The Center for International Studies Photo Contest is organized around our learning outcomes for study abroad. Because studying abroad goes beyond tourist experiences, and involves understanding the country and its culture, learning about the host country's values, being flexible, accomplishing new achievements, and becoming a new person, we look for photos to demonstrate these exciting, engaging aspects. Entrants must submit a short explanation of how the photo demonstrates one of these categories.
Click below on Learning Outcome Categories to see the winning photos:
- Understanding country & culture: In what way(s) do you have a better understanding of the country and culture where you studied abroad? What did you see or do that was unique?
- Learning values: In what way(s) were your values tested, and what did you learn about your host country’s values?
- Accomplishment: In what way(s) did you develop a sense of accomplishment, an ability to be self-reliant, and an increase in self-esteem while abroad?
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A new person: How is your life is different because of studying abroad?
Best of Show
“Untouchable” by Benjamin Stockard, Semester at Sea
This photograph was taken on top of a pagoda in Bagan, Myanmar (Burma), where you can literally see thousands of giant pagodas built by the Buddhist monks throughout history. By touring the temples of Bagan, I learned that it only takes about a week to become a Buddhist monk in Myanmar, and one can do so as many times as he wants. Also, although monks are only supposed to own an alms pot and their robe, I did meet one with a digital camera.Best of Show
“The Sahara on Camelback” by Marisa Sleeter, Seville, Spain
The experience that challenged my views of the world the most was my trip to Morocco. In class, I had learned that the economic difference between Africa and Spain is the largest in the world for two bordering societies. For this reason, many Africans attempt dangerous ocean and border crossings to try and secure a better life for themselves. My boyfriend and I missed the bus for our guided tour to Morocco, so we crossed the border alone to meet up with our tour group in the city of Chefchauen. It was one of the most corrupt and scary things I have ever done in my life, and the economic situation and lifestyle in Morocco was truly a drastic change from anything I had ever seen. We made it safely across the border, with the help of our European money, and finally met up with our group. We made a trip to the Medina (center) of a city called Fez, where I bargained with a leather salesman for a small chair and saw the workers actually tanning and dying the leather. I even got to ride a camel through the Sahara desert. When I returned to Spain, I was lucky enough to have an American passport with a visa that allowed me through the border, something I will never again take for granted.
Understanding Country & Culture: In what way(s) do you have a better understanding of the country and culture where you studied abroad? What did you see or do that was unique?
1st Place
Old Friends” by Marisa Sleeter, Seville, Spain
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“Children Monks at Shwedagon Pagoda” by Benjamin Stockard, Semester at Sea
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This photograph was taken at Shwedagon pagoda in Myanmar (Burma). By touring the temples of Bagan, I learned that children in Myanmar are typically named after the day of the week on which they are born; however, name changes are quite common. Most Burmese believe that a change in name can give one a new start in life. I also learned there are eight days in a Burmese week; Wednesday counts as two different days. After learning such interesting facts about the Burmese culture, I realized that it was possible for such a different culture to exist on the same planet and that our culture probably seems just as strange, if not stranger, to them as theirs does to us.
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2nd Place
“Tonga” by Richard Rigby, Jr., Christchurch, New Zealand
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We faced a culture shock on our trip to Tonga in that most men do not wear pants. They wear tupenus -- what we call skirts. It took some of us longer than others to be convinced we should wear them, but we all gave in. Here we are standing at Captain Cook’s landing site in his voyage around the world. He named the country Tonga, because it means “The Friendly Island.”
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Honorable Mention
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Across the Arno River, the Ponte Vecchio, which used to be the meat market, is now home to the gold and diamond dealers. Young lovers would come and attach a lock to the bridge and throw the key in the river as a sign of their undying love. So many, in fact, began to do this that it is now illegal to do so. If caught, there is a steep penalty and fine. Still, locks appear everyday. I guess young love will endure regardless of risk.
