Blogs, Stories & Photos
Expand your worldview
Learn about students' international experiences around the world.
An international learning experience is a great way to change the way you see the world. You'll come back a different person, too. More independent, more focused, more self-confident.
"It's not just about the big things, different languages, and cultures; its really about the little things, the way you say hello, the way you eat a meal. Its about waking up in the morning and knowing you are in another country, but not registering what that means until you are home. Its about a whole new meaning of the phrase home away from home. Study abroad is about defining the indefinable, of who you are and where you fit in the world. Mostly, its about making the whole big scary world out there, a community, and an opportunity."
Nikki Palmer, Class of 2010
University of St. Andrews, Scotland. Spring 2008
Africa
Rhodes South Africa
Scott Jones '11, Maple Glen, PA
Read Scott's Blog from Rhodes in South Africa
Valeri Wexler '10, Alexandria, VA
Read Valerie's Blog from Rhodes in South Africa and view her photos below:
Spring 2008 semester in South Africa at Rhodes University, eight Washington College students, from left to right: Karen Hye, Grace Harter, Kevin Rodriguez, Kate Towson, Ryan Coulson, and Kana Takio.
The South Africa Experience
Courtney Madden '08, Woodstown, NJ
Anthropology Major
Things are going well in South Africa. Can't believe how fast it's going by. I don't know if you heard or not but Val and I got to feed lions. That was quite an experience.
Last Sunday we went on a horseback safari too. It was amazing.... seeing game on horse, and also riding on a private beach with the horses. It was really nice.
This place is just WOW. I dont know why more people don't go do the South Africa program. Etienne is amazing as our advisor and the trips planned for us are fantastic. Not to mention it's gorgeous here. I wonder if it is the distance factor that gets people? Hmm people just dont know what they are missing.
Asia
Hong Kong
Laura Reiter '10
Read Laura's Blog from Lingnan University in Hong Kong
Christina Naguiat '07, Beacon, New York
International Relations Major with Concentration in Asia and Economics
"When I was in Hong Kong, I joined the dance society, called DanSo, and participated in a "Mass Dance" of Hip Hop. It allowed me to bring part of the American culture to the students. It made me feel like I was a part of the campus, and I didn't feel like an outsider."
"You can make friends in all different cultures, even in the cultures that you think are the most extreme, different, or conservative in comparison to your country."
"I really hope others will go to Hong Kong; it's a wonderful place. I would love to go back and visit sometime in the near future."
Nicole Alpert, Columbia, MD and Good Hart, MI
Economics and International Studies Major with Concentrations in Asian and African Studies
"My decision to study in Hong Kong was based on a need to learn more about China in the atmosphere. Obviously going abroad broadens a life, but it broadened my sphere of knowledge, being taught by non-Americans, and using texts that weren't written by Americans, led me to more views within history, and the world's current events. These kind of eye opening opportunities were discovered because I chose to take myself out of a setting and a knowledge that I already had a grasp of."
"I had a great time learning the basics of Putonghua and the development of the characters. The Chinese New Year and many other Festivals are also quite exciting and rich in tradition. The beaches and barbeques as well as the efficient transportation within Hong Kong were lovely. Indeed, Hong Kong easily connects one to the rest of Asia, especially South East Asia and main land China. It is relatively easy and inexpensive to travel."
"The "West" and the "East" thought are not so different after all. I learned that there are many different "logics" in the world, and that true enough to the saying that one's enemy is another's liberator, one's truth is another's conjecture. Many people in the world are close-minded, and it may often take experience firsthand to lose a myopic view, but what also can help is a friendly challenge."
"Making lifelong friends and acquiring new knowledge is always the best of experiences, and that's exactly what you get when you travel abroad."
Japan
Fellow ISP students
Purikura, which are like photobooths. They are popular in Japan.
ISP students and friends at a picnic in Yoyogi Park.
