Souvenirs | Fall 2017 by Souvenirs

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SOUVENIRS STAFF Editors in Chief Ruth Brandt Sophia Dramm Editors Megan Otto Rachel Pope Paige Strigel Art Director Kenzie Bryant On The Cover Photographed By Ella Guo

Staff Writers Ella Guo Megan Janssen Emma Liverseed Allison Streckenbach WUD Publications Committee Director L. Malik Anderson WUD Publications Committee Advisor Jim Rogers Wisconsin Union President Iffat Bhuiyan

LETTER FROM THE EDITORS

e met for the first time at the Starbucks on State Street in Madison. Despite our extremely different experiences abroad on opposite sides of the world - one in Argentina and the other in London - it was these experiences that instantly brought us together.

Every traveler encounters unique aspects on their trips, but no matter where you go, all trips have one thing in common: Travel changes your perspective in a way that nothing else can. Now, six months later, we sit in that same Starbucks, putting the finishing touches on this incredible magazine that has brought us closer together and closer to the world, as we hope this magazine will do for you too. Enjoy this beautiful collection of experiences brought to you by your fellow Badgers who have hiked mountains, swum oceans and traversed continents. Let them change your perspective. So now itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your turn: Go experience the world.

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IN THIS ISSUE 4

THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME

MONTEROSSO AL MARE

ANANSHA UPADHYAYA

EMMA LIVERSEED

SIGNS YOU ARE A BADGER ABROAD

WE CALL IT HOME

BECOMING FAMILIAR

TOP REASONS TO TRAVEL ALONE

DANCING WITH GRANDMA

5 PEOPLE YOU MEET ABROAD

AN ODE TO FRIENDSHIP

ME ACROSS THE PACIFIC

IT’S OK TO BE SCARED

HERMANITO

A YEAR AND A HALF LATER

RACHEL POPE

PAIGE STRIGEL

ALLISON STRECKENBACH

MEGAN OTTO

MARKAYLE SCHEARS

ISAAC BUTTKE

RUTH BRANDT

ELLA GUO

SOPHIA DRAMM

RUTH BRANDT

RACHEL POPE

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SOUVENIRS’ FAVORITE EMMA SIENA, ITALY Located in the heart of Italy’s Tuscan region, Siena boasts stunning gothic architecture and one of Europe’s most impressive medieval squares. If you plan your trip accordingly, you can attend the Palio di Siena festival when, twice a year, the city hosts a world-famous horse race at the Piazza del Campo in honor of the Virgin Mary of Provenzano. After lounging on the piazza, you can browse the pottery shops and try the local cuisine or take a tour of il Duomo di Siena. Make sure to explore outside the city walls as well — enchanting vineyards and endless sunflower fields await you. MEGAN J. DUBROVNIK, CROATIA Dubbed the “Pearl of the Adriatic,” Dubrovnik is a fairytale of a city. It takes advantage of its proximity to the sea, offering endless seafood restaurants and cable car rides up a mountain for unparalleled views. Dubrovnik is known for its “Stari Grad,” a quaint area surrounded by medieval castle walls and paved with glistening limestone walkways. Arguably the most magical part of the city is the maze of winding, narrow stairways lined with restaurants, shops and cafes. Locals hang their laundry to dry on clotheslines in these stairways. It would be easy to spend forever climbing through different passages of stairs, watching the delicately hung linens flutter in the sea breeze. RUTH MACHU PICCHU, PERU Machu Picchu is magical. Standing atop an ancient city, surrounded by the Andes Mountains, watching the clouds roll over the peaks and right past you, so close you could touch them: This is magic. From a scientific perspective, the Inca that occupied Machu Picchu knew things they shouldn’t have been able to know, such as their exact coordinates on a map. It’s unbelievable that the Inca were capable of not only building Machu Picchu, but keeping it hidden from the rest of the world for so long. Everything about Machu Picchu left me speechless, and I am counting down the days until I am able to return. RACHEL EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND When you think of Edinburgh, you probably imagine cobblestone streets and a guy wearing a kilt playing a bagpipe and simultaneously eating haggis. You’d be right; it’s all that and more. Wherever you walk in Edinburgh, on one side of you is the iconic Edinburgh Castle and on the other side are charming storefronts that are equally as breathtaking and enchanting. From fudge and shortbread to tartan wool and Scottish Terriers, Edinburgh is a city full of things to fall in love with — not to mention that Edinburgh is the birthplace of Harry Potter. The inspiration JK Rowling found in the city is truly notable and a sight to see. ELLA YANGSHUO, GUANGXI PROVINCE, CHINA Known for its breathtaking landscape, Yangshuo is heaven for travellers as one of China’s most famous scene areas. The Li River cruise, mountain climbing and biking across the country roads for sightseeing are not to be missed. Though the West Street in town has been criticized for mainly catering to Western tourists, you can still find plenty of quality hostels there and meet backpackers from all over the globe. If you’ve ever wondered why so many Westerners leave everything behind to come to China, you should witness the marvel of Yangshuo for yourself.

