
Submitted by Ariana Castiglione on the 2025 Winter program in Sydney, Australia…
We went on a walking tour of Watson’s Bay, which has some of the most beautiful views I’ve ever seen! After the beautiful views we got to relax by the beach!

Submitted by Ariana Castiglione on the 2025 Winter program in Sydney, Australia…
We went on a walking tour of Watson’s Bay, which has some of the most beautiful views I’ve ever seen! After the beautiful views we got to relax by the beach!
Submitted by Saniyah Norwoodon the 2025 Winter program in Paris, France…
I have been in Paris for almost 3 weeks now! I have been enjoying it so far. I have approximately one week left here. I am excited to see my family and friends back at home. However, I love Paris and don’t want to leave. So far, I have visited the Louvre, Versailles, Sorbonne Nouvelle University, Montmarte, and many other monuments and institutions. Being in Paris for study abroad was not only a great academic opportunity, but a great chance to live life with a new perspective. I’ve met so many great people on this trip and can’t wait for what the rest of the trip brings me! (Submitted on January 23, 2025)
Submitted by Maggie Parker on the 2025 Winter program in New Zealand…
One of the events I have been most looking forward to is the Tongariro Crossing. The hike was a half marathon distance, 13.1 miles, and increasingly rewarding the more I hiked. After the summit, with winds whipping, all my layers on, and being up in the clouds, my program comes across the Emerald Lakes. Seeing the crystal clear water, the steam from the volcanoes, and walking along volcanic rock made my entire week. I had been anticipating this hike, and it was well worth the wait. (Submitted on January 23, 2025)
Submitted by Tori Binder on the 2025 Winter program in Sydney and Adelaide Australia…
During the past few weeks, we got to visit a lot more cool places! One highlight was visiting the Featherdale Wildlife Park outside of Sydney Australia! We were able to take photos and visit with Koala Bears and even pet and feed the wild Kangaroos! These animals are the heart of Australia and getting to meet them has definitely been a high point of the trip for me! (Submitted on January 22, 2025)
Submitted by Molly McGuigan on the 2025 Winter program in Venice, Italy…
This past weekend we traveled to Venice and had the opportunity to stay overnight. This was by far the best part of my study abroad trip so far. Venice is a beautiful city filled with local people and great food. Venice made up of over 100 little islands having its visitors walk over tiny bridges around almost every corner. There are no cars on the island of Venice, but there are water taxis you can take to move around more efficiently. My favorite part of Venice was taking a gondola ride around the city at sunset. You could see all of the colorful buildings and their lights with a great view of the sky as well. I plan on returning to Venice this upcoming weekend during our personal travel time! (Submitted on January 20, 2025)
Submitted by Kate Wixson on the 2025 Winter program in Holetown, Barbados…
As I reach the halfway point of our study abroad program in Barbados, I am filled with gratitude for this incredible experience. The opportunity to connect with the Bajan community has been truly enlightening. From our time spent teaching in local schools to the bonds we have formed as a group, this journey has brought proffesional and personal growth to us all. The music, food, and excursions we have experiened this far have been more than amazing.
I would also like to express my gratitude to Dr. Bieler for her dedication and guidance. Her commitment to fostering an understanding of diversity in education has made this program not only memorable but extremely impactful. This experience has broadened our perspectives and strengthened our passion for inclusive education, and we are excited to continue learning and growing in the weeks ahead. (Submitted on January 17, 2025)
Submitted by Ariana Castiglione on the 2025 Winter program in Sydney Australia…
We got to experience an amazing tour of the inside of the iconic Sydney Opera House! This was so interesting to get to experience and learn all about the different shows they put on. The inside of the opera house is beautiful and I’m so glad I was able to do this! (Submitted on January 17, 2025)
Submitted by Nathaniel Burlew on the 2025 Winter program in Volterra, Italy…
Last week we arrived in the Tuscany region of Italy. We are staying in the old town of Volterra, which is located in the Pisa province. The town itself is a walled in city, situated on the top of a mountain. First impressions of this place is the architecture is second to none that I have ever seen. Every brick, every crevice of every building, the attention to detail is absolutely astonishing. So far it is has been so cool and so much fun to experience a culture that is so different than the one we are used to back home. I am looking forward to the rest of this trip and all of the things we have planned!! (Submitted on January 16, 2025)
Submitted by Olivia Chamberlin on the 2025 Winter program in New Zealand…
Going on my first study abroad was very nerve wracking, but so exciting at the same time. After spending a little over a week in the first destination, Dunedin, NZ, I’m able to reflect on how my first few adventures went. My favorite excursion we went on was the wildlife tour. We saw many different bird species native to NZ, sea lions, seals, and rare penguins. Our tour guide told us we were lucky to see the penguins at all, let alone seeing four of them. Something that stuck out to me is that a lot of the people who live here know a lot about their culture and the history behind NZ. It was very interesting to see this because I feel like not many people in the States would be able to tell you a lot of information or the history behind where we came from in so much detail. So far, this program has allowed me to see things I would have never been able to see and I’m so excited for what’s to come! (Submitted on January 15, 2025)
Submitted by Tori Binder on the 2025 Winter program in Sydney, Australia…
We arrived in Australia last week and have already seen and done so many cool things! We toured the Sydney Opera House, got to do a lot of sight seeing around Manly Beach, and have experienced some amazing dinners and wines together as a class. One thing I’m super excited about, is how many awesome people I’ve met here in only a week, and the amazing friends and bonds I’ve made with other students on the trip. I’m excited to see where these next few weeks take us! (Submitted on January 15, 2025)