Megan Gentry '12, Baltimore, MD
International Literature and Cultures Major
I have been in Japan for a month now, and it's been fantastic!! The program is great here because with help from our Japanese buddies, they take you to get things like alien registration cards, which would have been really hard to do by ourselves. I just had my first week of classes and all my classes seem really interesting; I'm excited to continue with them. So far, I have been all over Tokyo. I've been to Shinjuku, Harajuku, Shibuya, Ginza, Shimokitazawa, Yoyogi, and Akihabara. I love going to Harajuku and looking at all the clothes (that I hope to buy one day) and eating crepes. Crepes are very popular in Harajuku, and Tokyo in general, and they are sooo good! I hope to be able to travel around Japan soon.
Caitlin Wolfe '12, Boonsboro, MD
International Studies Major
Read Caitlin's Blog from Meiji Gakuin in Japan
Japan photos by Michael Hauss.
Eve Nealon '10, Huntly, VA
Read Eve's Blog from Meiji Gakuin in Japan
Michael Hauss '10, Baltimore, MD
International Studies Major
There are two types of people in the world: people who daydream and people who make the dream a reality. Going to Japan, I wanted to do everything I possibly could and that is exactly what I did. I walked among the Geisha in Kyoto, ate the freshest sushi at Tsukiji, and visited countless temples and shrines. Everyday, I utilized the massive, yet simplistic train systems to explore all that Tokyo had to offer. However, the most rewarding experience I had was climbing Mt. Fuji. It was hands down one of the most difficult things I have ever done in my life.
My friends and I were planning to climb Mt. Fuji the night after our final exams during my first semester at Meiji Gakuin University. We bought bus tickets to take us from Shinjuku to the fifth station on Mt. Fuji, which is the starting point for climbers. However, because we were all studying for our finals, we did not really prepare in anyway for the trip. The day of, on the way to the bus station we picked up some essentials we thought we needed for the ascent to the summit, consisting of bottled water and some trail mix. When we got to the fifth station, we were all pumped and excited to get going. However, that enthusiasm was short lived. Two hours into the hike up the mountain, we all were exhausted and wanted to quit, but there was no turning back by this point. We were cold and had no idea how much longer it would take to reach the summit, but we banded together and helped each other up the mountain. A mere three hours later, when we finally reached the top, we had no energy left. We literarily collapsed on top of each other and huddled for warmth. We knew it was going to be cold at the top, but no one realized that it was going to be as cold as it was. Sitting at the top, we waited for the sun to rise and when it did it, words could not explain the beauty in which it bestowed. Never in life had I seen day and night blend together in such a way. In front of you, the sun was rising and behind you, it was pitch black and all you could see were the moon and stars. As you looked from one extreme to the other it felt as if you were seeing day and night morph into one another. Words do not give it justice. Seeing the sunrise after hiking the tallest mountain in Japan was the most personally gratifying feat I achieved during my time spent in Japan, that and surviving the hike back down the mountain.
South Korea
Meredith Collier '07, Millersville, MD
English Major
I can say with certainty that going abroad for a year to South Korea to study at Yonsei University is the best single thing I’ve done for myself. Not every experience was pleasant, but every experience was personally significant and essential to who I am today. When I left Washington College, I was a shy, quiet young girl. I returned as a confident, outspoken young woman with the determination and ability to make her dreams into reality.
Living in a culture so fundamentally different from my own challenged my preconceived notions of what life is like, and I have come to regard challenge, growth, and positive change as pillars of that which I value in life. Studying in Korea, learning the Korean language, eating Korean food (very cheap and delicious—be sure to try the street food!), celebrating Korean holidays with local families, and making friends from all over the world gave me opportunities for growth that I could never have had otherwise.
I gained a love of travel from my trips all over the Korean peninsula (travel in South Korea is cheap and easy by bus or by plane, and accommodations for student groups large and small are affordable and plenty, and the subway system in Seoul is extremely cheap, clean, and efficient). Over the lengthy winter break, for Christmas I kicked back on the tropical island of Samui in the Gulf of Thailand. Just after New Years, I rode elephants and bamboo rafts in Thailand’s northern Chiang Mai province and spent my nights in mountain village huts. I was also able to visit the indescribable temples of Angkor Wat in Seam Reap, Cambodia, an experience that should be on everyone’s “To Do Before I Die” list.