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PLACES TO TRAVEL MEGAN O. LONDON, ENGLAND With 32 boroughs to explore, there’s no shortage of quirky streets to meander through, delicious restaurants from which to sample foods and the wildest people-watching you can imagine in what many consider the greatest city in the world: London. With incredible public transportation services, it’s easy to jump from museum to park to historical landmark. Football games, nights out at the pub and the view from the top of the Shard are cherries on top of London’s classic sites. You’ll find yourself craving a “cuppa” tea and “minding the gap” after spending just a day in the great city. ALLISON RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL If you don’t speak Portuguese, learning a lict is worth it for a trip to Rio de Janeiro filled with carnival, brigadeiro and soccer. From the downtown skyscrapers spotted with local markets to the famous beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema, there is something for everyone to love in Brazil’s second largest city. The breathtaking 125-foot tall Cristo Redentor statue makes the Wonders of the World list and can be seen from anywhere in the city. Hiking or riding up Sugar Loaf mountain is a favorite of travellers and locals alike that is a must-do to witness the transition from day to night as Rio’s lights turn on, and take in the city in all of its glory. SOPHIA KRAKOW, POLAND “Charming” is the best word to describe Krakow. Though it’s the second largest city in Poland, it has a cozy feel. The best part of Krakow is its Old Town, the preserved historical district of a medieval market square which is surrounded by Gothic churches and storefronts. The restrictions of vehicles in the area creates simplicity and peacefulness. Kazimierz, the Jewish Quarter, is another great area to experience heritage and history. In some places you feel like it’s just another big city; in Krakow you feel intimately immersed in its culture and charisma. KENZIE KILLARNEY, IRELAND Culturally rich and bustling with locals and tourists alike, the historical town of Killarney captures the magic of Ireland. The expansive scenery of rolling hills, winding roads and medieval castles is unparalleled and will take your breath away. Traveling like a local is the best way to go. Stay at the beautiful Castle Ross on the grounds of a gorgeous golf course and just minutes from downtown Killarney where you can enjoy a great meal at the local pub with live Irish music, and if you’re lucky enough, some Irish dancing. Grab your rain coat, wellies and a camera because you’re in for an adventure! PAIGE FLORENCE, ITALY In many ways, Florence is the most quintessential version of Italy anyone could dream up. From the cobbled streets to the ancient buildings and churches, from the bridge Ponte Vecchio over the River Arno to the Uffizi gallery filled with art from the Italian Renaissance, and from each little gelateria to the next, Florence is pure magic. The far past mingles side by side with vibrant modern life in this city. It has a little less hustle and just as must to see as in Rome, and you can easily eat your way through the city. Try the street food (especially the arancini) and leave yourself time to wander and get just a little lost in the painfully beautiful streets as they teem with life.

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THERE’S NO PLACE ANANSHA UPADHYAYA

eing an undergraduate student at a prestigious institution like the University of Wisconsin-Madison can be a very surreal experience. I know it is for me at least. Sometimes, when I am not drowning in work — or even when I am — I think of going home. Irony enjoys a laugh every time that fleeting thought crosses my mind because for me, going home is neither easy logistically nor theoretically. Such is the story of many international students studying at UW-Madison. In 2015, I packed seven overweight bags and flew from Bhopal, India, to Madison, Wisconsin. After a journey that was 24 hours too long, I arrived in front of the Cha-

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zen Museum. It was 8 p.m. Fairy lights adorned trees, and I shivered as soon as I stepped off the bus. The middle of August is not particularly cold in Madison, but there was something about realizing that I had arrived. I was exactly in the middle: somewhere north of my childhood and south of adulthood. The next morning, the surrealism started, and to be very honest, it has not stopped even today as I pen this. Two years at this university, and never once have I relied on muscle memory to guide me along. There is always something that needs to be finished and something that needs to begin. There is a constant exchange of laughter, ideas and identities. And all of this

is set against the backdrop of time ticking away until graduation. However, I am strangely always thinking of home. My elevator pitch about where I am from packs the essence of differences between Madison and Bhopal. I say, “I am from a small town in central India called Bhopal with a population of 1.9 million people.” Bhopal is a small town — well, according to Indian standards it is. There is distance and difference between these towns and population just scratches the surface. For every bike path in Madison there are over crowded alleyways in Bhopal. Evenings in Madison are always accompanied by a nip in the air, but in Bhopal the sunset brings the smell of samosas and chai

