January 13, 2009
Bryant students pursue education with no boundaries
Students travel to Europe, Latin America, and China through the Sophomore International Experience.
As part of the 2009 Sophomore International Experience, 192 Bryant students in four groups are traveling to Panama and Ecuador; London and Paris; Greece and Germany; and China to immerse themselves in different cultures.
Panama & Ecuador | China | London & Paris | Greece & Germany
Friday, January 16
The 44 students on the SIE Panama Trip returned to the United States earlier this week. They brought back photos and countless memories that will last a lifetime.
"'A piece of heaven on earth.' The Galapagos was a magical place. I was able to meet the locals, swim with sharks, and walk through tortoise land with our tour guide's son on my shoulders. I grew a greater appreciation for life and I think I can say that for many others.
"One night I found myself talking with the locals and telling them how beautiful their Island was and how appreciative we were to be able to be apart of it. Che Che, who grew up on the Galapagos said he had never left the island in his lifetime. He said he respected me for being able to convey my feelings for the islands, and how the experience was changing my life. Everything I said to him he would ask me to say it in Spanish, then in English, since he was trying to learn how to communicate in both as well.
"The next few days were breath taking, remarkable, and very exciting. I found myself waking up one morning to the biggest and the most beautiful sun rise I have ever seen in my life. To be apart of that moment made my trip complete. I learned a lot about myself and others. There are no words to describe my time in South America. I can try with wild, epic, or euphoric - but they do no justice. My trip was everything I wanted it to be and more and I am very thankful to have had the opportunity to take part in what was the most amazing experience of my life."
Christopher Pace '11 (Burlington, CT)
Saturday, January 10
"After packing, we all left the hotel and toured parts of the island. We stopped at a giant sinkhole that was created by lava pressuring the rock. It was about 300 feet deep and almost twice as wide. After that, we made our way to the airport and were able to do some shopping at the little market there before we boarded the plane."
Spencer Erickson ’11 (Bethlehem, CT)
"Hello from the lovely Galapagos Islands!
"We are on the island of Santa Cruz one of three residential islands in the Galapagos. We started off our stay with a trip to the outdoor Darwin exhibit where we had the chance to get a glance at some captive sea tortoises and land iguanas. We also learned about lonesome George, a tortoise who is the only one of his species remaining. We also stopped at a fish market along the way and caught a glimpse of some fishermen feeding a sea lion while the pelicans and blue-footed boobies waited anxiously in hopes of getting some food as well.
"On Thursday, we took a trip to a farm in the highlands. Here we witnessed wild tortoise in their natural habitat. Later that day we hiked on lava rock to go cliff diving which was such a rush. We ended our day on a secluded beach were we were able to watch the boobies hunting and see a variety of finches up close.
"On Friday, our final day in the Galapagos was spent on the Island of Floreana. A two-hour boat ride from the island we were staying on. On Floreana we took a nature walk through another farm and were able to watch the tortoises feeding, an occurrence that happens only three times a week.
The view of mountains and volcanoes from Quito, Ecuador.
"We than had the opportunity to go scuba diving. Although the current was strong, we saw sea turtles, baby sea lions, and sting rays among a variety of fish. One word of advice is to stay away from the adult male sea lions. A few members of my group were charged by one because they are very territorial and protective of their family.
"The Galapagos has truly been an amazing experience. I would love to come back again one day. It will truly be hard to leave this place and come back to snowy New England."
Samantha Wickman ’11 (Pawcatuck, CT)
Friday, January 9
"Today we enjoyed a beach, some sightseeing of the island, a trip to see wild giant tortoises, and even went cliff jumping! In the morning, we took a bus to the highlands and toured a farm where the giant tortoises are able to roam free.
"Then, we took a water taxi to the other side of the harbor and walked about a half a mile to a little lagoon. Once there, we were able to climb the rocks and jump off into the water. Later, we went though an underground cave, formed by lava flowing thousands of years ago. Some parts were so narrow and short that we had to crawl though them."
Spencer Erickson ’11 (Bethlehem, CT)
"After a quick bus ride around the island, we arrived at a local farm with many giant tortoises and diverse plant life. We also visited a cave caused by lava flows and carefully crawled around in the dark, taking stunning pictures in the process. There was one point in the cave where you had to crawl through a muddy 18 inch opening to get to the other side (it was awesome!).
"Then the group took a short water taxi ride later to Las Grietas, a gorgeous set of cliffs perfect for jumping or diving from. The view from the cliffs was stunning and, the adrenaline rush was addicting. The difficult climb was the scariest part and once you got to the top there was only one way down. The jump was pure bliss.