As an English Literature major with a minor in Philosophy, I was particularly interested in comparing Eastern and Western contributions to these fields. I was able to study Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism, and both modern and ancient Chinese and Korean literature at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. I was also able to join a Korean literature club and participate as a Guest Editor at Yonsei’s English-language magazine, The Yonsei Annals. For Washington College’s newspaper, The Elm, I was able to write weekly column about my travels for both semesters.
But the things learned away from the classroom were far more meaningful. If you go abroad—and I believe that everyone attending Washington College should do so—remember to take chances, go off the beaten path, let life surprise you. The most rewarding experiences were those that took me by surprise, not the ones I planned well in advance. If you can, be sure to go abroad for an entire year. The first semester is fun but often very difficult; by the time the second semester begins, you’re ready to take on the world and drink in all it has to offer.
I will always be grateful to Washington College and the Office of International Programs for this remarkable opportunity. It has opened me to a world of wondrous possibilities.
Australia
Amber St. Louis '11 and Sarah Garretson '10
Amber St. Louis '11, Fort Washington, MD
Business Major
"Australia is known for its mateship, rugged image and picturesque beaches. This country is so beautiful ranging from its green pastures to the translucent water. Thus far, my experience has been very rewarding and memorable. I have met some of the most amazing people from countries across the globe. I am so pleased that I seized this grand opportunity to learn about other cultures and particularly, Australia's social, economic, and political background. I am very privileged to be where I am today and I continue to embrace every moment I have here. Australia's culture and society is definitely unique from other countries. "
Jennifer Lee '13, Wilmington, DE
Environmental Studies Major
Read Jenny's blog from Monash University in Australia
Caroline Stanley '11, Freeland, MD
Environmental Studies Major
Caroline in the news at Monash
Seth Olson '09, Branford, CT
Political Science and Economics Major
"I just got in 2 hrs ago (Fri Night) from a week long trip to the center of AUS for my midsemester break. I spent a night in Alice Springs, before heading off on a 3 day tour to Uluru (Ayres Rock), the Olgas, and Kings Canyon, as well as many more smaller sights along the way before returning to Alice Springs for another night. The weather there was gorgeous 80's and bright sunshine, and slept under the stars at night, they were fabulous, so bright and clear, could see the milky way stretch from one horizon to the other. Saturday morning I am off sailing again, racing on Port Philip Bay on the 50foot boat I have earned a regular weekend crewing spot on. So life is good, and just checking in."
Europe
England
Hansard Scholar Programme, London
Antoine Jordan '12, Frederick, MD
International Studies & Drama Major
Stephan Jordan '12, Frederick, MD
Political Science Major
Follow Antoine and Stephan's adventures in London via photos on their Facebook
Jordan Brown studying at Royal Holloway, takes advantage of the London sights.
Hansard Scholar Programme, London
Latoya Gatewood-Young '10, Elkton, MD
International Studies Major
Wandering the halls of Parliament was an experience in itself; however, my favorite memory in London was having the opportunity to shake hands with Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow. The Hansard Society gave me the opportunity of a lifetime, I even caught a glimpse of the Queen! The decision to study abroad for my entire junior year was the biggest decision that I have ever made and by far, I have no regrets.
Royal Holloway/University of London
Alex Hoffman '11, Teaneck, NJ
History Major
"Being abroad let me grow up in a way that I wouldn't have been able to do if I stayed here at Washington College. Traveled to five countries in three and a half months. Overall best experience of my life."
Royal Holloway/University of London
William Bruce '09, Rydal PA
English Major
"We have had a fantastic semester! The teaching style is very different here; we've done a lot of independent research and it's been really stimulating, and we've made some great friends from all over the world! It's really been worth it!"
France
American Business School Paris
Ian Holstrom '12, New Hope, PA
Economics Major
Ireland
Ireland photos by Molly O'Connell.
