Shenandoah University Students Travel Abroad for Spring Break

WINCHESTER, VA- For many college students, spring break is a chance to escape to the beach. But, some students at Shenandoah University have traded swimsuits for winter coats as they head to Bulgaria.

"I kind of don't know what to expect," says Seth Walker, a freshman at Shenandoah University. "It's kind of exciting and kind of scary, but mostly exciting."

About 50 students and faculty from Shenandoah University will be spending spring break overseas. Each was selected to go as a part of the Global Citizenship Project.

"This year, we're going to be going to Bulgaria, Panama, Ireland, Nepal and Rwanda," says Bethany Galipeau-Konate, the Director of International Programs at Shenandoah University. "Every year, we try to send students to places that they might not get to go to on their own. They travel with a faculty leader as well as other students, faculty and staff from the community."

"I want to go because I've only been out of the country one other time in undergrad," says Amber Everhart, a graduate student.

The trip is not simply for tourism, but a one-week immersion into a new culture and way of life.

"As an acting major, I think it's really important to just observe humanity," Walker says. "I'm really interested to see a different side of life. What life is like for people in Bulgaria. I think it's going to be really interesting."

The coordinators say they hope the groups will bring back a new global perspective and share their experiences with the local community and campus. The last groups left Friday evening. They will return next week.