LIKE HOME city where religions coexist and there is talk of art and humanism. In Madison, I am afforded a global environment where people from all walks of life are included. On rare occasions, I would hear the whistle of a train break the silence of mornings in Bhopal. From my dorm room in Smith Residence Hall, I hear a train pass by, too. As these trains pass by it ceases to matter which side of the world I am on. Having lived in about nine cities across two continents, I sometimes struggle with what being ‘home’ really means. For some reason, I have always chosen to call Bhopal my home. Maybe it is because of the familiarity. I know the streets like the back of my

hand, and I know all the best restaurants. But most importantly, Bhopal saw me change and witnessed my coming of age. It has to be home. My mother always says that as the wheels of a vehicle start moving I fall asleep instantly. As a freshman, I was coming back from spring break. It was around 9:30 p.m. and I was asleep in a Coach USA bus, heading to Langdon Street from O’Hare Airport. I opened my eyes, and I saw the light of the Capitol building. A feeling started creeping over me, very nonchalantly, but making its presence felt: the feeling of pulling into my driveway in Bhopal. I soon recognized the feeling for what it was. I saw the lights of the Capitol, and I knew I was home.

PHOTOGRAPHED BY MAGGIE ALETHA, ICELAND

into every home. Fifty degrees Fahrenheit in Madison is the sweet spot between the outgoing fall and the incoming winter. In traditionally temperate Bhopal, the same 10 degrees Celsius is reason enough to break out parkas and ski masks. Despite every difference, there are inevitable similarities that bring me closer to Madison. Life in Bhopal fluctuates between the Upper Lake and the Lower Lake, which is convenient because Monona and Mendota do the same. Bhopal is the state capital of Madhya Pradesh and is famous for being the town with some of the top universities in India. I walk up State Street, and I am overwhelmed with familiarity. Bhopal is a peaceful

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KAZAKHSTAN ON FILM SHOT ON 35 MM FILM IN ALMATY, KAZAKHSTAN ALINA CAPANNA

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MONTEROSSO AL MARE A COASTAL TREASURE EMMA LIVERSEED

rivals the Amalfi Coast. A walking path connects the towns, and tourists often take the ferry, but the steep and narrow roads deter the use of cars. The towns and the surrounding nature are recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and as a national park. The village of Monterosso greeted us with a vivid palette of coastline scenery; it was as if someone had splashed giant cans of paint along the entirety of the Ligurian coast. The pastel homes reminded me of Eas-

ter eggs. They clung to the cliffside as though they might tumble into the sea at any moment. After climbing 130 steps up a stone staircase, we reached our bedand-breakfast perched on one of the highest points in the town. It offered a stunning overlook of the mountains and sea. Our first night in Monterosso happened to coincide with the celebration of St. John the Baptist, so we enjoyed pizza on our balcony while a processional band wove through the streets under a sky of fireworks.

PHOTOGRAPHED BY EMMA LIVERSEED, ITALY

hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always that place youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve traveled to and thought, I will never forget this for as long as I live. Each city I visited in Italy was unforgettable, brimming with history and charm, but nothing could quite compete with the striking beauty of Monterosso in the vibrant district of Cinque Terre. Until the construction of the railroad in the 19th century, the five fishing villages of Cinque Terre were relatively isolated and inaccessible. Now, it is a popular travel destination that

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PHOTOGRAPHED BY KATIE HACKBART, DENMARK

On the second day of our stay, we hiked the footpath to Vernazza, which is the closest neighboring town to Monterosso. The steep, three-mile trail has a total of 700 steps (needless to say, I worked off the pizza from the night before). The single-file path snakes between vineyards and over the mountaintop, allowing visitors to experience the full view of the Ligurian Sea. Vernazza was equally picturesque — if not a bit more crowded — as Monterosso. Weary and sweaty from our hike, we opted to take the train back. We never had to look far to find an inviting place to eat. The town is famous for its seafood (try the squid ink pasta, if you dare) and focaccia bread. The shops boast a variety of foods — pesto, limoncello, cheeses, olive oil — and I struggled to de-

cide which of these items would be brought back home in my suitcase. I looked forward to spending my afternoons on the pebbled beach, laying out a towel under a sky that never showed signs of rain. One of my favorite memories in Monterosso was renting a motorboat and cruising down the coast to see nearby towns including Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. My family was surprised that you could rent and drive your own boat just by handing over an ID. When the time came, I wasn’t ready to trade the vineyards and mountains for cornfields and bluffs, but I returned to Wisconsin feeling very grateful to have experienced the incredible Monterosso al Mare, certain to never forget it as long as I live.

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SIGNS YOU ARE A 1 2 3 RACHEL POPE

You throw up a “W” in all of your pictures. Did you really go abroad if there isn’t a picture of you flashing a “W” to show your badger pride in every city you visited?

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You can walk up any hill with ease. The people you’re with may complain about hills, but not you. All of those walks up Bascom Hill have finally paid off with these moments when your stamina saves you.

