Summer Snapshot: Study Abroad Is Back at UMW

Pictures from University of Mary Washington summer study abroad programs say a thousand words, but in honor of this weekend’s Education Abroad Fair we asked students to use just one word to sum up their recent overseas experiences.

“Enriching,” senior Julia May said of her time in Bilbao, Spain, where she took a food culture class, toured one of the country’s oldest wineries and visited a Spanish civil war museum devoted to the theme of peace.

Launched in 2002, UMW in Spain is one of Mary Washington’s three longest-running faculty-led study abroad programs – including UMW in France and UMW in Paris – all back this summer, after the pandemic put them on pause for two years. UMW students can learn about upcoming opportunities to study, research, intern or volunteer overseas at the fair, presented by the Center for International Education. It takes place Saturday, Oct. 1, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the University Center’s Chandler Ballroom.

The most recent study-abroad adventurers shared their thoughts, summing up the sights and tastes, people and traditions, landmarks and languages in just a few syllables.

“They are definitely taking learning beyond the classroom,” said Professor of Spanish and Center for International Education Director Jose Sainz. “You can read all about the running of the bulls, or you can witness it firsthand.”

UMW students Jessica Oberlies (left) and Jazmine Montecino return from a hike to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe last summer during a ‘UMW in Spain’ study abroad trip. The experience is one of Mary Washington’s three longest-running faculty-led study abroad programs offered through the Center for International Education. #MaryWashDay #TogetherUMW

A group from this summer’s ‘UMW in Spain’ trip poses at the top of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe. Front row, from left to right: Center for International Education Director Jose Sainz, and UMW students Liliana Ramirez, Jessica Oberlies, Marcelo Ruggiero, Tyler Ventura and Kaitlin Saal. Back row, from left to right: UMW students Hannah Stottlemyer, Jonan Sainz, Clare Lewis and Abigail Tank.

‘UMW in Spain’ participants gather for a photo at the Universidad de Deusto during ceremonies at the end of the program. Back row, left to right: Marcelo Ruggiero, Alissa Flores, Edward Haggerty, Madeline Killian, Norah Walsh, Nathan Francis, Julia May. Middle row, left to right: Eden Shenal and Rayna Smith. Front row, left to right: Center for International Education Director Jose Sainz, Jasmine Montecino, Jessica Oberlies, Abigail Tank, Kaitlin Saal, Hannah Stottlemyer, Liliana Ramirez, Tyler Ventura. Photo courtesy of Jose Sainz.

Led by Sainz and joined by Associate Professor of Spanish María-Isabel Martínez-Mira, the five-week UMW in Spain program gives students an opportunity to take courses at Universidad de Deusto, visit Spanish cities and attend cultural events.

“Connection” is the word junior philosophy and Spanish double-major Norah Walsh chose to describe the experience, where she made new friends, studied the political history of Spain and ate pintxos in the coastal city of San Sebastian.

The ‘UMW in France’ trip, led by Professor of French Brooke DiLaura, included five UMW students and 10 students from other schools. The group visited Paul Cézanne’s studio and the spot from which he painted Aix-en-Provence’s Mont-Sainte-Victoire, seen here in the background. Photo courtesy of Brooke DiLauro.

UMW students Madeline Ice, Rose McMullen, Maggie Hatton, Nell Hatton, JD Rutledge and Celide Verna, along with Professor of French Brooke DiLauro, in the Mediterranean fishing port of Cassis, France. Photo courtesy of Brooke DiLauro.

UMW students Madeline Ice, Rose McMullen, JD Rutledge, Celide Verna, Nell Hatton and Maggie Hatton take a swim during a boat tour of the limestone coves between Marseilles and Cassis on the Mediterranean. The area is a nature preserve that is home to 140 protected animal and plant species. Photo courtesy of Brooke DiLauro.

UMW students JD Rutledge, Celide Verna, Trey Reid, Maggie Hatton and Nell Hatton pose in front of the Moulin Rouge cabaret in Paris during their ‘UMW in France’ travel abroad experience this summer. Photo courtesy of Brooke DiLauro.

UMW in France has been sharing the southern region of the European country with UMW students since 2012. Led by Professor of French Brooke DiLauro, the offering has participants studying at the Institute for American Universities in Aix-en-Provence, exploring the home and studio of post-impressionist painter Cézanne and sampling sweets at French patisseries.

“Amazing,” senior Celide Verna said of the trip – her first time traveling abroad – where she explored historic architecture, visited perfume factories and dined oceanside.

“Authentic” is how senior studio art major Olivia Breda described the experience. “Everything went from being a far-off photo or dream to being completely real,” she said. “It was everything I had hoped it to be and more.”

From left to right, UMW students Colin Uhry, Colin Walker, Chloe Martin, Gabriel Snider, Cosette Veeder-Shave and Elizabeth Goodloe explore Troye during this summer’s ‘UMW in Paris’ trip. Professor of Historic Preservation Andi Smith (far right), with her daughter, talks to the group about medieval half-timbered buildings. Photo courtesy of Andi Smith.

UMW students Cosette Veeder-Shave, Rachel Richardson, Chloe Martin, Sarah Sklar, Eleanor Heil and Gabriel Snider during an evening in the Champ de Mars. Photo courtesy of Andi Smith.

Participants on this summer’s ‘UMW in Paris’ trip, led by Professor of Historic Preservation Andi Smith, pose at the Jardin de l’Hôtel de Sully. In this picture, from left to right, Rachel Richardson, Chloe Martin, Gabriel Snider, Cosette Veeder-Shave, Dr. Smith’s older daughter, Elizabeth Goodloe, Eric Hummer, Dr. Smith’s younger daughter, Colin Walker, Sarah Sklar, Colin Uhry, Jenna Gilbert, Eleanor Heil, and Kelly Pratt. Photo courtesy of Andi Smith.

From left to right, UMW students Gabriel Snider, Colin Walker and Sarah Sklar, Professor of Historic Preservation Andi Smith (in yellow), and UMW students Kelly Pratt, Elizabeth Goodloe, Eric Hummer and Jenna Gilbert gaze at the Sorbonne during this summer’s ‘UMW in Paris’ trip. Photo courtesy of Andi Smith.

UMW in Paris, offered since 2014, lets students take courses through the MICEFA consortium of French universities, tour the city’s parks and green spaces and visit world-famous sites like the Eiffel Tower and L’Arc de Triomphe. The trip is led by Paris native Professor Andi Smith, who teaches travelers in English about historic preservation.

“Immersive,” senior history and historic preservation major Sarah Sklar said of the excursion, which gave her plenty of practice speaking the language she’s studied for years. “I was honestly amazed at how much my French improved within a month; being in Paris showed me how different language learning is when you’re immersed culturally as well.”

For junior historic preservation major Rachel Richardson, the trip – her first outside the U.S. – provided a chance to explore such architectural aspects as Sainte-Chapelle, the Louvre, Château de Fontainebleau and the Catacombes.

Her word for the summer study-abroad experience: “Unforgettable.”