Editor’s Note: Click the pins on the map to interact or click the frame icon in the top right corner of map to view full screen.

By Molly Burnum and Erica Oliver

Some UCM students traveled all over the world this summer. As these students transferred from their travels to the new school year, they reflected on their summers.

Clara Gaut, a freshman theatre education major, looked back at her summer travel experiences.

“I went on a cruise this summer and we got to go to Cozumel, Belize and Honduras,” Gaut said. “Belize was really pretty but I really enjoyed Honduras.”

Gaut said this was an experience she’ll never forget.

“We went to a few beaches and tried native fruit,” Gaut said. “We went and toured a zoo. I got to hold a sloth.”

Not only was this a vacation for Gaut, it was also a time for her to help kids.

“I got to go in a children’s school in Honduras and teach the kids English,” Gaut said. “We taught them the alphabet and some sentences”.

Transition back from a summer vacation abroad can be hard for some, but this was not the case for Gaut.

“I only had two days to pack up for school after I got back home. It was a little stressful but I was really excited to come to UCM,” Gaut said. “I was wanting to go back and visit with the kids a lot more, but I was also ready to come here to get my degree so I can go out and teach kids.”

Jeong Yeon Eom, a junior English major, came to UCM from Korea.

“This summer in Korea I hung out with my pets and with my friends from my college,” she said.

Not only did Jeong Yeon Eom enjoy Korea this summer with her friends, she took her friends abroad.

“I went to lots of countries with my university friends in Korea this summer. I went to Austria, Hungary, France, Switzerland and London,” she said. “Lots of things were so impressive because it was my first time Europe.”

Jeong Yeon Eom checked things off her bucket list this summer.

“I really wanted to see the Eiffel Tower so my friends and I saw it,” she said. “France’s food was so great and Switzerland has lots of great views.”

Jeong Yeon Eom gained life-long lessons from her adventures across Europe this summer.

“Experiencing Europe gave me more confidence to talk to UCM students,” she said.

Naoel Cherif, a freshman majoring in engineering, came to UCM from Tunisia, Africa.

“I really wanted to study abroad. I applied for a scholarship and they accepted me,” Cherif said. “I just really love traveling.”

Cherif looked back on her favorite memory from her summer in Tunisia.

“Since I am going to be at UCM for the whole school year, this is my first time being away from my family,” Cherif said. “My favorite memory this summer in Tunisia was my going away party where all my family and my sisters were.”