Study Abroad Photo Contest
Fall 2008 Photo Contest Winners
1st place A Venetian View, by Ashley Joseph
2nd place Serenity at Sunset on Lake Como, by Alli Bloom
3rd placeThe Sinking City,
by Joy Wang
Honorable Mentions
- Paris in Spring-time, by Alison Krusee
- The Right Season, by Matthew Munoz
- When Earth Meets Sky, by Alexandra Watson
View Past
Photo Contest Winners
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Special thanks to Esther’s Follies and Whole Earth Provision, Co. for sponsoring this contest!
1
Serenity at Sunset On Lake Como
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By Alli Bloom | Spring 2008
Location: Bellagio, Italy (Lake Como)
Universita Commerciale Luigi Bocconi, Milan, Italy
"I studied in Milan, Italy all semester. Northern Italy, with the Alps in the background, and the beautiful Lakes of Como and Guarda are absolutely gorgeous. Italy is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, and we traveled all over the country, from North to South. I loved Italy, and Lake Como was one of my favorite places in the world. It is truly gorgeous, serene, and one of the most amazing places on Earth."
2
In Search of Zapatistas
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By Raul Canales | Summer 2008
Location: On the curvy roads of Chiapas, Mexico
Instituto Tecnologico de Monterrey Monterrey, Mexico
"While traveling through Chiapas you wouldn’t imagine you are in Mexico. The terrain is beautiful and the local people are great. It felt like you had escaped into the jungle. It was relaxing, the beautiful scenery made me believe that nothing could go wrong. This was the best trip I have taken in my entire life!"
3
Geisha Paparazzi
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By Laura Gayle | Spring 2008
Location: Kyoto, Japan
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, China
"Our last weekend trip outside Hong Kong was to Japan - a country so full of uniqueness, culture and style. After a few days in the craziness of Tokyo, we traveled to Kyoto for a little relaxation. We spent most of the time in Gion, a historic Geisha-spotting area full of teahouses and old buildings. I snapped this picture as discreetly as possible as the two geisha (perhaps geisha-in-training) shuffl ed by. If only you could have seen their shoes! Scenes like this made traveling and studying abroad so worthwhile!"
4
30 Minutes by Metro
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By Paolo Granda | Spring 2008
Location: Plentzia, Guipuzcoa, pais Vasco, Spain
University of Deusto, Bilbao, Spain
"Living in Bilbao was boring at times because there isn’t a whole lot to do. I guess I overlooked how fun it was to take that 30-minute metro ride to the three beaches nearby. I am glad I got to backpack through Europe at the end of my trip, but the days on the beach just 30 minutes from home were some of my favorite times in Europe."
5
Standing on the Path of History
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By Moshe Itzhakov | Spring 2008
Location: Tiananmen Square, Beijing, China
Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
"My experience was phenomenal, and I am very grateful for opportunities I had to learn about Chinese culture. At the same time, I used my ever improving Chinese to bond with locals and gain a great feel for the workings of Chinese society. Finally, my business courses were in Chinese, and this proved to be both challenging and rewarding."
6
A Venetian View
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By Ashley Monee’ Joseph | Spring 2008
Location: Venezia, Italia
Universita Commerciale Luigi Bocconi, Milan, Italy
"My adventure abroad was so different than anything I could have ever imagined. Never would I have thought that I would be able to experience so many unique, fascinating things and that it would stick with me so strongly!"
7
Paris in the Springtime
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By Alison Krusee | Spring 2008
Location: Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris
ESCP-EAP, Paris, France
"I spent the spring in Paris and had an amazing experience traveling all across Europe. I got the opportunity to see so many places, from Ireland and Barcelona, to Venice and even the islands of Greece. My experiences there were unforgettable, but some of the best times I had were right in Paris. Notre Dame was one of my favorite places in the city, and this picture is especially memorable to me because these pink fl owers only bloomed for about two weeks in April, and then were gone. I was so lucky to get to experience the beauty of the cathedral in this moment."
8
Fruit on the Beach
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By Michelle Lin | Spring 2008
Location: Kuta Beach (Bali), Indonesia
National University of Singapore Singapore
"After returning from a semester in Singapore, I did not learn another language, as many inquired (hint: "Singaporean" is just accented English with some added local slang). Instead, I arrived back in America with months’ worth of rich experience backpacking throughout Southeast Asia, from Vietnam and Thailand to Malaysia and Indonesia, and learning in a global classroom setting, where my classmates ranged from British and Norweigian to Chinese and Indian. Singapore, despite its small geographical size, packs an impressive amount of culture, technology, and opportunities, all of which I gratefully experienced fi rst hand."
