A quick train to Germany!

Submitted by Evan Ciecko on the 2024 Winter ENGL program in Netherlands …

Me standing in front of the Cologne Cathedral.

My second week in Arnhem was an amazing experience! I traveled to two national parks and learned about the impacts of climate change on their livestock and native plants. I was greatly impressed by the resources that are being utilized in The Netherlands to research and restore native species. One of the biggest differences in culture that I became aware of was the way that the Dutch tour guides emphasized a “hands-off” approach to maintaining the park. For example, livestock such as Highland Cattle that they house in a section of the park are left outdoor all winter to roam and are not fed or cared for as intently as they would be in American parks. The park guides acknowledged that sometimes cattle will not make it through the cold winter, but that this is exactly how it would have been in nature and they do not want to intervene. It was very interesting to learn about this new perspective on wildlife preservation.

The changes in culture that I experienced did not only exist in Arnhem. I am so excited that I got a free weekend to travel to Germany and experience the beautiful cities of Dusseldorf and Cologne. I was able to tour the Lindt Chocolate factory and learn about the ethics behind cacao farming and chocolate production.

I am so glad Arnhem is a city that is located so close to other countries and has allowed me the opportunity to travel to places I had never even thought about going when I joined this trip! I got to a whole new country faster than I could have driven to the beach at home. Excited for my last week here with three group excursions planned. (Submitted on January 22, 2024)

Parque Nacional de Volcán Irazú

Submitted by Kat Severson on the 2024 Winter SPAN program in Costa Rica …

Looking at Volcan Irazu from the lookout point! Admiring the view!

Vulcán Irazú might be my favorite excursion thus far. Everything from the ride up the mountain to the spectacular view, to the coffee in the gift shop was incredible! I enjoyed getting out of Heredia and stretching my legs, breathing in the clean, fresh, rural, Cartago air. Throughout the whole bus ride up the mountain, I did not stop looking out the window. I was amazed by the views and looking at all the small local farms. As an agriculturist spending most of my life living on a farm, it feels good to be in that atmosphere (plus I miss my goats). The views of the Central Valley and the surrounding mountain ranges were incredible, I took so many pictures. Once at the top of Irazú, I took in all the cold fresh air I could, it was so nice being away from the sticky heat for a little bit and also to be out in nature. The views from the top of the volcano were astonishing, I took a seat and just took it all in. Though volcanoes are dangerous and at times unpredictable, they are very important to the lands. When they erupt, they provide rich nutrients to soils, which is why the land in the valley is so fertile and able to support the growing of many different crops. Hence why many farms can be found in the mountainsides, especially coffee. When erupting, volcanoes also release valuable organic material such as pumice, gold, opal, mercury, and other metals. Some of these precious stones and gems can be good for the economy. Carbon Dioxide and hydrogen gasses are also released during eruptions, which in moderation, can be good for the environment. I greatly appreciated being out in nature and seeing the natural wonders that the world created. And there was something so exhilarating looking down at a (kind of) active volcano. (Submitted on January 22, 2024)

Boat Tour, Brunch, and Musee d’Orsay

Me outside of the brunch place we went to.

Submitted by Sam Williamson on the 2024 Winter BISC program in Paris …

After arriving in Paris, our group took a boat tour along the River Seine. The tour started at dusk and as night approached, the city lit up. The Eiffel Tower sparkled, the streets were illuminated by street lamps, and the shimmering lights reflected off of the river. Seeing the Eiffel Tower was a surreal experience and it was even more beautiful than I could have imagined. There were people sitting along the river’s edge drinking wine, spending time together, and admiring the Eiffel Tower. I felt so grateful to be there and was so excited to start this journey with my new friends I made in the program. The next day, some of us went to brunch to become closer and explore the city together. We found a restaurant on TikTok, called La Favorite, that had beautiful pink flowers covering the outside and strung from the ceiling throughout. We sat, talked, and laughed for hours while sipping on iced lattes and eating French crepes. After we had our delicious brunch, we took photos of each other outside of the restaurant and stopped into the Musee d’Orsay, which is free for students, where we saw a spectacular Van Gogh exhibit. (Submitted on January 22, 2024)

The Eiffel Tower that I took while I was on the boat tour.

