Maggie Kneifel is a junior at The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland where she studies Neuroscience. She plans to purse either a career in medicine or scientific research. As a native North Carolinian she has developed a love of fried chicken and the outer banks. Apart from traveling, Maggie enjoys playing Ultimate Frisbee, reading, baking, and annoying her two Cardigan Welsh Corgis. Despite her love of the sciences, Maggie cannot wait to study language, art, history, and literature while she studies in Vienna, Austria for the fall of 2013. In addition to improving her German, Maggie hopes to glean the most of what beautiful Vienna has to offer.

I'm studying studio art, entrepreneurship/social enterprise and international studies at Wake Forest University (Go Deacs!). Born and grew up in Canada by Malaysian born parents, I've always had an awareness of other cultures, countries, and customs. I've always wanted to travel South America and after spending the summer interning in Lima and volunteering in Kenya, I am excited to stay in one country for a while and live out some new adventures. I enjoy everything about the outdoors--camping, rock climbing, hiking, biking, running, hammocking, and have recently taken up surfing while in Lima. I also love all things art-design, painting, photography, and film, and hope to be able to share my experiences in Quito through my words and images.

Courtney is a senior at Pacific Lutheran University in Parkland, Washington majoring in Graphic Design. In her free time she loves to go out and explore new places, never leaving home without her camera and notebook to document those moments. She also loves to play volleyball and do craft projects. She is catching the travel bug after traveling to Dubai earlier this year and is excited to study in Milan and travel around Europe. Photography and writing are a true passion of hers and she hopes to share her adventures and thoughts while in Europe through this blog.

Hi! My name is Mimi Price and I am a junior at Santa Clara University where I study French, Economics and International Business. I have been looking forward to study abroad my whole life and I am beyond thrilled to have the opportunity to study in Paris. By the end of my program, I hope that I no longer feel like a tourist, but feel that Paris is my home. My goal is to embrace all that Paris has to offer from the language to the culture to the history. My hobbies include shopping and eating, so I think that Paris will be a good place for me!

Janice is a junior from Claremont McKenna College, majoring in Government and Literature. Although Janice was born in California, she grew up in South Korea for almost twenty years before she came back to SoCal for college. Janice loves chocolate ice creams, Dostoevsky, ribbons (blue and pink), Korean food, (her) diary and black dresses. She also likes to write stories, cook, bake, and bask in the sun. Janice has never been to Europe and is super excited to spend her semester in Spain.

Clancy Tripp is a junior at Claremont McKenna double-majoring in Literature and Film Studies with a minor in Gender Studies. In the past few years she has lived in Indiana, California, Washington D.C., and Chicago studying and working in arts and literacy education. Good luck keeping her in the same place for more than a year. True to form, she will be spending the Fall semester in Paris, France where she will spend as much time as possible with local French children, explore every arrondissement, and sample every pain au chocolat available!

My name is Lauren, and I’m a west coast transplant currently studying at Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts. I’m a double major in art history and political science, and I hope to become a journalist after I graduate, focusing on the politics of the Middle East. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, singing, cooking, spending time with family and friends and watching TV shows as diverse as “Doctor Who,” “The West Wing,” and “How I Met Your Mother.” I love traveling, learning, and writing, and I can’t wait to share my adventures in Istanbul!

I am a junior at Howard University, located in Washington, D.C., majoring in Journalism with a minor in Business Administration. Post-graduation I plan to attend the University of Miami and pursue a career in International Administration. I enjoy photography, writing, music and art. Traveling to Morocco, I hope to find a different perspective for my work and bring a little piece of the country back with me. I look forward to exploring different volunteer and activist opportunities. I hope you enjoy my posts about my experience!

My name is Adrienne Ruth. I am a third-year student at Occidental College majoring in Diplomacy & World Affairs with an emphasis on security. I am also a member of the women’s varsity lacrosse team. I have been an active member with the Office of Student Life, participating and helping coordinate their Emerging Leaders Program. In my free time I enjoy going to Disneyland, finding a new TV show addiction on Netflix, and spending time with my friends. I love travelling and discovering new cultures. I am looking forward to starting this new journey, learning German and having the chance to photograph some of Europe’s most historical and important cities!

Alexis Cobau is a Junior at the University of Michigan, majoring in Chinese and International Studies with a concentration in International security, cooperation and norms. She is excited to be returning to China for the first time since her original foray into study abroad in Harbin, China on an NSLI-Y State Department scholarship as a rising senior in High School. This will be her sixth year studying Chinese and she can't wait to spend it exploring Beijing. When not practicing her Chinese characters and tones, Alexis enjoys reading, writing, drawing and cooking.