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Jordan Davis

Major: Political science

Destination: London, England, for an internship with the British Parliament.

"My study abroad was more fulfilling than I could have expected. I lived in the lively city of London and interned in the British Parliament. I had the great opportunity to intern for an experienced and highly regarded Member of Parliament, The Right Honourable Alun Michael MP. My responsibilities included everything from working with his schedule to researching policy issues and writing to constituents. I had interaction with Mr. Michael daily and was able to actively observe the British policy making system. I attended Prime Minister Questioning, saw the Queen when she opened Parliament in November, watched committee meetings, and learned first hand the practices of British Democracy. I learned a tremendous amount throughout my quarter abroad through my classes and internship. I also was able to travel on weekends and made it to eight countries. The relationships I formed, experiences I had, and lessons I leaned will last me a lifetime."

Rose Dudgeon

Major: Agricultural Education

Destination: Uganda

"Led by a faculty advisor and a Ph.D. student, our group experienced firsthand the challenges and achievements of a developing nation. While in Uganda, we heard from experts about issues facing the small country, such as a lack of infrastructure and unfair trade sanctions. On the flip side, we were also able to experience firsthand positive, exciting sights within the nation, like the source of the Nile River and chimpanzee tracking in a rural national park. We gave back through a service project benefiting a secondary school and visited with AIDS victims at a resource center. Our experiences were unforgettable, and the impact they made on us will make us more aware of how our actions affect the global community."

Rachel Jordan

Major: Business

Destination: The Bahamas, where she worked with children alongside other students in the Fisher College of Business Honors Cohort program

"Being in the Honors Cohort program at Fisher has not only given me a profound qualitative experience in Columbus but it has expanded my horizons by taking my Ohio State family and I on a service trip to the Bahamas, where we volunteered in impoverished elementary schools. We specifically taught Junior Achievement economics material in elementary schools, where there is an exceptional need for help and inspiration. The trip was rewarding and enjoyable because it was gear towards service and others on a worldly level. This was an educational experience due to the drastic difference amongst youth in the Bahamas and in Columbus. Visiting the Bahamas for a service purpose really exposed my colleagues and I to abroad poverty that served as a constant reminder of how fortunate we are and how there is need all over the world."

Elizabeth Moeller

Major: Business

Destination: Panama, for a class trip following a fall quarter Fisher class

"Through an Emerging Markets Field Study class, a group of about 25 students in the Fisher College of Business, including myself, had the opportunity to travel to Panama for a week after Autumn quarter finals.  We were required to take a class fall quarter together, and in that class we were broken up into groups and each assigned a Panamanian company to research.  The fun part about the project was that when we went to Panama we got to visit the companies.  At the Panama Ports Company we got to tour the facilities to see how business is currently done, view where the company is expanding, and understand how the expansion of the Panama Canal would effect their company. But of course the whole trip wasn’t just company visits.  We got to take canoes to an Indian village, attend an international dance festival, and boat to a private beach!"

Mbabndah Ndobegang Jr.

Major: Microbiology

Destination: Willow River, Minnesota, where he volunteered at Camp Heartland for children affected by HIV/AIDS

"I know Minnesota sounds like an odd place to want to spend part of my winter break, given how far away from home it is and how cold it is. But I have been there five times a yet my experience every time is new and different.

We did maintenance jobs for the camp while we were there. We painted two cabins, helped rearrange the retreat center, and sharpened a stack of 150 ice skates. We received and saw a lot of information on pediatric AIDS and got better appreciate the camp’s mission. Amidst all the work, the camp staff made sure we had fun taking us ice skating, sledding and treating us to a game of broom-ball. We were also given the opportunity to create a mural. We had our made hand prints on the wall with scarlet and gray paint and wrote our names. I enjoy doing the Alternative Break Trips as they go to show how dedicated individuals from our school are to service not only in our immediate community but also in our country."

Rian Rainey

Major: Computer Science and Engineering

Destination: Atlanta, to volunteer with Teach for America during Alternative Winter Break

"Our Alternative Winter Break trip consisted of nine undergraduate students and one graduate advisor, Katy Higbee. As Teach for America volunteers, we spent every day at Crawford W. Long Middle School, which was in one of the more economical depressed locations of inner-city Atlanta. Each one of us had the opportunity to shadow a teacher. The nature of our experience revolved around assisting students with questions, teaching some of the classes under the supervision of teachers, and helping students with their upcoming Academic Fair. Many of the undergrads on the trip have been considering Teach for America as a wonderful opportunity upon graduation; this trip further encouraged their commitment for improving America's public school systems. In our free time we visited many of the attractions Atlanta had to offer including the Nutcracker at Fox Theatre, Martin L. King Jr. Museum, and Georgia Tech Institute of Technology. We knew that AWB was designed not only to demonstrate our skills to improve the lives of others, but to also experience the culture of the community we were helping. We couldn't think of a better place to spend our winter break than in a new city where the weather was mid 70's all week!"

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