Meghan O'Leary '12, Annapolis, MD
Human Development Major
Read Meghan's Blog from UCC in Ireland
Allison Fischbach '09, Woodbine, MD
Read Allison's Blog from UCC in Ireland
University College Cork
Molly O'Connell '10, Portsmouth, NH
Humnanities Major
Everyone asked me how it was during my first week, and the first one-word response I could come up with each time was, "Green." Silly, they'd reply, of course its green—you're in Ireland! But really, you have never seen the color green correctly unless you've been to Ireland. I personally believe that if it's green, it grows here, no matter what kind of greenery it is! I have seen palm trees next to pine trees and all manner of things in between. In the city of Cork (Corcaigh, in Irish), there is more than just green. I don't really know what I was expecting. I've been to Paris and Madrid and Rome before; seen the high Gothic towers and beautiful Georgian apartments. Ireland is built of what they have always had available—stone. Most modern buildings use a lot of concrete. But they have painted them so you can never tell unless you're close. My apartment building is a mild shade of light pink. Across the river, there is light green, yellow, white and blue. Even when the sky is grey—and, being Ireland, it is grey more than it is sunny—color still exists all around you. When the sun comes out, the whole city looks spectacular; when it is sunny in the countryside, it takes your breath away. The green I was describing earlier is magnificent when it's cloudy and rainy, and thus its beauty is amplified beyond compare when the sun shines. One of my favorite things about Ireland, and Europe in general, is its history. Everything is so old. On an archaeology trip, we went to Newgrange—a stone portal tomb older than the Egyptian pyramids—and we stood inside to look at the carvings on the walls. In Galway, I walked a bit of the "salthill prom" made infamous in Mundy's song "Galway Girl." I kissed the Blarney Stone, twice, and walked through castles left crumbling on the side of the road. It was real perspective to discover, while in Dublin, that the Guinness Factory is older than our country's government (by about ten years, in fact!). But even more than that, I learned about myself. Living in a culture you know nothing about requires you to find out what you're made of. It's the simple things you need to learn—like buying groceries, finding a coffee shop, shopping for school—and at first it seems daunting. At the end of four months, however, everything becomes familiar, and you realize you've become a part of another place, another people you never thought you'd get to know.
University College Cork
Katherine Honold '08, Summit, NJ
History Major
I got to go to Dublin and Belfast with my class for early start and have visited quite a few places locally--Limerick, Kinsale, Cobh, etc. Hopefully I'll get to Galway, the Dingle Peninsula and the Ring of Kerry too before I head back to the US. Living over here definitely did take some getting used to (all the information you gave out in the predeparture orientation was extremely helpful). The Irish people are all SO nice. It's unbelievable, I had dinner with Caroline and Michelle from Washington College last night and we were talking about how the people here really go out of their way to accommodate you and help you in any way they can. And I absolutely love Cork! The Jazz Festival took place last weekend and over 40,000 people came into Cork for it. It was supposed to raise 25,000,000 Euros for the city.
Italy
Universit� Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
Leah Sbriscia '11, Stewartsville, NJ
Economics Major
"I just returned from Paris this morning where I spent the weekend with Whitney Smith (studying in Madrid) and Christy Berger (studying at St. Andrews). We had an amazing time and it was so neat to meet up in a fourth country, as I am currently in Milan! I cannot believe the semester is winding down. It has been an amazing three months and everything has gone so quickly!"
Scotland
University of St. Andrews
Christy Berger '11, Levittown, PA
Political Science Major
Read Christy's Blog from University of St. Andrews, Scotland
Spain
Semester in Granada
Morgan Phillips '12, Charlottesville, VA
Business Major
Read Morgan's Blog from Granada
Semester in Granada
Akin Walker '10, Germantown, MD
Business Major
To some la vida granadina can be described in few words: ham, siesta and fiesta. To me the city and my experience in Spain have been so much more. Granada is a charming city in the province of Granada in the autonomous community of Andalucía which is situated in the south of Spain. My two months here have been absolutely incredible! Granada is a vibrant city with a distinct culture that is difficult to put into words.
