Oh, The Places They Go!

By Karen Lee
On the top of Aiguille du Midi, towering some 12,600 feet above Grenoble, France, a bridge connects one mountain top to the other. The bridge presents a challenge, daring visitors to step into the endless sky toward the cave ahead.

By Smita Bhattacharya
We spent a lot of time attending Ghanaian ceremonies and observing and participating in traditional dances and rituals. At one point, we attended a royal funeral, which consisted of merriment and dancing, as it was a celebration of life. The Asante king attended this funeral and we were all very honored to meet him. He is wearing red and black because these are the colors that symbolize mourning in this culture.

By Brooke Dexter
While studying abroad in Antiparos, Greece, a few classmates and I took off to Santorini for the weekend. Oia, pictured here, is famous for its sunsets, and tourists flock to the restaurants with the best view. What struck me most about Santorini is how the residents build up their neighborhoods on these cliffs, maximizing their opportunities for the most stunning views of the water and sunset.

By Allison Epstein
The breathtaking Musée d'Orsay offers a view of Paris that is just as beautiful as any of the artwork in its galleries. Standing behind the enormous clock that once kept travelers on time when the building housed a train station, I looked out over the banks of the Seine and saw the spires of Sacré-Coeur Basilica poking out beneath the clock's enormous minute hand. A sense of the importance of time dominated my entire experience in France: Every building and paving stone was rich with history and pride.

By Blake Mackie
A fountain in Florence, Italy, quenches the thirst of U-M Junior Jerusaliem Gebreziabher as she fills her Michigan water bottle during her study abroad experience through the Center for Global and Intercultural Study.

By Kirsten Corneliussen
I took this photo during a tour of the Nasrid Palaces inside the Alhambra, the last Moorish fortress in Granada, Spain, constructed at the end of the ninth century. I think the picture captures a bit of Spain's religious and cultural history while showcasing the city that flourished around the Alhambra. I wanted to highlight the amazing preservation of the palaces and the Arabic influences located within the heart of the European city.

By Hope Peskin-Shepherd
Semana Santa, or Holy Week leading up to Easter, is one of the most important events in Sevilla, Spain, all year. Old and young alike dress to participate in the processions. The traditions start young, and this little boy, dressed as a nazareno, is waiting to join his procession.

By Jaclyn Tolchin
This is one of the many views on the way to Mama Rachel Abessolo's pineapple plantation in the village of Oyem in Gabon. The pondering stances of my fellow students reflect the many thoughts and questions I had throughout our journeys. I always wondered if the Gabonese were able to enjoy the forest the way we Americans can when we don't directly depend on it for survival.

By Lucy Perkins
I took this photo in the lakes district of Patagonia, outside of Bariloche, in Argentina. The building, or refugio, was surrounded by jagged mountains and was our destination after climbing for four hours. Sitting beneath the mountains was one of the most humbling experiences of my life.

By Nina Levin
Playing on jungle gyms is not just for kids. On a field site research expedition in Beijing, China, my classmates and I took a pause to explore the public park. In no time at all, we found happy, local company joining us. It was a joy to experience the lightness of child's play together.