"After a satisfying meal back at our hotel we embarked on another bus ride to a remote beach on the island. Set in a national park, the beach was beautiful with soft, white sand and perfectly clear turquoise water. While everyone swam or relaxed on the beach there was plenty of wildlife to keep us entertained. Pelicans constantly dove into the water and scooped up fish only a few feet away from us. The finches were friendly and hopped around close to everyone on the beach. So far the trip has been truly amazing, and the Galapagos has been a once in a lifetime experience."
Megan McKenzie ’11 (Greenfield, MA) and Jacqueline Shribbs ’11 (Morristown, NJ)
Thursday, January 8
"Today was probably the best day on the island. We went for a hike to one of the tallest places on the island and went through the ruins of an old settlement that was carved in the side of the mountain face. We then enjoyed lunch at a traditional Galapagonian restaurant and spent a few hours on a black-sand beach. There we were able to see some sea turtles interacting with each other and a few sea lions.
"From there we took a 20-minute boat ride to go snorkeling around a small island. It was amazing. We swam with sharks, sea lions, sea turtles, stingrays, and a countless amount of different fish. Afterwards we came back to the hotel for dinner."
A look from the Panama Canal.
Spencer Erickson ’11 (Bethlehem, CT)
"Today we took a turbulent ferry ride to Floreana Island and visited a national park that had hundreds of giant tortoises local to Floreana. On the boat ride over, we came across a fleet of dolphins swimming right alongside our boat. We also had the chance to see some of the living establishments carved into the rocky mountainside by early settlers and pirates.
"After a delicious lunch at a local restaurant, we had the chance to snorkel on Champion Island. While snorkeling we saw sea turtles, a sting ray, two sharks, sea lions and many colorful fish and marine life. One of the most exciting moments of the day was riding on the top of the open-air bus down the mountain from national park. On the boat ride back to Santa Cruz, everyone fell asleep from the exhaustion of an exhilarating day."
Megan McKenzie ’11 (Greenfield, MA) and Jacqueline Shribbs ’11 (Morristown, NJ)
Wednesday, January 7
"We finally got to Santa Cruz after a flight from Quito and a cross-island ferry. We were not even in the Galapagos for 15 minutes and we already saw a shark and a sea lion! After checking into our hotel, we met our group’s tour guide, Hiro, who brought us to the Darwin Institute. There we saw our first giant tortoises and land iguanas. Then we walked around the center of town and visited the fist market, where pelicans and sea lions were trying to get scraps. We then ate dinner at the hotel and enjoyed some of the nightlife around town."
Spencer Erickson ’11 (Bethlehem, CT)
"After having only been in the Galapagos for a few moments we had the pleasure of seeing a shark, sea lions, and colorful fish while waiting for our water taxi to Santa Cruz Island. Upon arriving at the hotel, we walked behind the hotel to the beach to discover giant iguanas, a pelican, and many crabs only inches away. We noticed the animals were not disturbed by our presence and were very friendly just like the locals here on the island. We also had the opportunity to visit the Charles Darwin research center and saw many giant tortoises local to the Galapagos Islands."
Megan McKenzie ’11 (Greenfield, MA) and Jacqueline Shribbs ’11 (Morristown, NJ)
Sunday, January 4
"Today was too amazing for words. We took a two-hour speedboat ride out to an island 50 miles off the coast of Panama. It was a day at an all-inclusive resort that was more than gorgeous. The swim-up bar and buffet lunch were both great. We had the option of free snorkeling, kayaking, and playing volleyball games on the beach, which was fun as well. There were only tiny waves but the clear water was a perfect temperature.
"I went on a walk down the beach to the rocks and saw crabs, sea cucumbers, all kinds of birds, two-foot iguanas, and even a lemur! The resort had peacocks walking around, as well as a four monkeys that were so entertaining. Everyone definitely enjoyed the hours of soaking in the sun and relaxing without a cloud in the sky. It was more than perfect, the only complaint anyone could even dream of today is sunburn!"
Kaitlinh Ho ’11 (Danbury, CT)
Saturday, January 3
"Today's temperature was 86 degrees and beautiful. We spent the day on a cruise ship through the Panama Canal. It was an amazing experience that completely exceeded my expectations. The tour guide kept me interested in the facts and how everything worked. From an overlook, we experienced the process of traveling through the locks. It was definitely an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
"We also figured out how trade and business works worldwide. Time to go for a run and hang out by the pool before dinner and a night in Panama City followed by a day of relaxation and fun on an island off the coast."