Latin America
Argentina
Universidad Catolica Argentina
Mary Roman '12
Hispanic Studies Major
Peru
Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru
Nicole Hovermale '10, Davidsonville, MD
Hispanic Studies and Anthropology Major
I didn't know what to expect when I waved goodbye to my family, walked through security, and stepped onto the plane that would take me to a completely different world—with a distinct culture, language, and way of life. If you asked me at that moment what I was expecting out of my experience, all I could say is I was looking for an adventure. Well, and of course, improved Spanish speaking-skills. But what I didn't know was I was getting more than anything I could have imagined. My host family insisted on picking me up at the airport, as opposed to the alternative of having the University send a taxi. ( I recognized their smiling faces from the picture they had sent me.) As I walked out through luggage claims and customs. What I didn't know when they welcomed me with the Peruvian greeting of a kiss on the right cheek, was that in a few months they would stop being just a host family and become my papis. The first weekend I was in Peru, it happened to be the anniversary of the city Arequipa, a beautiful city in the south known as la ciudad blanca or the white city, named for the volcanic ash that falls over the city when El Misti erupts. So the other exchange students living with my host family and I decided to travel there for the festivities, which included a dance festival full of traditional dances from all over South America. Not knowing anything about how to get around, our host family was there to help. They set up our bus tickets and our hotel and gave us tips on traveling in Peru. After the overnight bus ride of about 14 hours, we arrived in Arequipa. This was just the first of my many travels, as I decided to take advantage of the cheap and efficient Peruvian way of traveling, by bus, and travel as much as possible during my time abroad. After all, I had the desert coast, the Andes Mountain range, and the jungle to explore! In all of my travels throughout Peru, I frequently met interesting people, some were Peruvians and others were travelers like me. And although at times I felt like a foreigner, I more frequently encountered the warm culture I expected to find in South America. During a trip to Ica, a desert city four hours south of Lima, we hired a taxi to take us to several bodegas, or wineries, for which Ica is known. After spending a few hours talking as we toured, he invited us to go dancing with a couple of his cousins at one of the bodegas that is popular with the locals. We were introduced to his entire family—parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, and siblings—who welcomed us with smiles and of course lots of questions. I have traveled to many wonderful places and had a great number of experiences in Peru so far, and expect to have more. One of the highlights of my experience happened because I decided to stay and spend the three-month break, and consequently Christmas, in Peru. The Christmas that I spent with my Peruvian family is one that I will never forget. All six of us piled into the small red car, and drove around the city to look at the Christmas lights. After eating supper at 11 at night on Christmas Eve, we went outside with everyone else, to set off fireworks in the street at midnight. I also spent the New Year celebration with my Peruvian family, but I was lucky enough that my family could visit me as well. Not all of us spoke English or Spanish, but we had an unforgettable New Years together. During this break I was able to spend more time with my Peruvian family than during the semester—whether it was salsa dancing until 4 in the morning with my Peruvian sister or making over 200 tamales for a community celebration—making me more a part of the family and just a little more peruana. And although I know that Peru is not perfect, with its machismo, children begging in the street, and poverty, it still has found a permanent place in my heart. I came looking for just an adventure and have found a second home, complete with brothers and sisters, and of course, a dog.
Amy Uebel '07, Martinsville, IN
History and Political Science Major
I admit it. I was scared to leave Washington College and travel south of the equator to live in a city that I knew two things about. One, the city was larger than any other city I had ever known; and two, crime was high, and I mean REALLY high. However, the plane ticket was bought and my mind was set. I grew up with a poster of Macchu Picchu on my wall and a strange fascination with Lake Titicaca and the Amazon, and I HAD to see them. If not now, when?? So, it might come as a surprise when looking back at my time abroad my favorite memories are not of my first sight of Macchu Picchu, or swimming in the Amazon River with pink (yes, bright pink) dolphins. My top two all-time favorite memories of the semester happened in the most uninteresting of places, the bus stop in front of my house.
The first happened not long after arrival. I was still trying to learn the bus system. (I had not quite gotten the whole “stick your arm out and the bus will stop” move.) A small indigenous woman, who seemed to be lost in her own thoughts, was walking past me on the street. All of the sudden she looked up at me (tall, blond, and EXTREMELY American), stopped dead in her tracks and gawked at me. Not knowing what to do with such attention, I politely said “Buenos Días, Señora”. Her mouth fell open. It then dawned on me, that, while I had come to Peru to see a strange new people, I WAS the strange new person. Not them. The realization that while you travel to see new people, the natives will probably find you just as strange, will never leave me.
