Lens Flair
Through its unplanned and everyday moments, traveling has the peculiar ability to unlock our potential to see the world anew. That's one reason why nearly two-thirds of our 2015 graduating class studied abroad. When I talk with Spiders who didn't, they often say it's their biggest regret.
The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.
New Zealand
Limitless
Alyssa Boisvert, '16
Setting out through the valley, I had absolutely zero expectations. I'd done research on the trails in Mount Cook National Park, but I hadnn't seen any pictures, so I started with a blank slate.
This view from the top of the last peak took my breath away. At first throngs of eager hikers were marveling over the same landscape. The crowds eventually melted away, and my friends took a nap on a large rock in the sunshine. I couldn't possibly close my eyes, so I made my way to another rock a little ways from the beach in the water. I sat down cross-legged, fully surrounded by New Zealand's beauty, and let myself drink it all in. Sitting there in silence, with no one else around, I felt the people I had met and the things I had done had stretched me to become someone stronger, more thoughtful, more understanding.
Scotland
Eilean Donan Castle
Joe DiBello, '17
I really like this photo because it was one of the trips I took only with my dad. I have three siblings, and normally we have to split time with each other.
I didn't know a whole lot about Scotland, and I'd never been to Europe before. So my dad and I went over a week before the program and rented a car to explore the country.
Whenever I see this shot, I just remember us fighting over directions, him crashing into stuff and driving on the wrong side of the road. He definitely nicked a couple of people's cars. We were chaotic and very touristy, but I think we had a great time.
One of the places we went was the Isle of Scot, which is known in Europe as one of the most beautiful places around. Somehow my dad figured out about this castle, so we decided to go. This one was just so remote, and it took us such a long time to get there. I wasn't even sure it was going to be worth it. The weather is so hit or miss in Scotland. Seventy percent of the days are cloudy and nasty. But we just had a perfect day.
We both said it was one of the best trips we'll probably ever take just because of how much time we spent together and how much fun we had.
India
Look
Hanna Moreland, '16
The context of this photo was uplifting, but the reality is heartbreaking.
We were in the car, waiting to leave the village. If only for a moment, I was hoping to entertain this little girl. I asked if I could take her picture, and this was the pose she gave me. I showed her afterwards, and she posed again. Quickly an impromptu shoot began. Other children joined in, and even some of the adults. We all seemed to be enjoying the moment together.
As we drove away from the village, I felt awful that my privilege allowed me to leave their lives as quickly as I had entered them. I was unable to provide much in the way of health or resources when I met her, but this experience affirmed my desire to study and work in public health. I'm more determined to continue exploring my abilities and the world at the same time, so that one may someday complement the other.
Malta
Stray Cats
Liz Cohan, '12
I took this photo while we were walking down the street and exploring Valletta, a city on the eastern coast of Malta. There were stray cats everywhere, and I'm a cat lover.
At the time, I was studying for my Master of Science in conservation biology at the University of Kent in Canterbury, England. For one of our classes, we took a weeklong trip to Malta. I had never heard of the country before, and it was a great experience to be somewhere new. The Maltese language and people are very different from the United States, and this experience really taught me to appreciate and respect people of different cultures and places. I hope to go back.
Australia
Great Barrier Reef
Kelly Kavanaugh, '16
It was a long day, but it was great.
Because the seasons are reversed, we had spring break while I was studying in Australia. A group of 50 of us students ended up taking a nine–day trip up the coast to explore the country on our down time. We rode around on buses and stayed in hostels.
This shot is from a day trip we took to see the Great Barrier Reef. It's such an incredible, beautiful place. I was just having the time of my life. The views were beautiful and terrifying. It was kind of surreal.
Spain
Bosque De Oma
Winston Guest, '16
This was from a trip I took when my mom came to visit me. It was about a two-mile hike up a mountain, through the woods and forest. We weren't sure where we were going. After a while, we came across this plateau area of conifers. It was just so beautiful — so simple, but it left your jaw open the entire time.
It just reminds me about the earth we live on — the many places that are so beautiful and breathtaking to see. There are so many hidden gems, and this just happened to be one for me.
Argentina
Mama Llama, Baby Llama
Alex Marian, '16
The trip was part of a weeklong break between classes. We had just spent the day on a farm and met the farmer. And he was telling us all about how he uses a lot of natural remedies and grows all these herbs and plants and all these animals there.
