International Photo Contest Winners

The many wonderful photos submitted to our Facebook International Photo Contest are testament to the power of international travel, and the deep impressions it leaves upon its travelers. Our two winners, Whitney Griffin and Sabrina Cohen, shared two amazing photos from Morocco and China respectively. Since a picture is worth a thousand words, we interviewed our winners and asked them to tell us about their experiences and their winning photography. 

Sand Angels by Whitney Griffin, Morocco

Whitney Griffin is a recent graduate from Westminster College in Fulton, MO. Her majors in International Business, Spanish, and Leadership Studies allowed her to study abroad three times: twice in Salamanca, Spain, and once in Malaga, Spain. She spent a total of five months abroad in 2009 and visited nine countries, and will soon be teaching English in Spain through the Ministry of Education Language and Culture Assistant Program. 

Griffin’s winning photo was taken during a week-long trip to Morocco. She and her friend Kortney had just watched the sunrise and stopped to make sand angels on their way back to camp in the Sahara Desert. 

Griffin explained, “I love how the sun is reflected on the sand, giving it a really rich color; the lines in the sand are incredible! To me, this picture screams adventure and friendship! There is never a dull moment while studying abroad with new friends from all over the world. Just a walk back to the camp turned into fun!” 

She added, “Morocco was unlike any other country I had ever visited – the culture language, terrain – all was unlike anything I had ever experienced. I learned Arabic words and used them in daily conversation, road a camel, climbed a sand dune, went carpet shopping, and drank too much mint tea! Thanks to this picture, I will always remember watching the sunrise in the Sahara Desert.” 

Academic Explorers Kungfu submitted by Sabrina Cohen, China. Credit for the photo goes to Caroline Killmer.

Sabrina Cohen is the Director and CEO of Academic Explorers, a US study abroad program based in Beijing that combines intensive martial arts training with immersion Mandarin Chinese language study. Cohen developed the program in 2006 to introduce people to “the China” she fell in love with, she explained. 

Cohen described her original interest as China as beginning in 1997, when she spent a semester there. “I fell in love with China and ended up staying in Beijing, studying martial arts, philosophy, and traditional Chinese medicine, as well as traveling around the country, for the next two years,” said Cohen. 

Cohen described the picture’s meaning for her: “My master, Zhang Shifu, is pictured here. Every time I see this picture, I am reminded of why I love China, as well as everything he has taught me over the years. I feel very lucky I have a chance to introduce students each year to the China I know and love—parks filled with kungfu masters that look like old men, delicious meals that can be had all over town for less than $1 per person, philosophy that is as complex as it is simple, and a beautiful, intricate language that can guide us to begin understanding the Chinese culture.”

Both pictures serve as lovely reminders of the amazing, eye-opening experiences that can be had through international travel and study abroad.