You find yourself wishing the Unions were just a quick walk away. Being abroad comes with its own set of unique places to study, but there’s nothing quite like sitting at Memorial Union studying with a view of the lake or being at Union South sitting next to a fire place, with an ice cream shop just a quick walk away.

BADGER ABROAD 4 6 5 You are taken aback by the reliability of the European transportation system because you’re used to the 80. We’ve all been there — it’s raining, you have an early morning class and you just aren’t up to walking up Bascom, so you decide to take the 80. Except it’s 15 minutes late and jam packed with all of the other kids who had the same idea. In Europe, the buses and other modes of public transportation are rarely late and much more user-friendly, meaning that even if it’s raining, it’ll be there when it’s scheduled or there will be several announcements saying otherwise.

You still find fellow Badgers anywhere and everywhere. On the walk to my hostel in Copenhagen, there was mannequin wearing a Badger sweatshirt on the sidewalk of a thrift shop. Talk about random reminders of school spirit. Even on the other side of the world, Badgers are never alone.

PHOTOGRAPHED BY MAGGIE ALETHA, ICELAND

You have to settle for Ben & Jerry’s because Babcock doesn’t export. Speaking of the ice cream shops close by, Babcock ice cream is a delicacy all Badgers know and love. While Europeans think their gelato and ice cream is the best, you know it’s nothing compared to Babcock, and the only reason you long to get back to Madison is to eat it.

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WE CALL IT HOME

had just finished over 20 hours of travel from suburban Minnesota to Florence, Italy. I had hugged my nervous, somewhat tearful parents goodbye, proudly strode through the airport with passport in hand, taken two flights and a train, and dragged my bags through cobblestone streets. I had eaten a pizza faster than at any other singular moment in my 16-year-old life, ordered gelato in nervous, broken Italian and then walked cautiously through the streets, nonetheless feeling reckless and free. After all of this motion, I arrived at a moment of stillness. I found myself standing on Ponte Vecchio, gelato in hand. Before me stood a street busker strumming his guitar and singing softly. All around me stood classmates and other passersby speaking in a variety of languages. It all seemed to fade, filling my brain with a warm background hum. The sun slipped nearer to falling below the horizon made by the River Arno, and the sky lit up in an ever-changing array of colors: wheat and egg yolk and butter streaked with tangerine, heather purple and dusky indigo. I felt my breath catch in my throat and swallowed hard,

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for a moment overcome by so many different emotions I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t understand it myself. As I stood there with the lingering bittersweetness of dark chocolate gelato melting on my tongue, a realization as wonderful as it was terrible rose up in my chest. Minnesota was no longer my home. At least, it was no longer my only home. In that second I realized what the past three years of wanderlust have confirmed: There is no going back to complacency. Before I went to Italy, I thought I wanted to travel. After I went to Italy, I felt my heart rip apart knowing that from then on, I would always feel the pull to go out and explore again. In some ways, it would be easier to not know this feeling, easier to grow old never wanting more than a firmly anchored existence. Then again, perhaps that isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even possible or desirable. Even if it was, for those who understand it, that drive is what life is all about. We are explorers, voyageurs, adventurers and wanderers. Home will never be a simple concept, but it will always be an exciting one with more pieces yet to be discovered.

PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOSIE SAJBEL, NETHERLANDS

PAIGE STRIGEL

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PHOTOGRAPHED BY KATIE HACKBART, NORWAY

BECOMING FAMILIAR ALLISON STRECKENBACH

aking up at 7 a.m. is never easy for me, but I do it anyways, rolling out of bed and running through my quick morning routine before pulling on my trusty sneakers. I rush downstairs to the dining area to grab a cup of delicious Brazilian coffee and scour the breakfast options as my friends enter the room one by one. I relish the taste of the fresh mango and papaya that I know will never taste the same back home. As the yawns around me turn into excited giggles, I smile knowing that today will be another amazing day in Rio de Janeiro. After shoving a few miniature bananas in our backpacks, we head out onto the already bustling street. We wave and smile at the ladies in the Manjerona on the corner who take pleasure in our horrible Portuguese when we try to order juice and açai, but are always happy to see us nonetheless. Side stepping the loose cobblestones that I remember tripping on in my first days here, we make our way down the street while store owners begin to set up for the day. The different radio broadcasts and music coming from each open-air store clash together in the familiar sound of a Rio morning. Tables lining the street sell a variety of items and foods, from sweets to hats to books and toys. I smile at the teenager who is selling a tableful of magnifying glasses and he smiles back. The man selling maracujá, or passion fruit, on one corner tempts me every morning, but I know that if I stop now I will be late for class. Once we can see Palácio do Catete, the regal-looking museum, we know it is time to cross the street. Even though we have a walk sign, we hustle across just in case the array of taxis have different ideas about traffic laws that morning. On our way, we play a continuous game of chicken with the city’s pigeons as to see who will get

