Name: Benjamin Smith
Title: Kasugai Crowd
Location: Aichi Prefecture, Japan
Program: Chubu University, Kasugai, Japan, Institute for the Intl. Education of Students, Fall 2004
Description: While in Japan, I found the huge crowds of people to be one of the most fascinating attractions. There is a clear uniformity in the population which makes a foreigner like me stand out quite a bit. And yet, at the same time, there is so much diversity in any given crowd. This picture of a crowd stretching into the distance was taken during a festival in Kasugai City, in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. It shows individuals going in different directions, interested in different things, with very different background and needs.

Name: Randy Luo
Title: Three Gorges
Location: Three Gorges of Yangtze River, Hubei Province, China
Program: Peking University, Beijing, China, CIEE, Fall 2004
Description: During Chinaís National Holiday (October 1st), the university I was studying at, Peking University, gave us a ten day break. My friends and I embarked on a trip to the Three Gorges which is currently being flooded for a giant dam project. We rode a train from Beijing to Yi Chang in Hubei Province, and went up river on the Chang Jiang (the second longest river in the world behind the Nile). We paid for soft sleepers on the train, and second class on the boat, but got instead hard sleepers and third class. Having to sleep in a room without air conditioning and a mattress made of wood and some foam made me feel as if this trip was going to be a disaster. However, as I woke up the next morning, I looked out our window and I knew that moment in time would be engrained in my mind forever. The view was something that youíd see in a Monet, not something that I would ever get to witness. I hurried up on deckÖ the air was so fresh! I pointed my camera toward the back of the ship, and took this picture. Itís said that a picture is worth a thousand words, but I donít think 1000 words is enough to capture all the memories that Iíll treasure forever.

Name: Angela Wise
Title: Seventeen Arch Bridge at Sunset
Location: Beijing, China
Program: Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Rice U. Exchange Program, Fall 2004
Description: When at the Summer Palace in Beijing most people donít have time to linger around the grounds or stroll around the huge manmade lake in the Palaceís backyard. This is a shame because the grounds are absolutely beautiful, especially at sunset. The lake itself was where the Emperor (sitting on a boat made entirely of marble) would watch his navy duke it out for his enjoyment. Now, the lake doesnít do too much but the Seventeen Arch Bridge connects the tree lined path around the lake with an island in the middle. The island itself contains mostly religious artifacts, and offers a spectacular view of the Summer Palace itself.

Name: Jo Kent
Title: Float On
Location: Yangshuo, China
Program: Peking University, Beijing, China, CIEE, Fall 2004
Description: Yangshuo, one of the best kept secrets in southern China, is slowly becoming famous for its astonishing beauty. On both sides of this river, magical peaks and lush bamboo trees reflect on the water, creating beautiful mountain and water murals. Rafts are a popular mode of transportation and all of them are handmade. This photo was taken as my friends and I floated down this river for over three hours, as two local rafters pushed us along. We learned some of the local dialect, a few jokes and folk songs along the way.

Name: Benjamin Smith
Title: The Bridge to Heaven
Location: Gifu Prefecture, Japan
Program: Chubu University, Kasugai, Japan, Institute for the Intl. Education of Students, Fall 2004
Description: This picturesque bridge over a carp pond was found in the middle of a Zen compound in Gifu Prefecture, somewhere near Nagoya. According to my host-mother, the left side of the bridge represents ìEarth,î and the right side is an island representing ìHeaven.î Parents often bring their young children to the temple to pray for health and prosperity.

Name: Kristi Sikes
Title: City Oíclock
Location: Paris, France
Program: DIS, Copenhagen, Denmark, Denmark International Study Abroad Program, Fall 2004
Description: I took this photo from inside the Musee díOrsay in Paris after admiring Picasso, Rembrandt, and Van Gogh. One window had a huge clock on the outside of it to tell the time for Paris, and I took the photo looking out, through the clock, across the River Seine. Time is such a constant reminder in everything we do.

Name: Adam Larson
Title: Phobia Fan
Location: Accra, Ghana
Program: University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana, University Studies Abroad Consortium, Fall 2003
Description: This is from a match in Accra, Ghanaís main stadium. It was between two competing Kinapharma Premier League professional soccer teams from Accra- Olympics and Hearts of Oak, or ìPhobia.î This young man is clearly a fan of the latter, as was I, with his bright red, yellow, and blue cloth held high with pride. Phobia had been the seven time league champions going into the season, but they didnít quite make it to eight, falling to second place behind their rivals Asante Kotoko from Kumasi, but Phobia did win this game handily.

Name: Adam Parsons
Title: Heavy Load
Location: Eastern Hungary
Program: Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Budapest, Hungary, Fall 2004
Description: I met this old man while biking between two small towns in eastern Hungary. He was walking along the road carrying what appeared to be a very heavy bag. I donít know where he was going or what he was carrying, but when I pointed to my camera to ask if I could take his picture he made a smoking gesture. Having no cigarettes, I gave him 50 cents. He was ecstatic and smiled wide for me. I hope he used the money for food.