Brazil
Angel Akinleye
(she/her)
CET Brazil
Howard University
Class of 2025
Major: International Affairs
Minors: African Studies, Portugese
Pen to paper, lights, camera, and action… my name is Angel. I am proud to attend an HBCU. Having a multicultural family has always sparked my interest in international affairs. My journey with Brazil started as a sophomore in high school when I toured the country for the first time as a youth ambassador for the U.S. State Department. Since then, I have pursued my passion for environmental and racial justice through writing and art. I enjoy spending time with friends and family, reading, and learning about the world.
Colombia
Maya Martin
(she/her)
CET Colombia
Howard University
Class of 2025
Major: International Affairs
Minor: Business Administration
Hi there! My name is Maya and I’m a sophomore pre-law student at Howard University in Washington, DC, though I’m originally from Long Island, New York. Currently majoring in international affairs, I enjoy learning about sociopolitics, regional culture studies, and other interdisciplinary topics. Outside of academics, if you were to catch me in NY, it’s coaching volleyball clinics over the summer, and in DC, it’s me with some plan to discover a maybe not-so-hidden gem the next weekend. Either way, I always have a yoga mat in my room, and I also like listening to music, cooking, and doing my nails or hair, but the true guilty pleasure is finding a good show to binge or a movie to get someone else hooked on. I’m super excited to study abroad in Colombia this spring and I hope it’s a journey of adventure, scholarship, and personal growth (as well as a chance to jump-start my Spanish). I’d love for you all to follow along with the memories and friendships I make along the way!
Czech Republic
Phoebe Porter
(she/her)
CET Prague
Elon University
Class of 2024
Major: Strategic Communications
Minors: Professional Sales, Marketing
Hi! My name is Phoebe and I’m a junior at Elon University but I’m originally from Chicago. I love traveling, hiking, cooking, and getting out of my comfort zone. I’m constantly listening to music and quoting movies I’ve seen 20 times. I’m so excited to explore Prague and share my experiences, and find all the coolest places in the city!
Hello! My name is Andy and I’m a junior at the University of Minnesota. I’m a global studies major (my school’s equivalent of international relations) and am studying in Prague to further improve my Czech language skills. I’m originally from Minneapolis but have been traveling internationally since age 15, having now visited 62 countries (and lived in two of them) on every habitable continent except Australia. I travel to better understand the world we live in and the people who share it with me. My passions include bicycles (even in the winter), cooking, current affairs, creating art, photography, learning about other cultures, and living a healthy lifestyle. I’m looking forward to sharing my time in Prague with you all!
ITALY
Hi! My name is Natalie, and I am from Laguna Beach, CA. My interests include being outside (hiking, going to the beach, etc.), trying new restaurants and foods, travelling, and dogs. I have been looking forward to studying abroad for as long as I can remember, and I cannot wait to share some of my favorite pictures from my experience with you!
Catherine Vogt
(she/her)
CET Florence
Hamilton College
Class of 2024
Major: World Politics
Minors: History, Religious Studies
Hi! My name is Catherine and I am a junior at Hamilton College from Connecticut. I love to listen to music, work out, and play with my dog. In my free time, you can also find me baking, doing the Washington Post crossword puzzle, or scrolling through Spotify. I can’t wait to share my time in Florence with you all!
Scott Burns
(he/him)
CET Florence
Vanderbilt University
Class of 2024
Majors: Economics, Public Policy
Hey y’all! I’m Scott Burns, a junior from Montreat, NC studying at Vanderbilt in Nashville. If I’m not on Broadway during the school year, I’m usually back at home hiking with friends or enjoying an IPA at an Asheville brewery. I love to play guitar and attempt the NYT daily crossword alongside a good game of chess with a friend. Excited to keep track of my experiences in Europe with you all, and please reach out if you’ve got a trip planned and need someone to go with!
Madeline Warren
(she/her)
CET Florence
University of Wisconsin–Madison
Class of 2024
Major: Psychology
Minor: Art History
Hi! My name is Madeline Warren, but most people call me Maddie. I am currently a junior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where I am majoring in psychology and working towards a minor in art history. I have always had a passion for art, whether it was creating it or studying its history. A fun fact about myself is that in high school I received a nationally recognized gold medal for one of my pieces through the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, and I was able to attend a ceremony at Carnegie Hall in NYC! I plan on taking an art history class while I am abroad in Florence to learn more about the birthplace of the Renaissance. I’m very excited to document my time in Italy and inspire others to study abroad as well!