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out of the way first. The sun is already warming up the spot behind my backpack, and I pull on my sunglasses as I watch the flurry of Brazilians enter and exit the supermarket across the street, wondering where they’re off to and what sort of adventures they’ll have today. As we continue our walk, I can see the trees up ahead that signal my favorite part of every morning. I strain to pick out the little chitter chatter amongst the other sounds of the city, and then I see him, reclined back in his chair and watching with a smile on his face. I follow his line of sight and see that the fruit he cuts up and shares every morning is already being devoured by the little family of monkeys that lives in one of the trees. I can see the little baby riding on its mother’s back as, just like every morning, they enjoy this old man’s kindness. He nods to us affectionately and bites into the other half of his breakfast as we take in the sight. We continue on past the primary school, zig-zagging through parents dropping off kids in little uniforms who run into the courtyard to play a quick game of soccer with their friends before class starts. Turning the corner, we begin our mini hike up the hill towards our destination. We exchange our daily “Bom dia” with the doorman of the first building as he watches us build strong calf muscles on our way up. I stop for a second to look out over the city from our perch on the hillside, over the colorful roofs and lush greenery. Every day I get to breathe it all in before I turn into the canary yellow building to begin my classes for the day. It’s strange how when you first arrive somewhere, everything is so, well, foreign. But little by little, sometimes without even really noticing it, the place starts to become familiar.

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PHOTOGRAPHED BY MAGGIE ALETHA, UNITED STATES

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PHOTOGRAPHED BY ELLA GUO, KOH PHI PHI, THAILAND

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PHOTOGRAPHED BY TRACE CARRASCO, NEPAL

TOP REASONS TO TRAVEL ALONE MEGAN OTTO

hile traveling abroad in a group has its advantages – safety, someone to take photos of you and it helps your parents to relax a bit – going solo can be one of the best decisions you make while traveling. Here are the top seven reasons to travel alone.

4. Only one spot left? No problem Whether it’s the last bed in a hostel, the last spot on the excursion you wanted to go on or the last seat on a train, bus or plane, you can say yes and take it. There’s absolutely nothing, or anyone, holding you back from doing so.

6. Quality photography, of you! Traveling alone does not mean that all your photos will consist of landscapes and architecture. Instead, you’re forced to talk to strangers and ask if they can take a photo of you. Pro-tip: scope out a fellow sightseer with a fancy camera as they will most likely take a quality photo of you.

5. Independence is the best If you’ve been looking for independence and autonomy, traveling alone is the single-best way to feel free and independent. There’s literally nothing more freeing than the feeling of hopping off a train or plane ready to conquer a city on your own.

7. You learn about yourself After spending the whole trip following your own set of rules, you are guaranteed to learn more about yourself. You discover what you excel at doing alone, and figure out what you could use some work on. The world is your oyster and cracking it open on your own is a journey that is unforgettable and necessary.

PHOTOGRAPHED BY MAGGIE ALETHA, ICELAND

1. You can do what you want to do When traveling alone, it’s completely up to you to make your agenda for the day. Wake up early to head out and explore or take a morning to sleep in. Eat whatever you want. Whether you prefer to play it safe and stick to pizza and pasta or if you are all about trying the most out-there local cuisine that you can find, it’s completely up to you. Rather than collaborating with others to determine a plan, all the decision making is in your hands. 2. You can wander aimlessly Sometimes it’s fun to just go out in a new city and walk, taking in the sights with no set destination in mind or traveling buddies to restrict you. Traveling alone allows you to truly connect with the city and take your time while doing so. Strolling into quaint little stores or inviting coffee shops... there are limitless possibilities when wandering alone in a new city. 3. You will meet so many new people It’s a misconception that if you travel alone you will always be on your own. When traveling with a big group, it’s unusual to go off on your own and meet new people. Traveling alone forces you to go out of your comfort zone and talk to people you normally would have no reason to, and you end up meeting some pretty great people along the way.

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DANCING WITH GRANDMA MARKAYLE SCHEARS

hen the spring turned to summer, Kaile and her fiancé Yuantao left to travel to China. The long trip made them tired. They were greeted by Yuantao’s family and friends; so many were there to see Kaile, the guest of another land. Among them all, his lonely mother was most happy to see the couple. They were brought back to Yuantao’s hometown of Sujiatun, on the outskirts of Shenyang in Northern China. At first their home was strange to Kaile. The bed was hard, the water smelled and the nights were not quiet nor clear. In the mornings, his father would prepare a breakfast of sweet fruits and eggs. His mother would go to work to sell things at the family store and Grandma would dance in the square. One morning Grandma invited Kaile and Yuantao to dance. She danced with old women in a garden next to a fish-filled river. Every day

