Submitted by Alexandra Falcone the 2025 Winter program in Australia…
After 2 short weeks exploring Australia with my family over Christmas and New Years, it was finally time to start my study abroad journey! Saying goodbye to my family was bittersweet, but it has been so exciting to see all the new sights and meet all of the new people who I will be spending the next few weeks with. This trip is focused on international cuisine and culture and advanced wine and beverage management. We started off the trip with a bang, exploring the town we are staying in, Manly Beach. The group is staying in a hostile for almost 3 weeks which is a short ferry ride away from Sydney before flying to Adelaide, Australia. One of the first days in Manly, a group of us went to watch the sunrise over the gorgeous crystal blue water, before sight seeing in Sydney at the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Along with sightseeing, we have had many amazing multi-course meals with wine pairings and even enjoyed some afternoon tea. There is lots to look forward to on this trip and can’t wait to see and learn even more. This first week has been filled with so many amazing memories with the hopes of making so many more! (Submitted on January 13, 2025)
Both the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge on our Ferry Ride into the city.
Submitted by Margaret Parker the 2025 Winter program in Dunedin, New Zealand…
Within the first week of my arrival in New Zealand, it has become so clear how loved and respected nature and animals are here. The culture here is to take care of the environment and protect the species that have been affected by humans. During the first few days, my project group for the classroom went to the Settlers Museum in Dunedin. We learned about the whaling industry and how whales were hunted to extinction by the European settlers and the indigenous group on the island, the Maori. We followed up this research with the program’s trip on a wildlife tour. My guide explained how whales are some of the only animals in the world that have migrated back to the region after extinction. It is very rare for animals to disappear after hunting and then choose to come back. That being said, they stay very offshore, away from where the hunting occurred, even generations later. This was referred to as generational trauma by my tour guide. The tour guide then showed us fur seals, sea lions, and penguins. We saw the world’s rarest penguins, the yellow-Eyed Penguins, and she explained the conservation work they are doing. The penguins are ridden with diseases that are passed onto the babies when in the eggs. Once the adult penguins lay eggs, they are taken to a clinic, given medication and fed back to health, then returned to the parents. This increases the survival rate of the babies from almost zero to 100% survival rate. This is just some of the work New Zealand does to protect endangered species.
As for the sea lions, we saw the world’s rarest sea lion too, the New Zealand Sea Lion. These guys are also in danger of extinction. Our tour guide has spent her academic and professional career researching and protecting sea lions. They are often thought to be aggressive, but really they are just the “dogs of the water” and people are more intimidated by their size. If a human stays still and acts boring, the sea lion will not be interested in you. The sea lions are facing danger with gun violence and being shot by people who thought they were under attack. The sea lions are on protected beaches and there is a large movement of education for these animals in order to protect the species. The work that I learned about was truly inspiring and I felt the love and care being shown to the animals. The respect for nature is near and far and it was very remarkable to see such care for the environment. I was very lucky to see such rare animals, and my hope is one day, with the help of people just like I met on the wildlife tour, the animals will not be nearly as rare as they currently are. (Submitted on January 9, 2025)
Through my binoculars, I captured three Yellow-Eyed Penguins, which are the world’s rarest penguins. We had to be silent, as they would run away if they heard too much noise. Their eyes are also very sensitive to light.
Submitted by Avery Aaron the 2025 Winter program in Buenos Aires, Argentina…
Hola from Argentina! I have been in the beautiful city of Buenos Aires for almost a week now, and I have already learned so much about this amazing and diverse country. Being here for a couple of days doesn’t mean that I am fully adjusted to everything yet, because I am still experiencing culture shock and certain aspects of their daily life that I never thought I would be exposed to. It has been so cool being able to meet people, whether it is new faces from UD or locals who live in the city. The group I am abroad with has already been on 2 different tours of different attractions in the city, and we have a lot more coming up that I am super excited about. (Submitted on January 8, 2025)
My additional photo is from the second tour we took, which was “La Cementerio de Recoleta.” The graves in this cemetery were unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. The architecture was absolutely stunning (similar to the rest of the city) and I got to see some famous names who were buried here. This photo is the gravestone of Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, who was the president of Argentina and an impactful educator. Sarmiento stood out to me because my mom is an educator, and I sent this picture to her because I knew she would love to see it.
Submitted by Saniyah Norwood the 2025 Winter program in Paris, France…
My first few days in Paris felt like a dream. My group and I explored all of Paris on a bus that gave us a tour of the entire city. None of it felt real! I am so excited for what is to come in the next couple of weeks! (Submitted on January 8, 2025)
Here I am walking through a Parisian neighborhood for the first time! The architecture in Paris is truly breathtaking!