9
The Right Season
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By Matthew Munoz | Spring 2008
Location: London, England
Universita Commerciale Luigi Bocconi, Milan, Italy
"I went to London and walked through the royal parks at the perfect time. I was there for 3 days and got a total of about 3 hours of actual sunlight. The place stays cloudy and rainy just like it does in the movies. Great people, the deathly British pound, lame weather, and a great time sum up London."
10
Camelot
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By Jesus Carlos Pena | Spring 2008
Location: Carcassonne, France
University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
"I had the wonderful opportunity to study in a fairytale town, and visit many other magic cities during my time abroad. This is an experience I will remember forever; it has changed the course of my life for the better. Thanks for helping me make it come true!"
11
Hookin’ Our Horns in the Hills of Tuscany
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By Garrett Cayet, Alison Krusee, Jamie Stein and Mike Napier
Location: Hills of Tuscany
ESCP-EAP, Paris, France
"After a long day of hiking and getting lost multiple times, we approached the most beautiful spot in Florence, Italy. With the Duomo etched out against the mountains and the lush green valley behind us, it capped off the perfect day in Florence. This picture is just one of many that reminds us of how much fun and exciting our study abroad experience was together!"
12
Rama VIII Bridge
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By Abby Terrell | Spring 2008
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Thammasat University, Bangkok, Thailand
"This is the King Rama VIII bridge, which crosses the Chao Phraya river on the west side of Bangkok. The bridge’s fantastic architecture as a tribute to eighth king does justice to the god-like status kings have in the country. In my abroad experience living in Bangkok, one of my favorite things to do was sit in this park and enjoy the breeze coming off the river. The park was a place to meet up with friends, watch breakdancers practice, and eat Thai staples like kwai teow (noodle soup)."
13
Mystified
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By Jaclyn Thomas | Spring 2008
Location: Torc Waterfall in Killarney, Ireland
Hautes Etudes Commercial, Paris, France
"Studying abroad gave me the opportunity to travel to so many amazing places. One of my favorite countries to visit was Ireland and I especially enjoyed exploring its National Park in Killarney. I got to explore mountains, watch amazing sunsets, climb over huge rocks to take pictures of waterfalls, and go hiking. The Irish have such a beautiful spirit that is even apparent in the country’s natural beauty that leaves you feeling mystifi ed. Traveling to different countries was the best experience of my life and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Studying abroad helped me gain an appreciation and passion for other cultures as well as exploration!"
14
Wine and the Grecian Sunset
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By Kate Walker | Spring 2008
Location: Kea, Greece
Universita Commerciale Luigi Bocconi, Milan, Italy
"After an amazing experience abroad, I traveled through southern Europe with some friends. While island-hopping through Greece, we met up with friends of mine who live on Kea and stayed for a few days. It was absolutely gorgeous. I took this picture the fi rst night we stayed there - we had a glass of wine and watched the sun set over our little town & the Mediterranean. Priceless!"
15
The Sinking City
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By Joy Wang | Spring 2008
Location: Venice, Italy
Universite Catholique de Louvain, Louvain la Neuve, Belgium
"My semester abroad in Belgium opened so many opportunities and experiences I never would have encountered in the US- not to mention their chocolate and waffl es. It was amazing being able to interact with native Belgians and other students from all around the world. I traveled almost every weekend to a different city or country due to Belgium’s central location. This photo was taken during a stop in Venice on my final "voyage" after my exams. Venice was hauntingly beautiful with canals and gondolas, piazzas and cathedrals."
16
On Top of the World
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By Wannie Wang | Summer 2008
Location: Lantau Island, Hong Kong
The Chinese University of Hong Kong, China
"Studying abroad at CUHK this summer was the best decision I’ve ever made. Though it was exciting to live in a foreign country and experience a new culture, the best thing by far was meeting the most wonderful people from across the world, people I still keep in touch with to this day no matter how many thousands of miles they are away from me; I know these friendships will last a lifetime. Though many do not know, Hong Kong has some of the most beautiful, breath-taking scenery in the world. As an amateur photographer, I was able to capture some of this scenery in this picture and share it with you."
17
When Earth Meets Sky
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By Alexandra Watson | Spring 2008
Location: Train from Germany to Switzerland
ICADE, Madrid, Spain
"I’m completely in love with Europe, and this picture reminds me of the really unique experience/opportunity I had to travel throughout Europe and all the people I met."
18
Elevated Stories
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By Casey Zhang | Spring 2008
Location: Central, Hong Kong
Chinese University of Hong Kong, China
"There are so many stories to be told about my experience in Hong Kong. The vibrant city offered such a diverse blend of cultures, landscapes, and things to do. I could spend the day lounging on sandy beaches, hiking in beautiful mountains, shopping in city-size malls, dancing in world-class nightclubs, or exploring peaceful temples. And if I was bored of all those things, I could just stroll down a random alleyway or go up to the highest story of an unknown building to get a glimpse of the city from a different angle, as photographed here."