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she would delight in the friendships she had with the others. They shared secrets about how to stay healthy and followed the leader together in dance. Colors from the trees, birds and flowers increased the already colorful appearance of the women’s clothes. When they arrived, the entire assembly fixated on Kaile. They immediately stopped dancing and began to ask questions. “Who is she?” “Do you know my son? He lives in your lands.” Grandma helped to answer their questions then asked them to continue dancing. After the dance, Kaile and Yuantao walked back home with Grandma. Kaile asked Grandma about her life. She told Kaile that she was born in Nanjing at a time of great poverty in the country. She was the eldest daughter of her family; her

mother asked her to marry young so that they could have a comfortable life. Grandma’s fiancé was from Shenyang, and she followed him back to his hometown. In the next years, she gave birth to three boys and one girl. Grandma said in her old age she had finally found happiness. She didn’t have to worry anymore because her daughter took care of her. She had her friends and a family that was getting larger now that Yuantao had found Kaile. Kaile felt sad when she heard this. To find happiness only in old age… What was there for Grandma to hope for or dream about once youth was gone? When Yuantao and Kaile returned from their travels, they were married. On their wedding day, they later heard, Grandma fell and could dance no longer.

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PHOTOGRAPHED BY CADE CAMPBELL, CHINA

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PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOSIE SAJBEL, ICELAND

5 PEOPLE YOU MEET ABROAD While all countries are different, people are the same no matter where they are. Here are five people you will meet studying abroad. ISAAC BUTTKE

The Party Animal This is the kind of student that makes you wonder, “Do they even go here?” You’ve seen them in class once or twice, but social gatherings are where they thrive. More often than not, these folks merely have to pass their classes while they’re abroad, so they’re able to spend much of their time focusing on when the next party is until they have to play catch-up right before the exam period.

The World Traveler

This type of student may seem MIA in class, but for a very different reason than the Party Animal. They frequently miss classes or social gatherings because they’re off traversing the continent, spending more time in hostels and Airbnbs than in their own flat on campus. They’ll certainly get one of the best cultural experiences out of everyone, but similar to the Party Animal, things will get pretty dicey once exams roll around.

The Student Whose Grades Transfer Back Unlike the Party Animal, this exchange student’s grades are important because they actually count towards their GPA back home. It’s pretty obvious which students have to get good grades while they’re studying abroad, because once classes pick up, their social life begins to dwindle relative to everyone else (particularly the Party Animal). After all, there is a reason that it’s called study abroad.

The Local This person plays an crucial role in the study abroad experience, especially if you don’t speak the native language. The Local essentially acts as a tour guide for the semester, showing you where to go and what to do, while translating important information like the word for “beer.” Every moment with this person is cherished; you don’t realize how much you depend on them until they’re unavailable.

Yourself You are the most important part of this piece. Studying abroad is so much more than learning about another culture and furthering your education. It’s about learning who you are, expanding your boundaries and developing as a human being. Regardless of whether you have to hunker down and focus on your studies early on or if you can have a bit more fun throughout the semester, getting thrown into another country to survive completely on your own is a life-changing experience. Even though everyone experiences this differently, studying abroad certainly changes everyone for the better.

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AN ODE TO FRIENDSHIP RUTH BRANDT

PHOTOGRAPHED BY RUTH BRANDT, MEXICO

ienvenidos a la Ciudad de México.” The glittering lights of the city extend in every direction, growing larger and brighter as the plane descends, their bright blues and yellows contrasting with the smooth black of a spring night. At the edges of the city, rolling hills dot the terrain like sleeping giants. The city skyline twinkles in Morse code declaring, “I am the most beautiful city you will ever see.” The lights swallow up the plane as it lands, and as those around me sleep, converse quietly or mindlessly tap away on their phones, I am overcome with emotion. Someone is waiting for me on the other side of the airport gate. I met Ximena Ibarra one year prior in Córdoba, Argentina; we were both volunteering for the same organization and staying in the same hostel. We quickly bonded over a shared love of helping others and a tendency to be unabashedly sarcastic. For six weeks, we explored Argentina together, spending spontaneous weekends in Buenos Aires, going dancing, hiking through the Andes, touring museums and trying new foods. I was with Ximena the first time she ever saw snow. I knew I had found a sister. However, she was a sister that happened to live thousands of miles away from me in Mexico. When our time in Argentina came to an end, Ximena and I said a tearful goodbye, attempting to come to terms with a painful reality where we most likely never saw each other again. But, here I am, standing in Benito

Juarez International Airport. It’s midnight in Mexico City, and the airport is nearly empty, but Ximena waits, smiling, holding a sign with my name written in bright red marker. I run. Both crying, we collide into an embrace that nearly knocks both of us over. We laugh tearfully, hug wordlessly. Black hair and blonde hair, tan skin and pale skin, Spanish and English, Mexican and American: an unlikely friendship that elicits looks from passersby, but an unlikely friendship I can’t imagine life without. This is why I travel. I travel for the people I meet along the way. I travel to hear Ximena’s mother say, “You will always have a family in Mexico” as she hugs me goodbye, already talking about a next visit. I travel to hear my mother say, “You will always have a family in Wisconsin” a couple months later, eyes full of tears, as she hugs Ximena goodbye at O’Hare. I travel for airport reunions, and I travel for bittersweet goodbyes. I travel for the ups and downs of a friendship that spans two countries, two languages and two cultures. Ximena is a sister that lives thousands of miles away from me. However, physical distance means nothing when someone you care about is on the other side. In this case, on the other side of security at Benito Juarez International Airport, smiling, holding a sign with my name written in bright red marker.

