Virginia Tech’s National Capital Region (NCR) website is currently hosting an article on the 2012 Sustainable Europe Summer Program entitled “Students explore social dimensions of sustainability at the Virginia Tech Center for European Studies and Architecture.“ See also: http://www.vtnews.vt.edu/articles/2012/10/102312-ncr-sustainableeurope.html

After Ralph Hall’s module 1, there was much preparation to be done in Derek Hyra’s Module 2 prior to our trip to Marseille.  While Ralph’s section focused mainly on the broader subjects of sustainability and its relation to economics, Derek’s … Continue reading →

Our last big trip was to Marseille, France to study poverty-stricken areas called the French Banlieues which exist in the suburbs and contrast that to the United States ghettos that exist in the inner city. Before we left we read … Continue reading →

So it’s the end of my time in Switzerland and I cant believe how quickly its flown by. It really feels as though I just arrived in Riva yesterday, but instead I am sitting alone in the Villa waiting for … Continue reading →

Marseille and Nice are geographically similar and separated by a mere 200 kilometers. Dry chaparral vegetation gives way to sharp rocky cliffs and the cobalt blue Mediterranean.  Culturally however these two cities are quite distinct. Marseille is a bustling and … Continue reading →

For the second module of the course, I d … 繼續閱讀 →

There is only so much reading a paper or article can do to illustrate the diversity, surroundings, public housing situation, and racism in Marseille, France.  On a recent trip to Marseille we were able to take readings from the classroom and experience countless observations first hand.  One prominent observation was how many different cultures reside […]

Out of all the cities I traveled to during this program, Marseille was the one which I thought that I knew the most about thanks to the detailed articles that we read.  However, experiencing the city first hand gave me … Continue reading →