Culture Through Cooking

Submitted by Elizabeth Villec on the 2024 Winter SPAN program in Granada, Spain…

We departed on our six and a half hour drive to the province of Limpopo in order to reach Kruger National Park, a wildlife sanctuary revered for its stunning natural beauty and common sightings of exotic beasts. The ride itself was tiresome, but manageable due to the excitement we all had to arrive at the location. Nothing of note happened on the ride, although there were many scenic landscapes surrounding us that captivated our attention. On arrival at our lodge we were informed that we were the only ones booked for the week so essentially we had a private lodge which included a pool, private chef, and a location right next to a watering hole at our disposal. As we settled in we simultaneously got ready for our first drive on the land. We set off once more on a two hour drive around Kruger Park which was incredible. That afternoon we saw Elephants, Giraffes, and warthogs to name a few of the animals. We stopped for what the locals call a sundowner; a drink you have in a picturesque location while watching the sunset. After our sundowners we departed back to the lodge to finally get some rest. The next day came and started at 5:30 am. Our days were scheduled to go on an early morning drive, rest in the afternoon, and another drive at around 6. Unfortunately the rest of the days were cloudy and rainy, but regardless that didn’t stop the animals from coming out. We saw many exotic animals once again which made bearing the rain worth it. The food we were provided was excellent, with an assortment of fresh fruit, vegetables, and unique dishes every night. I’m going to skip forward a little bit at this point, to a very unique experience we all shared. On the third day on our afternoon drive we were attempting to find any animals but were having no luck. We stopped for our sundowners and shortly after our guide received a message from one of the other rangers. We reached the location that the ranger was told and there we all saw a pack

of lions. Two adolescent males, one female, and about 8-10 cubs. It was surreal to say the least. Seeing so many lions up close in the wild was an experience I will never forget. That was our last evening drive of the trip, and the next day the rainy weather finally subsided and we departed back to Pretoria, where we were staying. Never would I have thought that I would be in the wild like that, but Kruger Park helped me live out an experience of a lifetime. (Submitted on January 22, 2024)

In the Wild at Kruger Park

Submitted by Juan Aguinaga on the 2024 Winter SOCI program in South Africa…

On arrival at our lodge we were informed that we were the only ones booked for the week so essentially we had a private lodge which included a pool, private chef, and a location right next to a watering hole at our disposal. As we settled in we simultaneously got ready for our first drive on the land. We set off once more on a two hour drive around Kruger Park, which was incredible. That afternoon we saw Elephants, Giraffes, and warthogs to name a few of the animals. We stopped for what the locals call a sundowner; a drink you have in a picturesque location while watching the sunset. After our sundowners we departed back to the lodge to finally get some rest.

The next day came and started at 5:30 am. Our days were scheduled to go on an early morning drive, rest in the afternoon, and another drive at around 6. Unfortunately the rest of the days were cloudy and rainy, but regardless that didn’t stop the animals from coming out. We saw many exotic animals once again which made bearing the rain worth it. The food we were provided was excellent, with an assortment of fresh fruit, vegetables, and unique dishes every night.

I’m going to skip forward a little bit at this point, to a very unique experience we all shared. On the third day on our afternoon drive we were attempting to find any animals but were having no luck. We stopped for our sundowners and shortly after our guide received a message from one of the other rangers. We reached the location that the ranger was told and there we all saw a pack of lions. Two adolescent males, one female, and about 8-10 cubs. It was surreal to say the least. Seeing so many lions up close in the wild was an experience I will never forget. That was our last evening drive of the trip, and the next day the rainy weather finally subsided and we departed back to Pretoria, where we were staying.

Never would I have thought that I would be in the wild like that, but Kruger Park helped me live out an experience of a lifetime. (Submitted on January 22, 2024)

A Weekend in Florence

Submitted by Madison Troise on the 2024 Winter HLTH program in Rome…

This weekend, me and my whole study abroad group traveled to Florence.Trying to coordinate an entire trip consisting of train tickets, a place to stay, and dinner reservations for 14 people was quite a challenge, but we made it work and I am so glad we did because Florence is a city I will never forget. One weekend was simply not enough time to explore what the city had to offer. Every restaurant we went to was amazing, and the sights were all unreal. I had the best pizza I’ve ever had in my entire life and just thinking about it makes my mouth water. Aside from the food, something that I love about Florence is how it is a smaller city that is very walkable. Rome is my home base and I love how big it is because every day you can explore something new, however that means that not everything is within walking distance. In Rome I have to take the metro everyday while in Florence I did not have to take it once. Public transportation is not my favorite thing to rely on, so the fact that everything in Florence was at most 20 minutes away on foot was absolutely amazing. The city also just felt so safe and homey, and sites such as the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio, and the David were breathtaking. I loved Florence so much that I purchased a real leather bag there so that I would have something to remember this trip from forever. Florence is definitely my favorite city that I ever visited and I am so grateful that I was studying in Rome because it gave me the opportunity to travel there so easily. It was one of the best weekends in my life and it is a city that I will definitely be coming back to. (Submitted on January 22, 2024)