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PHOTOGRAPHED BY KATIE HACKBART, AUSTRALIA

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PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOSIE SAJBEL, ICELAND

M E AC R O S S ELLA GUO

THE BEGINNING OF EVERYTHING

ily after a long separation. During the Spring Festival in 2015 when I went back to Ganzhou, I told Grandpa my intention. Quite surprisingly, this seemingly restrained man agreed to be the star in my camera world without hesitation. He was willing to reconnect with the past, with all the sorrows that came with historical upheavals and the bygone splendor of this ancient family house that he had spent his lifetime in. During the filming, my grandpa showed me around every corner of his courtyard and even the deserted attic. He narrated old stories hidden behind the faded photographs. I gradually turned into an empathetic experiencer, not just a photographer. I smiled when I heard the happy childhood anecdotes Grandpa and his long-separated brother (Aunt Judy’s father, who left mainland China around 1949 for Taiwan and then moved to Hawaii afterwards). I was intrigued when he described how my great-grandpa started his local business and became a successful businessman. I grieved when I learned

how Judy’s father was forever separated from his family at the age of 18. I became indignant about the mistreatment of my grandpa during the Cultural Revolution... The courtyard of the old house, like a museum, contained so much happiness and sorrow, reunion and separation. It became flesh and blood. A few days later, almost at the end of my shooting, I suddenly realized that this old city also has the memory of my family. I shall uncover the hidden family stories in this land too. Inspired by the thought, I stretched my lens to the city. Recollecting my grandpa’s story, I retraced the routes where my family had gone. In Dongmenjing Street, I seemed to go back to the days my grandpa and his brother played here. Walking on the 800-yearold ancient floating bridge, I filmed the rafts on the Zhanggan River, imagining my ancestors fighting hard for their life on this land. Every stop I filmed, I became closer to the history of my family. I was honored to help my family and Aunt Judy become more connected with our homeland.

PHOTOGRAPHED BY ELLA GUO, CHINA

anzhou, an ancient city with a history of thousands of years, is one of my most favorite cities. Although I was raised in this city, my first few years before living in Guangzhou, I used to feel I belonged to Ganzhou before I moved to the United States and started college. However, I didn’t come up with the idea to shoot a microfilm about this land until I visited Aunt Judy in San Francisco. When I told Aunt Judy about my childhood in Ganzhou with my beloved grandpa, she was instantly hooked by the stories of her uncle (my grandpa) whom she had never met. “I hope I can know more about my father and his long-lost family in China,” she whispered in my ear. At that particular moment, it dawned on me that family will always be family; time and distance could not disconnect our bond. Although creating a film by myself would not be easy work, I used it as a gateway to explore my family history and learn about our past. I craved so much to reconnect our fam-

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PHOTOGRAPHED BY RUTH BRANDT, UNITED STATES

T H E PAC I F I C

FROM WEST COAST TO MIDWEST

arrived in Madison on a snowy winter night. Alone with two suitcases and no mobile connection, I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t find my gloves to keep my hands from freezing. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve never really lived in any places that snow in winter like Wisconsin, a state that I knew so little about before I was accepted to the university. But I made it here, still not knowing anyone. My Aunt Judy came all the way from California to help me settle in. School started in the bitter cold and its novelty soon started to fade after the first couple of weeks. I was longing for my escape, back to the West Coast, back to the heat that I am familiar with... But most importantly, back to my family.

During spring break, I went back to California and reunited with them. Spending some time listening to stories from the American side of my family, I somehow sensed a chain that finally connected all the lost pieces together, and the past was disinterred. All of the questions that used to emerge in my head started to become clearer. The mix of two cultures is not only part of my family, but also part of myself, part of who I am as an individual. I always felt more Westernized than my peers back in high school, yet I find myself enchanted by my Eastern roots when in college. I am an adventurer, seeking new opportunities just like my ancestors decades ago who left behind everything

to go from China, to Taiwan, to the States. I will continue to thrive in any new place, just like my ancestors who thrived in this new land. Meanwhile, my American family still loves the Chinese culture: We speak Chinese at home and we love Chinese food. But I am still the unique one in the family. I am the only person who grew up in Guangzhou and consider myself Cantonese. The spirit of the city runs in my blood, and I will always be pushed by this passion. I still cannot define myself; you can call me city girl, adventurer, photographer... Anything else is still obscure, anything else is yet to be defined.

