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Winter wonderland will be the theme of this year’s annual Residents on Campus trip to Winter Carnival in Quebec City, Feb. 6-8. All students, regardless of whether or not they live on campus, are invited to register for the trip.
In the past two years, the annual ROC trip has been in April, rather than February. Among the reasons to have the trip in April is warmer weather. However, according to ROC Vice President of Programming Tom Baker, there is very little to do in Quebec during April. Now the trip is scheduled during the second week of the Quebec Winter Carnival, a major event for the area’s tourist industry, according to the Carnival Web site, (carnaval.qc.ca). The last time the ROC trip occurred during the Quebec Winter Carnival was in 2001.
Because of the date change, the cost of the trip has risen from $45 to $75 for residents, and $80 for non-residents. Hotels are more expensive during the carnival season, and ROC is trying to avoid the deficit they encountered on last year’s trip, Baker said.
Despite the prospect of heading north in the middle of winter, the trip will be much more enjoyable for students than in past years, Baker said. According to their Web site, Carnival organizers anticipate more than one million visitors during the three-week span of the event. ROC scheduled the trip during the second weekend of the carnival.
“We wanted to give people the opportunity to do more than just drink,” Baker said. “This trip gives students the opportunity to explore and experience the cultural and historical attractions of the city because it is occurring during the Winter Carnival.”
While Quebec residents speak English, French is the official language.
“It’s like immersion into another culture with people who speak your language and another language at the same time,” Baker said.
Priority registration is given to on-campus students because ROC is organizing and funding the trip. However, off-campus students are encouraged to attend. ROC estimates that about half of the students who attend the trip do not live on campus. Everyone who attends the trip must also attend UMaine in the spring semester. Students who did not attend in the fall semester will be considered if any room is left after registration.
In all, 290 slots are available for the trip. Registration will be held today and Friday, Dec. 5, for on-campus students and on
Tuesday, Dec. 9 and Wednesday, Dec. 10 for off-campus students. Payment in full is expected during registration, and any roommate requests should be made at that time.
Bangor Daily News