The 17 Contrade of Siena

The second is an elephant statue in the museum

Submitted by Soli Martin-Abascal on the 2024 Winter LLCU program in Siena, Italy…

After exploring Siena last week, this week we were able to learn the rich culture and history of the city. Siena is home to 17 contrade or what we know as neighborhoods. Each contrada is represented by a different animal. These contrade participate in horse races twice a year. This week we visited the contrada of the Torre which is represented by an elephant. We visited the church as well as the museum of this contrada. Both extremely beautiful, all up kept by a chosen member of the contrada. I learned that babies are baptized into their contrada when they are born. To represent a newborn member into a contrada a flag is hung with a pink or blue ribbon tied around it. I find it remarkable that each neighborhood is a little community. Despite the different contrade Siena has a strong sense of community Even the rivalries between contrade are very lighthearted. Siena may have 17 contrade but it is clear that the city shares one heart. (Submitted on January 20, 2024)

A Week of Sharing Experiences

Submitted by Sara Brocken on the 2024 Winter BUAD program in Paris…

Before I left on my trip my dad was sharing with me all of the places he went to when he traveled to Paris back when he was in college. The one place that he would keep telling me that I had to visit was a certain chapelle but he couldn’t remember the name, only that it was absolutely stunning. I got a random text from him a couple days into the trip when he finally remembered the name of Sainte-Chapelle and I immediately booked my ticket. The day came that I got to visit the chapelle and my dad was right. It was breathtaking. My friend and I stood in the middle looking up at all of the colorful glass just in awe of how something so incredible is actually real. I loved being able to go to somewhere that my dad went to almost 40 years ago in another country, it made the moment even more special. Even though it was around 5 in the morning his time I had to call him and show him that I was there.

Without my dad this trip wouldn’t be possible so when we went on our champagne tour I knew I had to take a lot of pictures to send to him since champagne is made from wine and my dad is a big wine lover. I sent him pictures of the machinery and of the cellars we got to see but most importantly of the champagne we got to taste at the end. Since he shared his experience with me and told me to visit somewhere, I figured I should share my experience with him so I ended up buying a small bottle of my favorite champagne we tried so he could try it once I’m back home! (Submitted on January 20, 2024)

The Drive of a Lifetime

Submitted by Alexis Predmore on the 2024 Winter SOCI/CRJU program in South Africa…

Week 3 of our study abroad trip to South Africa was filled with some of the best days of my life. January 16th started out with a 6 1/2-hour ride to Kruger National Park. This drive was a great bonding time for us students because we told jokes, riddles, and talked a great deal. Many of us were excited for the safari, but we were not exactly sure of what was to come.

Upon arriving, we were picked up in a safari vehicle and got to see elephants bathing in mud. This was my first-time seeing elephants in the wild, so it was a surreal experience. We then had a warm welcome from the workers, which created a friendly environment.

The best game drive we went on was in the evening of January 17th. While out on the land, we saw many animals, including giraffes, elephants, buffalos, antelopes, zebras, lions, and the most colorful birds I have ever laid my eyes on. In addition, we got to overlook many mountains, and see the best views.

The next day, we got the opportunity to ride ATVs throughout the land. While driving, we saw antelope, elephants, and many giraffes. Due to the ATVs being closer to the ground than the safari cars, we were able to see how truly large these animals are. These drives are memories that will never be forgotten. (Submitted on January 20, 2024)

South Africa’s Different Lifestyles

2 of the beautiful buildings we saw at University of Pretoria

Submitted by Alexis Predmore on the 2024 Winter SOCI/CRJU program in South Africa…

After spending a week in South Africa, we were all filled with excitement. Being able to visit a cheetah reserve, many different towns, as well as historical sites were some of the best times in this past week.

During week 2, we got the opportunity to visit the University of Pretoria, which was gorgeous. While there, we completed History of South Africa classes, with a professor from the university. Taking a class from a professor from another country was a great experience. We were able to learn about many different tribes, such as the Zulu, Khoikhoi, Xhosa, and Bushman. We then also learned more about the history of Apartheid.

In addition, every day before this class, we got the opportunity to help at a day care. On Tuesday, January 9th, we had the honor to meet the kids, ages 4 months to 8 years old. From the moment we walked in the door, the room was filled with joy and laughter. In the day care, we were able to play with the kids, help in the kitchen, and freshen up the paint. We attended the day care for 5 days, and all 5 days were filled with smiles. This week was very memorable and important. (Submitted on January 20, 2024)

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