Featured Traveler: Hannah Collins

Hannah at Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany. 

Hannah Collins has been making her mark on the world for quite some time. She has deep roots in Ireland, with a ton family originating and living there today.  At the age of 16, through an organization called People to People Student Ambassadors, Hannah did a tour of the UK. She visited England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. During high school, Hannah also did a ten day tour of Italy. Recently, this past Fall 2013 semester at her University, Hannah studied abroad in London, England. Overall she's been to England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France, Spain, Germany, and Italy. 

Hannah sharing cultural experience with friends! In Ireland!

Hannah is a Junior Communication Studies Major at James Madison University with a concentration in Public Relations. She is already a very experienced world traveler with a cultural family history. 

Even with such cultural experience, Hannah chose the study abroad program through her University because she wanted to know what it was like to actually live abroad; not just to vacation or visit. She also wanted to experience the new cultures for a more extended period of time. 

Her favorite place out of all the destinations she has visited so far is London, England. She loved the city environment, and all the opportunity that came with it. She stated, "You never had to worry about being bored. I miss it every day!"

While traveling abroad, Hannah had many fun and interesting experiences, but the top one had to be camping out at Oktoberfest. While in Munich, Germany, for the event, Hannah and her peers camped out in an actual tent at a campsite just a bus ride away from the festivities. It was an experience in itself. 

If Hannah could pick any destination to fly to next, it would have to be Greece. If given the chance, that will definitely be added to her list of places traveled. 

Hannah highly recommends traveling to people of all ages. It's an even better experience if you have a chance to bring friends, family, or both! The experience of traveling the world is even better when you have people to share them with. 

Take in Hannah's advice, research a study abroad or student ambassador program, or simply plan a vacation. Take an opportunity to ready, set, roam! 

Featured Traveler: Kaitlyn Allen

Kaitlyn in Paris, France by the Eiffel Tower

Germany, France, and Holland. These are the locations that Kaitlyn Allen, a Senior Geology student at James Madison University, got a chance to explore when given the opportunity to study abroad. 

Which destination was her favorite? Kaitlyn states, "I'm still trying to decide on that, it's definitely between München or Munich, Germany and Paris, France. They were both so beautiful!" 

Kaitlyn had a lot of cool experiences when abroad with JMU's Summer Abroad in Germany. At the time she was an Engineering major, and the program was through JMU's Integrated Sciences and Technology department. It was the summer after her sophomore year. 

Beer Bike in Saarbrucken, Germany

That summer, a few of Kaitlyn's favorite memories were getting a chance to take a spin on the German beer bike, eating in a restaurant inside of the Eiffel Tower and then going to the top, and climbing a wind turbine. 

Kaitlyn getting ready to climb the wind turbine in Germany

The beer bike was in Saarbrucken, Germany. It is a bike equipped to fit up to 16 people depending on the bike model, has a round-table made of wood, includes a dispensing system, and has unbreakable plastic glasses and beer bike mug. The ADFC (German Bicycle Club), officially approves of the bike for transportation on the road. 

During the study in Germany, Kaitlyn's class visited a wind turbine. It was the first gear-less turbine, and they had a chance to meet it's inventor. When climbing to the top, Kaitlyn stuck her head out and had a chance to see a rainbow from new heights. 

This study abroad experience had such a positive effect on Kaitlyn that she plans on doing a Summer Abroad in Ireland this summer. She switched to Geology for her major, and they require a field camp experience. What better way to get that geologic field camp experience then abroad in Europe? 

If Kaitlyn had to pick any other destinations to add to her growing list, she'd definitely go with England, Scotland, Italy, Poland, Australia, and New Zealand. Study Abroad through her University has given her many chances to explore the world and grow culturally. Kaitlyn Allen has been the epitome of the phrase, "Ready, Set, Roam!"