Students will be learning around the world during Winter Break

Trips to Costa Rica/Panama, Germany/Greece, China, and Italy allow students to immerse themselves in diverse cultures.

Preparing to board a plane for a 14-hour flight to Beijing last January, Tom Carroll ’11 (North Hampton, NH) admits that he was a bit nervous. It was only his second time out of the country, and he was to spend the next two weeks living and studying in China as part of Bryant’s Sophomore International Experience (SIE) program.

Still, he was excited about the opportunities awaiting him. “I knew I was about to have the time of my life,” he remembers thinking at the time.

Tom Carroll ’11 (North Hampton, NH) at the Summer Palace in Beijing, China.

This winter, 135 students will experience similar feelings as they spend part of their Winter Breaks at destinations around the world. SIE trips will take students to Costa Rica/Panama, Germany/Greece, and China, while a group of six students will travel to Italy with College of Arts and Sciences Dean David Lux.

Carroll says that some of his most memorable experiences came when he and his classmates had the opportunity to explore a foreign country on their own. “Trying new things and stepping out of your comfort zone will make your experience one you will remember for the rest of your life,” says Carroll.

His experiences on the SIE trip fueled a desire to continue his travels around the world. This spring he will spend the semester in Costa Rica at La Universidad Veritas in San Jose.

Cultural immersion

Kristen Sandstrom ’11 (Dudley, MA), who spent two weeks traveling in Germany and Greece last January, encourages students to keep an open mind as they find themselves in a culture that is different than their own.

“Take the opportunity to really notice what is going on around you and to enjoy the people that you meet,” says Sandstrom, who will spend the spring 2010 semester studying in Italy. “Try new foods that you might not usually eat, and explore places that the locals recommend.”

Kristen Sandstrom ’11 (Dudley, MA) (second from the left) with some of her classmates in Athens in front of the first theatre ever built.

Like many of her fellow students, she had some anxiety about leaving the United States for the first time. “But when you are surrounded by friends and teachers who are there to help, you have nothing to worry about,” she says.

Sandstrom recommends packing lightly. “You don’t need half the clothes you think you do,” she advises. But there are a few essentials she recommends. A pocket translation dictionary can help when communicating with the locals, while an eye mask and ear plugs make it easier to sleep during the long flights.

Leaving your comfort zone

Brian Waddell ’11 (Schenectady, NY), who also traveled to Greece and Germany encourages students to take time at the beginning of the trip to learn the public transportation system.

“When you are comfortable getting around, you are more likely to explore different parts of the city and see things that you would miss if you stayed around the hotel,” he says. “Ask your waiters, tour guides, and hotel staff for places they would recommend visiting. You experience so much more of the culture by breaking out of your comfort zone and going where the locals go.”

Kaitlinh Ho ’11 (Danbury, CT) (second from the right) with some of her classmates cruising down the Panama Canal.

Waddell, who has also taken separate trips to New Zealand, Scotland and England, recommends taking extra batteries or a charger for your camera so you can take a lot of pictures, as well as a portable alarm clock to ensure you don’t oversleep.

Beyond that, only the essentials such as a pair of gloves, a scarf, and boots – especially in a cold climate – are all you need. These winter clothing items will come in handy for Waddell as he continues his tour around the globe with a trip in March to Reykjavik, Iceland.

Kaitlinh Ho ’11 (Danbury, CT), who spent two weeks last winter in Panama and Ecuador, agrees with Waddell. “Don’t stay in the hotel at night,” she says. “Go out – with at least one other student – even if it is just for a walk. It will expose you to the different cultures.”

Check back throughout the next several weeks as students blog from destinations around the world. Read the blog from last year's Winter Break SIE trips.