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Honorable Mention
“Sunset” by Bob Franklin, Edinburgh, Scotland
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My venture abroad underscored my conceptual understanding of the diversity of countries and cultures with a theme of unity. We all have common goals and experiences as humans, and we all connect. As a science guy, observing the position and movement of the sun in the sky in these places allowed me to visually experience the Earth’s tilt and my position on the Earth, and I thought that this way to visually relate my current location to my home location was really neat. This ties in with this photo because all of the beautiful skies and sunsets I experienced while abroad are scarcely different than those that occur at home, and the idea of that global connectedness and unity is as beautiful to me.
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Learning values: In what way(s) were your values tested, and what did you learn about your host country’s values?
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This picture is New Zealand in a nutshell – adventure, beauty, and awe. Learning what New Zealand values, and finding out why, led us to many unforgettable adventures. They appreciate and value beauty in nature, so we spent as much time as we could hiking, and the benefit was seeing sights like these. This picture was taken at the end of our hike to the top of Mt. Fyffe.
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It seems odd that I would glean a personal value from looking at a large marble building, but I did. The Duomo in Florence – primarily built between 1292 and1436—was finally completed in 1887, although bronze doors were not added until 1903. This amazing structure took longer to reach completion than it took to find, found, and build what we call the USA. The church, the city, and the people held strong to their values of what they wanted from their Duomo --. a community, a unity, a legacy. That type of unity and adherence to craftsmanship is almost impossible to find here in the new world.
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Accomplishment: In what way(s) did you develop a sense of accomplishment, an ability to be self-reliant, and an increase in self-esteem while abroad?
1st Place
“The Radcliff Camera and the Ivory Towers” by Tiana Franklin, Oxford, United Kingdom
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This photograph captures the Radcliffe Camera in the foreground, which now houses part of the collection of the Bodleian Library at Oxford University. To the right of the Camera, you can just catch a glimpse of All Souls College, and the surroundings of the Hawksmoor Towers, physical representations of the “Ivory Tower” of intellectual pursuit. As someone who will always be a student, I am awed by the immense achievement and great ideas that have been born within the limits of this city. This is one of those places that you place on a pedestal in the fringes of your mind, never quite reaching out for it, but always keenly aware of it. Walking around cobbled streets, with the very walls standing in testament to a long a history of learning, I could not help but feel a sense of accomplishment and confidence.
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Traveling from Dublin, Ireland (latitude 53 degrees) to near Fort William (latitude 59 degrees), I ascended UK’s highest and tallest mountain, had my first hostel experience, and spent two 15-hour days of travel by train and ferry, planned just two days prior. At the hostel, I met brothers from northern France. P.J., who is 21 years old (my age), spoke English very well and preferred it, and Max, who is 14, spoke little English and preferred German. (Both are pictured, from right to left.) This photo represents a point in time after we had reached and left the summit, the culmination of my weekend plan. The great beauty of the portion of the mountain below the cloud that covered it enhanced my euphoria from the mountain air, physical activity, and sense of accomplishment from climbing a real mountain, something I’d never done before, by myself or otherwise.
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“Steele Saddle” by Richard Rigby, Jr., Christchurch, New Zealand
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On one of our hikes in New Zealand, we decided to take a route less traveled for some added adventure. We had nine hours of hiking to do that day, and the initial ascent was 5,000 ft, which had to be done in three hours. For what was one of the most intense days of hiking for us and on unfamiliar ground, we gained an enormous sense of accomplishment. Here we are atop Steele Saddle in uncontrollable excitement to be amidst ranges upon ranges of snow capped mountains. |
A new person: How is your life is different because of studying abroad?
1st Place
“Silhouette at Sunset” by Ericka B. Bailey, Venice, Italy
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Our first day in Venice was filled with riding water taxis, strolling crowded maze-like streets of the city, and taking in the unique Venetian culture. As sunset approached, a few of us made our way to the western most point of the city where we watched the sunset. The hustle and bustle of the busy city faded away; the serene Adriatic was glowing before us. This is my favorite memory of Venice.
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