“We all got really excited when we saw the llamas on the hill because where we had been studying was more in a city. I liked how they looked with the mountain in the background with the clouds and all of that. But right after I took the picture, they all started kind of charging at us, so that was a little scary.”
“That was my favorite part of the trip — just going on a weeklong field trip, seeing different parts of Argentina and still learning things even if we weren’t necessarily sitting in a classroom all day and talking about grammar and history and stuff.”
These photos – all submissions to the Office of International Education's study-abroad photo contest – inspire wonder and wanderlust. They invite us to see the world through new eyes, to rethink how we understand our own humanity. Most importantly, they remind us to keep watch wherever we are for those single, fleeting moments when the spontaneous or everyday becomes transcendent and frozen in time.
Barcelona
Barcelona Market
Catherine Bagwell, '94
Ghana
Primary School
Taylor Barresi, '10
Morocco
Chef Chaouen
Lucy Barrett, '13
Argentina
It's the Little Things at Igauza
Jordan Baxter, '11
Nepal
Going to the Mountain is Going Home
Emily Bowden, '13
France
Je T'aime
Caroline Brey, '12
France
Perspective
Caroline Brey, '12
South Africa
Cape Town at Night
Walker Brown, '16
Netherlands
I Like to Ride My Bicycle
Brian Stellingwerf, '13
France
Performing for Paris
Devin Cassels, '12
Morocco
Doorway at Moulay Ismail
Maddie Cleland, '12
Malta
Island of Comino
Liz Cohan, '12
Guatemala
Un Beso en Nebaj
Yumi Rydlun, '06
Malta
Valletta
Liz Cohan, '12
Switzerland
The Alps and Rhone River Valley
Christopher Cotten, '08
Uganda
Kony's Healing Rock
David Davenport, '13
Uganda
For Yourself, for Community, End Corruption
David Davenport, '13
Switzerland
Flying Down a Mountain
Josh Doherty, '08
Italy
Playing with Pigeons in Venezia
Leigh Donahue, '10
Italy
Lotus
Loubna El Bar, '15
Thailand
An Organic Day with Paw
Jackie Fan, '10
Dominican Republic
Walking to School
Mary Gayle, '10
Spain
Guggenheim
Winston Guest, '16
England
Untitled
Jeni Hatfield, '05
South Korea
Ribbons of Hope DMZ
Andrew Odenheimer, '12
Australia
Great Ocean Road
Kelly Kavanaugh, '16
New Zealand
Leap of Faith
Phillip Kaye, '11
Argentina
Sunset Cheers
Alex Lescroart, '11
Greece
Pillars of Democracy
Matt Logan, '16
Ireland
Galway Claddagh
Alex Marian, '16
Rwanda
Looking out onto Lake Kivu
Kat Mariani, '11
Kenya
Salt Water Refreshment
Catherine Matthews, '11
Vietnam
Street Life
Nick Mider, '10
Italy
Reflections of the Everyday
Ashley Miles, '11
Thailand
The Last Rays of Island Life
Aaron Daugherty, '09
ValparaÍso
ValparaÍso Port
Jenna Moehring '13
Turkey
Terrace Houses
Burgess Rhodes
India
Family
Hanna Moreland, '16
Denmark
Untitled
Kari Oransky, '13
Bali
New Friend
Lauren Pepe, '16
Bulgaria
Path to the Past
Ana Petrova, '12
Guatemala
Tranquility at Lake Atitlán
Yumi Rydlun, '06
Dubai
Spice Souk
Terry Weisenberger
Vietnam
Outlier
Graham Sager, '12
Guatemala
Espumpuja Women
Kate Simma, '09
Peru
Life Above the Clouds
Stephanie Stahl, '14
Peru
Open Wide
Stephanie Stahl, '14
Bhutan
Paro
Pin Thanesnant, '11
Argentina
Glaciers
Tory Udvarhelyi, '11
Taiwan
The Chinese Way
Mario Villalba, '10
Ireland
Docked Galway Hookers at the Claddagh
Amelia Vogler, '11
Studying in Spain
Sunset in the Sahara
Chris Cosgrove, '11
Senegal
English Lesson
Abbey Warchol, '13
South Caicos
Against the Tide
Sarah Byce, '12
Senegal
Pirogues
Abbey Warchol, '13