The second happened near the end of my time in Lima, I was in fact returning from my last day at the university when I met another Peruvian at my stop. This time it was a more cosmopolitan man. When he began to speak to me in English (Peruvians are ALWAYS polite, but his English was quite bad), I quickly informed him that I spoke, “Castellaño quite well. Thank you very much.” After a few minutes of polite chatter, I told him that I indeed was not a native and was soon returning to the United States. The poor man could not believe that a foreigner was able to speak Spanish as well as I could and flat out refused to believe that I had only lived in Lima for five months. No foreigner, he declared, would have such a clean accent, and Limeños are quite proud of their clean accent.
Those two mundane conversations taught me that traveling abroad is not about the adventures you will have while gone, although that part is fun. Living abroad is about the experience of stepping outside your comfort zone. The thought of waking up in a strange house, without the friends you depend on, only to hear the honking of cars and the chatter of dozens of extremely energetic (and loud) bus drivers who all want your business may frighten many students away from leaving their well-established life. However, it is the fear that teaches you who you are better than any class you can ever take. A few months later, you will wake up one morning to realize that the house no longer scares you and you actually UNDERSTAND the bus drivers. You can successfully navigate your way around the city, even if you do not fully understand your professors. Then it will dawn on you that this new world, one of strange people and customs, has become your NEW comfort zone. You will remember those days of homesickness, the classes you didn’t understand, the times you got lost, the weekends filled with little sleep and more travel, and you will realize that the hardest thing about your time abroad was stepping on the airplane to come home.
Middle East
Egypt and Morocco
Egypt photo by Brittny Parsells.
Morocco photo by Brittny Parsells.
Brittny Parsells '10 and Joyell Johnson '10 visit the Sphinx while studying at the American University Cairo, Egypt.
American Univeristy in Cairo
Al-Akhawayn University
Brittny Parsells '10, Keene,NH
International Studies Major
I spent the Fall 2008 semester in Cairo, Egypt at the American University in Cairo. My most memorable experience in Egypt was befriending an Egyptian man, Tawfik, in Khan al-Khalili, the souq (market) in Cairo, and having him guide us around the marketplace. Tawfik showed us the Egyptian section of the market, a part that tourists don't usually have the chance to see. We saw artisans carving miniature animal figurines out of buffalo tusk and making beautiful wooden jewelry boxes. He then invited us to his shop for dinner, where we ate home cooked rice and beans with bread and coconut milk, a traditional Egyptian drink. I really enjoyed that day because it was the first time I felt at home in Egypt, rather than a tourist.
I am in Ifrane, Morocco at Al-Akhawayn University for the Spring 2009 semester. Ifrane is a small town up in the Middle Atlas mountain range, which is a beautiful area. Because the university is isolated from the rest of Morocco, I have done a lot of traveling to the bigger cities. So far, my favorite city in Morocco is Fes, the oldest imperial city in the country. The old section of the city, called Fes al-Bali, has an amazing souq (market) that is a maze of vendors, cafes and shops. I spent a whole day walking around the souq taking in the sights and sounds of Fes, as well as the smells of the delicious Moroccan pastries!
Al-Akhawayn University
Latoya Gatewood-Young '10, Elkton, MD
International Studies Major
Studying abroad is never easy, but the experience is very rewarding in the end. My favorite memory from Morocco was having a group of old men scream �Obama� as I walked through the Old Medina in Fez.
International Students
The Mentor Program
The culture shock of living in small-town America, combined with the demands of college coursework and language difficulties, can seem overwhelming to international students at first. Washington College offers a mentor program that matches international students with members of the Chestertown community who can help ease your transition, make you feel at home, and offer insight into American values and local culture.
Mentors are selected from the Washington College Academy of Lifelong Learning, an educational program for area residents who enjoy exploring topics of history, music, literature, philosophy, the sciences, drama and the visual arts. Mentors typically meet their students once a week for conversation and, as the relationship develops, may invite you to join them for community events or for family dinners at home.
This optional program is available at no cost to both four-year students and exchange students. To apply, complete a request form, available from the Office of International Programs, and submit it to Professor Noriko Narita in Goldstein 109.
