway 2004
March 18-20, 2004
Join Kim Beck on a four-day adventure to the theater capital of America! Fly nonstop on Midwest Airlines, then see four top Broadway shows: "The Boy from Oz," "Sweeney Todd," "Fiddler on the Roof" and "Never Gonna Dance." Stay in the heart of the Theater District at the exceptional Millennium Broadway Hotel, and visit some of the Big Apple's most interesting cultural sites. For a brochure, call 414-227-3321 or e-mail kcb@uwm.edu.
Fee: $1,399 per person double occupancy; $1,739 single
Deposit of $150 due as soon as possible to ensure your reservation.
Deadline for final payment: Feb. 2
Program No.: 8119-5101

London Theater Tour (with a full-day excursion to Edinburgh, Scotland)
April 22-May 2, 2004
Join Kim Beck on an 11-day London Theater Tour and experience firsthand the vibrant West End theater scene, the revered Royal National Theater and the renowned Royal Shakespeare Company in the birthplace of Shakespeare, Stratford upon Avon. Enjoy excellent seating in either the stalls (orchestra) or the royal circle (front mezzanine) for all performances. In addition, experience guided London sightseeing, a Thames River luncheon cruise and a full-day excursion to Edinburgh. Lodging is at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel, conveniently located next to the Gloucester Road Underground Station. Additional time allowed for sightseeing and shopping on your own. For a brochure, call 414-227-3321 or e-mail kcb@uwm.edu.

Eastern Civil War Battlefields
June 19-26, 2004
Historians Bob Schmall and Robert Braun lead a historical tour of eastern Civil War battlefields including Fredricksburg, Chancellorsville, Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Antietam and Gettysburg. A day on your own to explore Washington, D.C. is part of this special opportunity. The trip includes hotel, some meals, ground transportation via air-conditioned coach and air transportation on Midwest Airlines. For a brochure, call 414-227-3321 or e-mail kcb@uwm.edu.

The Baltics and St. Petersburg
July 29-August 10, 2004
Join Susan Yelich Biniecki, Program Director for the Institute of World Affairs, on this incredible adventure to Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Russia! The fascinating Baltic States each have a unique blend of cultures and religions. Your journey begins in the romantic city of Vilnius, Lithuania where you explore the Gates of Dawn, Vilnius University and the amazing old town. Visit Lithuania's ancient capitol at Trakai Castle on Lake Galve, where the ethnic minority population of Karaite lives. The modern city of Riga offers a taste of Latvian life as it used to be at its Open Air Museum. Relax on the Baltic Coast in Jurmala. Wander cobblestone streets of the medieval city of Tallinn. Hike through Estonia's Lahemaa National Park with its pristine forest, 18th-century manor houses and waterfalls. The marvels of the Hermitage Museum and a stroll through Nevsky Prospect in St. Petersburg are a must for any world traveler! Political and economic changes in this region have been dynamic and this trip offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet with people who have witnessed history in the making. For a brochure, call 414-227-3321 or e-mail kcb@uwm.edu.

Ethnic Milwaukee with Frank Zeidler and John Gurda
Join former Mayor Frank Zeidler and local historian John Gurda for a wide-ranging discussion of the ethnic groups who have made Milwaukee famous. From Germans to Poles and Native Americans to African-Americans, learn of the contributions cultures have made to our community.
Tuesday, April 20, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
UWM School of Continuing Education
Fee: $32
Program No.: 8114-2204