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IT’S OK TO BE SCARED SOPHIA DRAMM

he night before I left to study abroad, I doubted all my decisions. I was certain I was doing the wrong thing. What was I thinking, going to a foreign country 4,000 miles away from home, literally a world away? I was never more scared in my life; I never felt more vulnerable. Students abroad get scared for a lot of reasons, and my reason was because I didn’t know anyone in my program. I’ve always been surrounded by great, supportive friends and this was my first time on my own without them. I was desperate for a confidant, an acquaintance, anybody who would have been my anchor of familiarity in

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a totally new place. But I never got a friend before I left, so I remained terrified. After some time in my new city, I finally accepted my fear. In that time, I learned that being scared is okay. In fact, being scared is good. Having fear was the best thing to happen to my time spent abroad; it turned me into a better person. Here’s how it happens: Fear tears you down and then builds you back up. It breaks you down to expose who you truly are. Who am I without my pride, when all my guards are down? It is when you are at your most vulnerable that you understand your identity. Once you accept it, you begin the

growth into a better person because you understand your true self. You become a more pure version of you. My fear evaporated because I became more comfortable with myself and my decisions. I began to trust myself. I regretted regretting going abroad. I became at ease not because I made friends, but because I became at ease through myself. Being scared is good because you learn and grow from it. I learned that studying abroad really is the most rewarding thing you can do in life, in more ways than one, for from it I grew into a better person. My decision to go abroad was the best decision of my life; I certainly did the right thing.

HERMANITO RUTH BRANDT better – and waved back. A grin spread across the little boy’s face. His cheeks were rosy from the cold. The light changed and the bus jerked forward, headed for Barrio Guiñazú, the city’s poorest neighborhood: the barrio that had bred and raised the little boy in the striped sweater. The barrio where I had worked as a volunteer for the past two months, teaching and providing childcare. The barrio where that same little boy in the striped sweater would arrive a couple hours later, push open the rusting front gate and kiss my cheek, saying, “Hola seño.” “Hello miss teacher.”

He came from Guiñazú, the barrio that taught him to not trust people like me, a white woman. The barrio that taught him to be wary of everything. The barrio that taught him that life is not fair, nor is it kind. But none of this mattered, because I had become his hermana. I had taught him to trust me. I had taught him that life may not be fair, but people are kind. The little boy waved, and it was a reminder. It was a reminder of how much love can do and how much the world needs it.

PHOTOGRAPHED BY RUTH BRANDT, ANDES MOUNTAINS

reminder. That’s all it was. The little boy with black hair wearing a striped sweater and dirty jeans waved from across the other side of the crumbling road. He stood in the gravel driveway of his father’s car repair shop, next to unaware men smoking cigarettes in the bitter air of an Argentinian winter. The bus I sat in – filled with tired men and women on their way to work, silent – rattled with the engine as it waited at the intersection. It kicked up dirt into the air. Dust mixed with cigarette smoke and morning fog. I pressed my face up to the window – close, so that he could see me

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JOURNAL ENTRY COURTESY OF ELLA GUO

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PHOTOGRAPHED BY TRACE CARRASCO, NEPAL

PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOSIE SAJBEL, SLOVAKIA

A YEAR AND A HALF LATER RACHEL POPE

he first time I experienced reverse culture shock, I was in a store and wanted to buy something that was on sale for $2.00. I walked up to the register with the money in hand, ready to pay for the item and head out, when the cashier said, “That’ll be $2.56.” I had to scramble to get more money out, as I had forgotten that there is a sales tax in America. The second time I experienced reverse culture shock was when my mom came home from the grocery store, and she told me she had bought gouda cheese (pronounced chow-da if you’re Dutch). Though she lovingly showed it to me, I immediately burst into tears, already yearning to go back. Before returning home from my semester-long study abroad program, I had only ever traveled with my family, so I had never experienced any kind of culture shock, reverse or otherwise. In the spring of 2016, I ventured on my own to Utrecht, in the Netherlands, where I studied at

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University College Utrecht. The end of the school year was filled with promises of keeping in touch and plans to meet up in the future, but inevitably as your life and your friends’ lives go in different directions, the contact dwindles to happy birthday messages, wishing each other well and memories contained in pictures. Here I am, three semesters after the experience, and I still feel pangs of longing for that period of my life. I still, and think I always will, look back to pictures on my camera roll, wishing I was back in a place where the public transportation system made it easy to hop from one side of the city to another, where cheap airfare made a weekend getaway to a different country a no-brainer and the international friends made were more intriguing than the average American. As the saying goes, “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” I will definitely be smiling for the rest of my life.

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PHOTOGRAPHED BY ELLA GUO, FRAANCE

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