Jessica Ahern of Woodbridge Explores Culture of Hawaii

Eastern Student Jessica Ahern of Woodbridge Explores Culture of Hawaii

WILLIMANTIC, CT -- Twenty psychology students expanded their worldview over winter session during a global field course in Hawaii. Titled "Cross-Cultural Well-Being and Relationships in Hawaii," the course ran from Jan. 2-11. Students were immersed in the local culture and visited some of the island chain's most breathtaking sites.

Among the students was Jessica Ahern '19 of Woodbridge, who majors in Psychology.

"This course was designed to provide an overview of cross-cultural issues related to well-being and relationships," said Psychology Professor Madeleine Fugere, who led the trip with Professor Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault. "Aspects of well-being and relationships were examined from Western and native-Hawaiian perspectives."

The Eastern students examined differences in attachment styles, social support, parenting, psychological disorders, personality and emotional expression, physical attraction, romantic relationships and compassionate love.

A highlight of the trip was a volunteer project at the 800-year-old Pae Pae fishpond, which is a source of food for the locals but currently damaged by storms and the growth of invasive plant species.