Kaitlinh Ho ’11 (Danbury, CT)
"Today we went on the boat tour of the Panama Canal and it was great! The canal interesting and the weather was beautiful. So far Panama has been a lot of fun and everyone on the trip is getting along really well. We do almost everything together. I´m so glad I chose Panama and Ecuador as my sophomore experience trip."
Khiara Labrie ’11 (Exeter, RI)
Sunday, January 11
The 50 students on the SIE China trip arrived in Beijing on January 6. During the first half of the trip, the group visited Tiananmen Square, went to the Lenovo/IBM corporate headquarters, and toured the Olympic Village. Before returning to the States on January 18, the students will take part in a bike ride and cave exploration in Yangshuo, meet with Bryant alumni at AIG, and visit the Science and Technology Museum in Shanghai.
Here is what the students have had to say…
"Before leaving for China, I didn’t know what to think, I was excited, I was nervous, and mostly I was ready to be there and see the sights. Before we left, I was very nervous for the 14-hour flight from Newark, NJ, to Beijing as that would double my longest flight that I have ever taken. Upon landing in Beijing, I can tell you that it is was definitely worth every hour of the flight.
"It has been so great to travel around the city of Beijing talking to the locals while attempting to speak the few phrases of Chinese that I know. All of the young people are excited and eager to learn English. We met with students at the Business College of Beijing Union University, and we shared our experiences of our visit, our impressions of the culture, as well as what the United States are like. We also learned about their impressions of us, our culture, and the local customs.
"It was great to interact with people our age as we have so much in common although we are from opposite sides of the world. Their culture is completely different from the culture back home as they have over 2,000 years of history and tradition, however, they are also integrating new traditions and customs as they opened up to the world by hosting the 2008 Olympics introducing new social changes such as free elementary and middle school for everyone.
"The one thing that really stands out about Beijing so far in my mind is the Great Wall and Forbidden City. I cannot fathom how these magnificent and breathtaking structures were built solely by hand without the aid of any machines and have stood for hundreds of years."
Tom Carroll ’11 (North Hampton, NH)
"China has truly been an experience of a lifetime. At first, I was apprehensive to visit such a culturally different country, especially because I had never been outside of North America. However, I have found China to be a very lovely place filled with fantastic attractions and incredibly friendly people.
"The Bird Nest and Water Cube were incredible structures to visit. Seeing the site at which the 2008 Olympics were held and where so many dreams were accomplished was a very inspiring moment. Both structures were beautifully designed and a wonder to behold – and now I can say I have visited the site where Michael Phelps achieved his record eight gold medals.
Students at the Forbidden City.
"Coming to China has been a true blessing, as I never imagined being able to immerse myself in such a unique and interesting culture."
Cole Osgood ’11 (Clifton Park, NY)
"So far, the city of Beijing has been an amazing and opinion-changing experience for me. I still can’t get over that just three short days ago I stood on one of the wonders of the world, the Great Wall of China. Going into this trip, I knew that I would see quite a lot of history and culture reflected in the ancient buildings and artifacts scattered throughout Beijing, however I had absolutely no idea that I would view the great amount of impressive modern buildings that seem to spring up all over the city.
"After spending some time in Beijing, I have quickly realized that China is not the same country as the one shown in the media and news publications in the United States. From what I can see, the people are very kind and patient with us, making the language gap between us much easier to bear.
"Another aspect about the country that impresses me is its extensive efforts to conserve and strive to reach a greener and brighter future. All in all, I now view both Beijing and China in a much more positive light and wish everyone could see this incredible country as it opens up to the world."
Thomas Lill ’11 (Loundonville, NY)
"It has been amazing to travel all through Beijing. It has also been enjoyable to spend time getting to know other Bryant students. My favorite part of the trip so far was going to the Great Wall at Badaling. It is such a well-known landmark around the globe that I thought I would never visit. I did a project on the Great Wall in sixth grade, and I could never have imagined being there the other day, along with all of its history. It was simply breathtaking."
Gregory MacDonald ’11 (Chelmsford, MA)
"So far, our trip to China has been much more gratifying and culturally informing than I could have ever hoped for. From the guided tours to the free time in the Silk Market, I have learned so much already and still get to visit two more cities. Visiting the Great Wall, Olympic Village, and Tiananmen Square were a few of the highlights of the trip in Beijing. Presenting about Tiananmen Square in Tiananmen Square was very fulfilling because usually you present about something and never actually get to see it. But we were there and it was a great feeling. All in all, this trip only five days in, has been absolutely incredible and I am so happy I took advantage of this great opportunity."
