International Business Class Really International

When Dr. John Bitzan walked into his International Business 310 class he didn't know a standout student would become an assistant. George Eristavi is enrolled at North Dakota State University in a program sponsored by the American Councils for International Education.

The program is for students from past Soviet countries to study in the United States. For undergraduates only, the yearly program is competitive. Eristavi is from Georgia. Bitzan's class also had students from Germany, France and Sweden. When questions arose on how culture affects business, the discussion had great contributions from the international sector.

A business administration major, Eristavi is interested in civil aviation and the airline industry. He is a junior at the Georgian Aviation Institute, a school of about 3,000 students. He needed an internship and Bitzan needed help with research. The two team on a statistical analysis of the Uniform Rail Costing System for Class I railroads. They estimate the variable costs of rail operation from 1989 through 1999 and match reports to make sure data is appropriate.

Eristavi never expected to be doing anything like this. His main interest in transportation has always been aviation. Planted on terra firma in North Dakota for an academic year is a change in many ways.

For him, the opportunity to work with the professionals in the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute is wonderful. "This environment is unusual for a student. I'm working with real professionals and I've learned so much. I'm really glad I'm doing my internship here," Eristavi says.

His train study has already taught him a geographical distinction from Georgia. "Trains can be long here because they don't have mountains to climb," only one of the many differences he notes. Georgia is also warmer than North Dakota with an average temperature of 14 degrees centigrade. In addition to clothing, he's learned about different stresses temperature extremes cause in transportation.

A believer in higher education, Eristavi is "glad" he met Bitzan, calling him a wonderful professor and now, friend. He didn't expect his classes to be so interesting. "Here the University provides everything for students to do their work - computers and libraries. It's a good place," he says.

Eristavi is from the capitol of Georgia, Tbilisi. His father is a programmer in information management systems in the Department of Science and Technologies. His mother is a lecturer, who holds a Ph.D. in "Cinema and Sound", at the Georgia Institute of Theater and Georgian Jazz Academy. An older brother is a painter and has the number one rated radio music broadcast.

When he returns to Georgia, he'll have one year of academic work to complete and then a thesis, probably on airline strategic alliances. Eristavi says he'll take good memories of the courteous and friendly people he's met here back with him. But he won't miss the weather.