With one in five students studying abroad for at least a semester, UW-Eau Claire continues to be a national leader in providing students from all majors with meaningful international experiences. You can choose from over 50 exciting places in all parts of the world to study and explore as you immerse yourself in new cultures and experiences.
Through its annual Study Abroad Photo Contest, the Center for International Education and Council on Internationalization and Global Engagement are showcasing the many amazing experiences Blugolds are having as they navigate new cultures, explore new worlds and make new friends.
The following are the top 10 photos that were selected from the submissions for this year’s contest, beginning with a photo titled “Sunrise on Lake Atitlán” that was taken by the first-place winner Alison Olmstead in the Landscapes and Landmarks category. Alison took her winning photo in the winter of 2015 while studying in Guatemala.
You can view the top 10 photos — and many more — at the display on the third floor of the Davies Student Center or in this online album.
Landscapes and Landmarks — Top 5
Sunrise on Lake Atitlán
Alison Olmstead | Guatemala, Winter 2015
Lake Atitlán is arguably one of the most beautiful lakes in the world, surrounded by volcanos and calm water, but what brought our group there was something different. We were there serving the community by building two ventilated stoves and a house. We worked side by side with the families and construction workers who taught us more about Guatemalan culture and spoke to us in Spanish and Kaqchikel, a Mayan language indigenous to the area. A few of us would wake up early on our work days to watch the sunrise and contemplate the things we were learning.
Stained-Glass Steeples
Kelsie Balon | England, Fall 2015
Many people have heard of the famous Westminster Abbey in London, England, but few people know that about the cloisters of the old monastery attached to the southern side of the enormous building. If you are lucky enough to find the little entrance off to the side, the long monastery halls feature beautiful archways and magnificent mosaics, but their crowning feature is the stained glass windows that face back towards the soaring towers of Westminster Abbey. The historic landmark is intricately framed by the delicate panes of colored glass, providing a reverent view of the church that serves as the very heart of London.
Glenfinnan Viaduct
Brittany Jansen | Scotland, Fall 2015
The Glenfinnan Viaduct (perhaps better known as the Hogwarts Express bridge from the Harry Potter movies) cuts through the beautiful Scottish Highlands. It’s near the site where the Jacobite Rising began on the bank of Loch Shiel. The landscape of the Highlands is magical, and the history of the area makes it even more fascinating.
Beautiful by day, breathtaking by night
Samantha Weinkauf | Italy, Winter 2016
During a weekend trip to Rome, or as the locals say “Roma,” I was able to visit all of the main attractions. One of the most amazing and intricate sites was the renaissance church — St. Peters Basilica in Vatican City (built 1506–1626). It is one of the largest churches in the world and one of the holiest Catholic shrines. 2016 is very special, a year of Jubilee thus the Holy door inside is open for the public to walk through.
Sunbeams on Stonehenge
Sarah Hunter | England, Spring 2014
I traveled to Stonehenge on a typical rainy day in early March. My tour group and I took a poorly insulated double-decker bus there, and then trekked outside in the wind and mud for a good portion of the day touring the area. The day was turning getting more bleak with every mud-soaked step we took. Only when we were just stepping in front of the monument did the rain abruptly stop. Surprisingly, the sun poked through the clouds just enough for a few perfect rays to shine over Stonehenge and show its true beauty, which made it worth the trip.
Living like a Local — Top 5
Elephant and man
Sumya Paung | Thailand, Spring 2016
I went on a 3-day trekking tour to the Karen Hill Tribe villages in Thailand. I got the chance to hangout with these giant elephants. They were massive. The instructor was Karen like myself. It was difficult to communicate with him due differences in our dialects, but we talked and were able to understand each other nevertheless. He was quite shy but very humble.
Retirement… Italian Style
Rachel Conrad | Italy, Winter 2015
This is a photo I took on the shores of Cinque Terre in one of the small villages along the coast. This was an old man who was casting his line into the sea time and time again hoping to catch his dinner for the evening. He was not the only one doing this as fishing and fresh seafood are the main staple of the dinners of these coastline Italian small towns. However, this was not just for nourishment but also for pure enjoyment and to enjoy sitting, fishing and watching the waves crash into the rocks in front of him.
I Walk a Lonely Road
Anneli Williams | Germany, Spring 2015
I took this photo while walking a Boulevard of Broken Dreams during my semester abroad in Marburg, Germany. Even though the first few days felt like a Holiday as a wandered about like a regular American Idiot, the cobblestone streets and foreign language soon became as familiar to me as the never-forgotten lyrics of a punk rock hit from 2004. As the semester came to a close, I wanted to say “Wake Me Up When September Ends,” but, alas, I had to leave in July. Thanks for your support; have a Green Day.
Los Pajaros de Barcelona
Nicole Lanzer | Spain, Spring 2015
The sun in Barcelona sparkles like a Spanish wine, spilling onto the ancient asphalt for feathery locals to sip and enjoy.
Mud Masks and Sulfur Baths
Kallie Friede | South Africa, Spring 2015
After classes ended, three friends and I roadtripped the coast of South Africa. In one of our stops we met a South African man Sven who was working at our backpackers to save up money so that he could bike the whole western coastline of Africa. One morning during our stay in Port St. Johns, he took us to a isiXhosa village so we could experience a traditional morning with the local women. We bathed in a sulfur springs, got the sulfur facemasks that made us look like clowns and got to hang out with local women for the day.
Have questions or want to learn more? We have experts in the Center for International Education office who work with you from start to finish. Learn more about about studying while seeing the world.
The Study Abroad Photo Contest is sponsored by the Council on Internationalization and Global Engagement, Center for International Education and University Centers.
