Laughing with the Locals by Leanne Stahulak

None of us were prepared for the freezing rain we experienced in Erfurt, Germany. We were tired, cold, and wet to the bone, but our fearless tour guide was determined to help us learn about the musical city. With witty commentary, talkative gestures and spontaneous dances, he led us on an inspiring journey through a city none of us had ever heard of. I didn’t expect to be so engaged or moved by such a small place, but our local tour guide spiked our curiosity. His character taught me more about the spirit of the city than any guidebook ever could, and I’ve learned to never underestimate the power of love and laughter.

There is no bulb in their classroom, but there is light in their eyes by Nan Luo

During this summer, I volunteered in Mathare Slum to investigate the school teaching environment. I saw these children reading books and writing assignments in a dark classroom, but it didn’t affect them to study hard at all.

Miami University and Gaelic Football by Eleanor Crabill

A picture of a Miami Student playing Gaelic Football in Dublin, Ireland.

Shaolin Demonstration by Pierce Kaufman

At a Shaolin monastery near the small fishing village of Tai O on the edge of Lantau Island, I was invited to participate in a practice demonstration of martial arts skills. The instructor (center of photo) only spoke Mandarin, which actually gave me an advantage as I could understand many of his basic instructions. Here we practice a pose early in the demonstration, I am on the far right. Here I had the opportunity to learn quite briefly a small glimpse of the world of Chinese martial arts, and I led a small group in reenacting the demonstration, with announcement in Mandarin.