The City of light, snowfall in the middle of June and jaw-dropping art awaits those willing to expand their world-view during a 16-day adventure through the Nicholls Europe program.
 As an international studies program, Nicholls Europe offers those interested in exploring new cultures, people and places outside of America a chance to be a part of the longest continuous international travel abroad program in Louisiana.
Nicholls Europe Program Director and Founder James Barnidge first traveled to Europe when he was approached by the Archdiocese of New Orleans to teach a class overseas with students from Mount Carmel Academy in New Orleans. Once Barnidge came back, it was suggested that he begin a study abroad program for college students. Thus, Nicholls Europe was born. This will be the program’s 41 year anniversary.
This year, the Nicholls Europe program will be traveling throughout Europe to countries such as France, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium and Germany.  The journey begins on June 2 until June 17. The total cost for Nicholls Europe is $3,995, but the total does not have to be paid in full. Interested parties must pay a $100 deposit to secure their seat but large payments are not expected until February and March of 2013.
The total cost of the trip includes round-trip airfare, three to four-star hotel reservations with twin bedded rooms along with private bathrooms, meals, transportation to and from all specified destinations as listed in the itinerary, English-speaking guides, administrative fees and information needed for destinations.
Those interested in receiving undergraduate credit can earn up to six hours of credit in Humanities 260: European Studies and Humanities 204: International Humanities. High school juniors and seniors are eligible to take undergraduate courses while attending Nicholls Europe as well.
For upper division or graduate school credit, students can sign up for History 490: Problems in History and Humanities 405: Topics in International Humanities.. Fees for college credit are not included in the total cost of the actual trip. In order to be eligible for credit, students must register for summer school before May 22, 2014.
For three hours of undergraduate credit, fees are $639.35 and for six hours fees are $1,258.70. As for graduate level courses, three hours is $639.35 while six hours is $1,258.70.
Barnidge said that seats are filling up quickly and those who are still interested should contact him immediately. Currently, he is looking to add about 40 more seats to the airline due to a high demand of attendance.
Students such as Lani Detiveaux, education senior from Houma, and Christina Bilczuk, psychology senior from Canada, said Nicholls Europe was an experience that they would never forget, and they encourage others to consider participating.
“I would go back in a heartbeat,” Detiveaux said. “I just have to save again.”
Since the trip is not limited to age, the mixture of different age groups was said to give this trip more character. Detiveaux explained her experience of traveling with a diverse group of people by stating that each individual, no matter their age, is sharing an experience together that none of them will forget.
“You can see it from somebody’s eyes who’s older, and maybe they [have] never been out the country. Then you’re with students who [have] maybe never been out of the country too, so it works,” Detiveaux said.
From children to adults, everyone is welcome to attend. Barnidge even received a call from chef John Folse of the John Folse Culinary Institute and his family who plan to attend Nicholls Europe this year.
Along with an everlasting experience, everlasting friendships are also made annually during international studies trips.
“When you are sharing the beautiful experiences and the lifetime experiences with people who have similar interests, you’re making friends that you are going to have for the rest of your life,” Barnidge explained. “I have friends from the first trip that are still some of the closest friends I’ve ever had. We’ve experienced these great things together and that’s part of the fun.”
Before attending Nicholls Europe, people such as Detiveaux never experienced life outside of the United States. However, through the Nicholls Europe program, Detiveaux can identify herself as an experienced traveler.
“I’ve never been out of the country,” Detiveaux explained. “I only traveled in the United States, and when I came back I [had] already went to five different countries.”
During the 2013 Nicholls Europe trip, a tour guide recited a quote that stuck with some of the travelers from St. Augustine, ” The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.” This quote can also signify how classes are taught throughout the Nicholls Europe trip. Barnidge said the students learn on their own time during their trips to famous sites such as the Louvre in Paris or the Alpine villages in Switzerland, which seemed to be a fan favorite amongst some of the tourist.
Kathy Dugas, a history professor who has traveled with Nicholls Europe for several years, said the trip is a different experience for her every year.
“It’s funny how you can go to the same place, [then] next summer you get a different experience because you see it through different people and you go to different places,” Dugas said.
For more information about Nicholls Europe, contact Barnidge at 985-448-4460 or [email protected] or Dugas at 985-448-4393 or [email protected].