Todd Degnan ’11 (Mechanicville, NY)
Students at the Great Wall
"So far, I have loved everything about being in China – especially Beijing. All the activities we have taken part in and the places we have visited are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. I have enjoyed all of our experiences, but one of my favorite days was when we went to the Olympic Village. It was amazing to be at a place where so many of athletes that we’ve seen on TV have competed. It seemed almost unreal to be in the Water Cube, a place where so many events took place.
"I think going to the College of Beijing was a perfect end to the day because we really got to see how Chinese students live. It was great to be able to ask them about college life here and we could compare and contrast how our lives differ. I think they enjoyed it also because they could ask questions and see that we are not so different from them. I hope the rest of our trip will be this great!"
Sarah Richelson ’11 (New Hampton, NH)
"On this trip, we have experienced historical sites, corporate companies, shopping centers, and lots of unidentifiable but excellent foods. I enjoyed the Summer Palace the most of all the historical sites. Its beauty and size astounded me and setting sun created an almost magical feel to the entire scenery. Of the corporate companies, Lenovo stood out the most. Their ingenious move to change the company name from Legend to Lenovo definitely contributed to the company’s success worldwide because it separates them from other companies and shows the employees true ingenuity."
Kaitlyn Young ’11 (Warwick, RI)
"When I stepped off the bus and the cold January air nipped at my nose, I was quickly awakened. I glanced up toward the expansive scenery as the golden sun shined down on my hair. This is when I realized today was the perfect day to be climbing the Great Wall.
"As I continued on the path toward the Great Wall, I felt excited and quickened my steps. When I reached a point with extraordinary scenery, I felt a feeling of completion, like nothing in life would ever be able to satisfy me like the feelings I felt as I glanced around at my surroundings. I was with three of my best friends and an amazing group of individuals. Life couldn’t get much better.
Students in Tiananmen Square.
"As we climbed my friends and I decided it would be fun to practice the small amount of Chinese that we know. As groups of locals would pass by, we would simply say “Ni Hao.” Everyone was very friendly, either responding similarly or saying “Hello.” One group of locals was so excited that Americans were speaking to them they asked if they could be in a picture with us. When we all joined together and began smiling at each other, I felt like there was no difference in culture. I felt at home, safe, and comfortable.
"The feelings I felt at the Great Wall were unlike any feelings I’ve ever had before. This day was one of the best days of my life."
Sandra Moloney ’11 (Farmington, ME)
"The highlight of my time in Beijing was talking with the students from the Business College of Beijing Union University. When I entered the building, I was surprised that the school was so similar to a school in America. I noticed that the classrooms were not as technologically advanced as Bryant.
"I entered the classroom and sat down next to a girl in a yellow sweater. We started talking right away. She introduced herself as Sandy. She was twenty years old and in her second year of college, same as me. She was from a town near Shanghai and came to Beijing on her own to attend college. Her parents were not keen on her going to college, but she realized how important it was to learn English and get a college education. We talked a lot about our social lives. I spent an hour and a half talking to Sandy and did not run out of things to talk about. I was amazed at how different yet how similar our lives were."
Courtney Viehl ’11 (Salem, NH)
"Before going to the Great Wall, I have heard stories about how amazing it is, but I could never really picture it. After being there though, I know what people were talking about. I think that people have to experience things to get the whole picture. The hike up the Great Wall was a strenuous one but it was worth it once I reached the top. I almost didn’t want to go all the way up because I was so tired but I’m glad I did.
"Climbing the Great Wall also brought the whole group together because we accomplished something with people we didn’t know very well. At the top, I felt like I could feel the history and the culture by just looking out over the mountains.
Students visit the Water Cube.
"The Great Wall has made me appreciate being in China for all the right reasons. I came here to learn about another culture and to experience and see things that I would never have a chance to. The Great Wall has emphasized this for me. It has been the most amazing thing I have ever done in my life."
Felicia Ross ’11 (Thornton, NH)
The 58 students on the London/Paris SIE trip touched down in London on January 5. The group visited the Houses of Parliament, the Jaguar Plant in Castle Bromwich, and the Lloyd’s of London Insurance Market. On January 10, the group arrived in Paris and will spend the rest of the trip visiting sites like the Louvre, Versailles, and enjoying a Seine River Dinner Cruise before coming back to the States on January 15.
(Follow the group’s live blog.)
The 40 students on the Germany/Greece SIE group arrived in Munich, Germany, on January 6. The group toured the Audi plant; met with executives of Bavaria Film, a major German Film Studio; and enjoyed a Hofbrauhaus Show and Dinner. On January 11, the group landed in Athens. There, the group will take a walking tour of the Acropolis, visit the Antenna Media Group, and go to the United States Embassy.