Submitted by Samantha Green the 2025 Winter program in British Virgin Islands…
Today was January 2nd, 2025, the start of my study abroad journey! I woke up this morning feeling a bundle of nerves; excitement, nervousness, anxiety, and pure joy knowing I had so many new things in my near future! After taking a short four and a half hour flight, a taxi, a ferry, and another taxi I finally arrived at my hotel where the views could’ve been out of a movie. I am feeling so blessed and beyond grateful to be here and experiencing all the beauty this new country and culture has to offer! (Submitted on January 6, 2025)
Photo of Cane Garden Bay, where BVI nursing students are staying
Submitted by Arikah Campbell the 2025 Winter program in Barbados…
Stepping off the plane and feeling the warm Caribbean breeze instantly made the reality of studying abroad in Barbados sink in. After months of preparation, anticipation, procrastination, and packing (probably too much clothes), I have finally arrived on this beautiful island for my winter session abroad. As soon as I got off the shuttle bus from the plane I was hit with the sounds of the steel pans beating. The many times I’ve been to Barbados or any other Caribbean island, this was the first time I’ve ever experienced being welcomed by music in an airport. Then once I got my bags, I was greeted with a rum punch (which was unfortunately not that good) and my sisters recording me with big smiles on their faces. Although I’m a daughter of a Bajan and have been to Barbados since a young child, I didn’t know the oldest rum distillery is in Barbados and it was coined in Barbados. I’m looking forward to going to Harrison Cave and experiencing the history of rum and going zip lining. I’m looking forward to meeting the teachers and students and learning how the school system works. This experience is about growing in my educational space and learning and stepping outside my comfort zone in a classroom. The island’s vibrant energy is contagious, and I can’t wait to experience this adventure ahead in Barbados. (Submitted on January 4, 2025)
Welcome sign at the Grantley Adams International Airport
Submitted by Brooke Gaenzleon the 2024 Winter CIEGprogram in Barbados…
Wrapping up study abroad has been a whirlwind! Between exams and labs, we were also experiencing and exploring the island. Some highlights have been gardening for the Bellairs Research Institute, where we are staying, and visiting Andromeda Gardens in Bathsheba. I was able to learn so much about gardening in Barbados and all of the plants able to grow and thrive here.
My coastal processes class also incorporated a lab report that focused on designing a coastal resilience plan for Six Men’s Bay of Barbados. We were able to visit the area and speak with the local fisherman, where I learned about the erosion the area faces and how the fish populations have been declining. There are also no fishing regulations! So my team set out to design a revetment system, paired with a breakwater and offshore reef to protect the beach.
Another highlight of the past week has been the live music! My classmates and I traveled up to Speightstown, where we saw the most beautiful sunset on the pier and then listened to the live band right on the water. It was amazing and so cool to hear songs we all knew, sung in a completely new way! The band played for 3 hours through the rain and my classmate even ended up singing with them!
Barbados has been so cool to explore and get to know and I’ll be so sad leaving it behind, thankfully I have a couple of shells to bring home. And lots of memories! (Submitted February 4, 2024)
Submitted by Taylor Donahueon the 2024 Winter CIEGprogram in Barbados…
The final week of Barbados was full of excursions around the island. Another trip to the west coast led us to Harrison’s cave and Andromeda Gardens. When I thought of Barbados before this trip, I didn’t expect a giant cave system to be underneath the tiny island. Giant stalagmites and stalactites surrounded our group in the cave. The Andromeda Garden had stunning flowers and plants, spanning 8 acres. Seeing both of these beautiful sites in one day made me appreciate the diverse the area is.
Our group took a trip to a different part of the island to see a live band. The music is always great in Barbados and I’ll miss the energy back home. The band played in Spitestown right on the beach, so we were able to see a stunning sunset. Going to see musicians allowed our group to meet more locals and learn more about Barbados. Learning the bus system was challenging, but worth it in the end. We got to see so many different areas and appreciate them all during the month.
This experience allowed me to grow a deeper appreciation for Barbados and their struggles. Our courses in coastal engineering allowed us to observe what issues they were having and brainstorm potential solutions. Our final lab was to create solutions for the area of Six Mens since they are experiencing serious erosion problems near their highway. I’m looking forward to bringing this passion back home and seeing what coastal processes I now notice. This experience was once in a lifetime and I;ll forever be grateful I got the opportunity to go. (February 4, 2024)
Submitted by Taylor Cannonon the 2024 Winter FINC/BUADprogram in Sydney, Australia…
During our time in Sydney, we had the unique opportunity to do the Sydney Harbor Bridge Climb. The massive bridge is a staple of the Sydney landscape and is commonly photographed with the opera house that sits right next to it. While ascending the bridge, the view was absolutely breathtaking. We could see a completely clear view of the city skyline as the sun was setting. The steel bridge itself weighs in at an impressive 52,000 tons and was created in 1932 by hundreds of workers. Our guide explained the history of the bridge as we ascended to the peak, which is 187ft, or 20 stories!
Being able to see the city we spent two weeks exploring in full view was so incredible and such a memorable experience. But what I think made it the most fun was spending it with such good friends that I made along the way throughout our trip. I wouldn’t trade these people and this experience for the world and know I am going to cherish it forever! (Submitted February 4, 2024)
Submitted by Leigha Rayon the 2024 Winter LLCUprogram in Granada…
One thing that really amazed me was the buildings and streets in Spain. It is nothing that you would see in the United States. It made me realize why there are much more people outside during the day. Everyone seems to take things slow and enjoy the day which I love and wish the US could implement into our everyday lives. (February 4, 2024)