Eden Comer
(she/her)
CET Florence
University of Wisconsin–Madison
Class of 2024
Major: Psychology
Minors: Environmental Studies, Gender and Women’s Studies
Hi! My name is Eden, and I’m a junior studying psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In my spare time, I love to read, do yoga, find new music to listen to, or spend time outdoors (hiking, hammocking, really anything)! I have been interested in traveling for as long as I can remember. I am so excited to be able to explore a whole new country and meet new people from around the globe. I’m looking forward to sharing my experience with you all!
japan
Huiting Lian
(she/her)
AICAD in Japan
Maryland Institute College of Art
Class of 2024
Major: Graphic Design
Minor: Printmaking
Hi, I’m Huiting. I’m 22 years old and was raised in Shanghai before I came to the United States to study graphic design in MICA. My design style is systematic and reduced, but I’m documenting all the playful moments in my daily life for future inspirations. I enjoy making ceramics and exploring local shops/events in my spare time. I’m looking forward to sharing my life in Osaka with you!
Judy Li
(she/her)
CET Japan
Soka University of America
Class of 2024
Major: Social and Behavioral Sciences
Hi there! My name is Judy. I grew up in Beijing, China and I am currently a junior at Soka University of America in Aliso Viejo, California. In my free time, I love talking with friends and family, eating good food, reading, and watching films. Although my hometown is close to Japan, I have never visited the country. I am really excited for this semester in Japan, and I can’t wait to share my experience through photographs with you all!
Isabelle Aiko Shiiba
(she/her)
CET Japan
Brandeis University
Class of 2024
Major: Biophysics
Minor: Math
Hey y’all! I am Isabelle Aiko Shiiba and I’ll be spending my spring 2023 semester at Osaka Gakuin University through CET Japan! A little about me, I’m from Queens, New York and I’m half Japanese and half Romanian. I love to travel, go to concerts, try new foods, work out, and most importantly, root for my New York Mets. I can’t wait to meet new people and improve my Japanese, I’m excited to share my journeys and experiences throughout my time in Japan!
jordan
Tomas Gordo-Churchill
(he/him)
CET Jordan
Northwestern University
Class of 2024
Majors: Middle East and North African Studies, Economics
I’m Tomas. I’m from St. Louis, Missouri but as of right now I study in Evanston, Illinois. I usually spend my free time going to the boxing gym, learning languages, listening to music, and mixing music on my DJ controller. My favorite musical genres right now are reggaeton, techno, and country. Finally, some interesting things about me are I got to live in Spain for the past seven months, and last summer I hitchhiked across America. I’m excited to see what opportunities for learning and adventure Jordan will bring.
Sarah Holston
(she/her)
CET Jordan
American University
Class of 2024
Major: International Relations
Minors: Education, Arabic
أهلا! I’m Sarah and I’m a junior at American University studying international relations. Outside of school, you can find me trying a new recipe with my friends, reading at the public library (book recommendations are welcomed and encouraged), or working at the farmer’s market. I love traveling, both abroad and in the United States, and am constantly planning my next trip. I’m excited and grateful to be able to explore Amman and share my adventures with you all!
Asher Wexler
(he/him)
CET Jordan
UNC Chapel Hill
Class of 2025
Major: Environmental Diplomacy
Minors: Arabic, Music
My name is Asher – I’m from Raleigh, North Carolina. I took a gap year after graduating high school and learned that the world is a rather big and wonderful place, a perspective I hope to corroborate while in Jordan. As a committed analogical thinker, I am fascinated by the intersection between the climate change and international diplomacy. In between environmental and political classes, I love jamming on piano, fiddle, and bass, jumping on the trampoline, playing pick-up soccer, making compost, and looking up big words. I’m a big brother to three younger siblings – which is my most challenging and rewarding enterprise.
