City Times

Issue date: 10/9/07 Section: Entertainment

Media Credit: Donna Maranto, Contributor Natural beauty such as this waterfall was abundant in the United Kingdom during this year's Eurofoto tour.

Donna Maranto
Contributor

(Editor's note: This first-person story is the first of three parts covering the City College photography department's 2007 Eurofoto tour.)

Most photography students here at City College know about Dave "Ike" Eichinger's Eurofoto class held during the summer months. He developed the curriculum in order to give students the opportunity to have a growing experience while widening their portfolios and touring places they have not yet visited.

For those unfamiliar with Eurofoto, it is a seven-unit course in which students travel in Europe to experience the historical relevance, worthy landscape and sites of interest, and take photographs with which they can expand their portfolios.

Upon return, the students have five weeks to work in the darkroom or at the computer printing, filing and deciding which photographs are "winners" (I personally came back with more than 3,000, having taken four cameras). The value to any photographer's portfolio soon becomes obvious.

On May 17, I eagerly mailed the final payment to Leonardo World LLC for the San Diego City College Eurofoto 2007 Study Abroad Program. This brought the total expense to $4,400. It did not seem overpriced considering what was included: a stay every night at a reputable B&B, all breakfasts, travel insurance, and most all of the transportation.

During the next two weeks, I probably learned more about the United Kingdom than any student needing the education for credits or classes - Stonehenge, a mysterious circle of hewn rocks built and rebuilt centuries ago; Loch Ness, nestled deep in the wilds of Scotland; Shakespeare's birth place; the ruins at Bath; and more. So much more.

Then, there came the e-mail from Leonardo World, a mere week and a half before the departure date. The tour had been cancelled. We would be receiving our refund checks shortly. No explanations, no apologies, just a quick note sent in that quiet and cruel world of electronic noiselessness. I suddenly turned 5 years old and hurriedly cried for mama: ouch!

Soon, another e-mail came. It was Ike, our leader, telling us not to worry, and scheduling a meeting for all of us to discuss the tragedy. In the course of a week and a half, during which time Ike worked incessantly around the clock, almost never leaving his computer, we had ourselves our tour - with upgrades in itinerary and a bonus of $500 savings. The rest, as they say, is history. At the beginning of the week of our original date to leave, we were a go.

Continued...

Page 1 of 3 next >

Article Tools