TAIWAN
Kathy Luan
(she/her)
CET Taiwan
University of Michigan
Class of 2024
Major: Economics
Minors: Asian Languages, Cultures & Business Administration
大家好! My name is Kathy, I’m from Chicago, and I’m a current junior at the University of Michigan. My academic focuses are economics, business, and Chinese. Outside of school, I like to spend my free time listening to music, reading, and exploring new places. I love finding new coffee shops and am also a big cat lover, so I plan to visit many cat cafés in Taipei. I am so excited to share my study abroad experience with you!
Tashi Sherpa
(she/her)
CET Taiwan
Middlebury College
Class of 2024
Major: International and Global Environmental Change Studies
Minor: Food Studies
Hi, I’m Tashi and I’m from Queens, New York. One of my favorite activities consists of trying new foods. I love that food acts as a bridge between cultures and I look forward to exploring the food and tea scene in Taiwan. Also, a big fan of gallery and café hopping, nature, and film photography. Super excited to be able to explore the city and rural scene as well! May or may not find me at a tea farm 🤪 !
Lilian Manning
(she/her)
CET Taiwan
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Class of 2024
Major: Asian Studies
Concentrations: Chinese, Studio Art
Hey, I’m Lilian, I grew up in Ohio and Minnesota, but I’ve been living in North Carolina for a while. I enjoy photography, painting, writing, and reading. I’m excited to study in Taipei and explore the art and music scene there. I’m also excited to visit some museums and learn more about art history and paintings. I’ve recently been researching the depiction of architecture in Chinese paintings in the late 1800s and early 1900s, so hopefully, I’ll see something related to that.
Abigail Ward
(she/her)
CET Taiwan
United States Naval Academy
Class of 2024
Major: Computer Science
Minor: Chinese
大家好! My name is Abigail and I’m 20 years old. I was born in Guangzhou, China but was adopted in 2003 and came to the United States, where I’ve lived on the East Coast for the rest of my life! I’ve also always really wanted to connect with my culture and learn more about where I came from, so I started taking Chinese classes and joined our Chinese Culture Club at the school. I’m beyond excited to immerse myself in Taiwanese culture and practice my Mandarin skills for a semester! In terms of hobbies, I love photography (especially portraits), baking new bread recipes, painting calligraphy, and playing rugby! I will try any food once, and I LOVE karaoke even though I’m a terrible singer. My favorite karaoke song is Let It Go, which I can also sing in Spanish (Libre Soy) and Mandarin (随它 吧). I can’t wait to share my time in Taiwan with you all!
Hi, I’m Huy. I’m 20 years old and was raised in Vietnam before I came to America. I’m interested in advanced technologies (AI, VR, etc.) and learning about different cultures. I enjoy drawing, listening to music, watching movies, and playing video games in my spare time. I’m excited to share my experience in Taiwan with you!
Elsi Muñoz Ramos
(she/her)
CET Taiwan
University of Mississippi
Class of 2024
Majors: International Studies; Chinese Studies
Hola 哈嘍! I’m Elsi, 艾莎. I am a junior at the University of Mississippi! My major is international studies with an emphasis on East Asia, and I also study Chinese. I grew up in Mexico, then moved to the United States as a teenager. I enjoy learning about different cultures and meeting people from other countries, diverse backgrounds, and various life paths. I enjoy nature and exploring new places. I also enjoy solo travel. Taiwan is full of beautiful landscapes. My favorite place in Taiwan is the beach. I arrived in Taiwan at the end of August 2022, and it has been a one-of-a-kind experience that has helped me grow. I am thrilled to continue my spring semester in Taiwan and have the opportunity to continue studying Chinese, learning about Taiwanese culture and lifestyle, and visiting fascinating landscapes around the Island.
Quila Zariah Gustave
(she/her)
CET Taiwan
Allegheny College
Class of 2024
Major: Economics
Minor: Chinese
Hello everyone! My name is Quila and I am currently a junior in college. I’m 20 years old and I like to draw, listen to music, take pictures , cook, sing and dance! I have more hobbies but those are the main things that I find myself doing way more than the others. Although I am able to speak 5 languages, I am only at conversation level with them all (excluding English). I’m always excited to travel and experience new things!
Bayani Pascual
(she/her)
CET Taiwan
Bowdoin College
Class of 2024
Major: Asian Studies
Minor: Government and Legal Studies