CIEE is a high school study abroad program that partners with Shorewood High School. This summer, SHS students spent several weeks abroad, learning about various fields of study and cultures. 

Hazel Schmitt (Portugal)

Hazel Schmitt, junior, went to Lisbon, Portugal for three weeks through CIEE. Through classes with marine biologists, field work, and off-campus excursions, Schmitt studied sustainability, marine ecosystems, and the animals within them. 

“I learned about tide pools and how the different ecosystems of the water work,” Schmitt said. “We even did a fish dissection.”

Additionally, Schmitt had the opportunity to meet people from different places and make new friends.

“I had no idea I was going to forge such deep connections,” Schmitt said. “In the beginning, I was like ‘three weeks?’ It sounded like a short amount of time, but you’re with these people all day everyday.”

This specific program stuck out to Schmitt because it let her explore her passion for protecting fauna. She was also able to gain experience and see what it’s like to work in ecology.

“I want to go into wildlife conservation or something to do with that when I’m older and I saw that a lot of the time in the program we work with animals,” Schmitt said.

Being in a different environment strengthened Schmitt’s self-awareness, causing her to reflect and discover new things about who she is. 

“I learned a lot about myself,” Schmitt said. “like how I interact with people and how I make friends outside of this small town where everybody knows everybody.”

After Schmitt finished her program, she applied to be a global ambassador for the program. As an ambassador, she has more chances to represent CIEE at school and network with other CIEE alumni.

“I might get to meet up with all the other global ambassadors across Wisconsin and also Minnesota,” said Schmitt, “It’s a really cool opportunity.”

Jacoby Vanderloop (Japan)

Jacoby Vanderloop, senior, spent three weeks in Kyoto, Japan. While he was there, he learned about engineering and video game design in a city considered the gaming capital of the world.

“Throughout the course of the class, we made a mock version of a video game,” Vanderloop said. “I learned the program of godot, which was the video game engine that we used.”

The program included many cultural activities and excursions, teaching Vanderloop about Japanese history and traditions.

“We did some awesome stuff,” Vanderloop said. “One day we went to the Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto. Another day we created these colored towels, which was interesting.”

 Students in his program were given a lot of freedom and flexibility, so Vanderloop was able to explore the city on his own terms.

“I also learned how to get around independently, because we had to be on our own for the most part,” Vanderloop said.

Due to the independence students were given during the trip to roam around, Vanderloop picked up a few tidbits of Japanese culture.

“[The culture] is a lot more polite, you walk on the left side of the street instead of the right typically,” Vanderloop said. “The food is delicious. You can go anywhere there and get really good food, and it’s also clean everywhere.”

Vanderloop said he gained valuable experience from the trip and that he found it enjoyable.

“I made some good friends that I’m still in contact with,” Vanderloop said. “It was a fun three weeks where I got to experience life in a different country.” 

Olwyn Cardew (Czechia)

Olwyn Cardew, senior, spent three weeks doing an art program in Prague, Czechia. The program allowed students to create many different kinds of art.

“Most days we went to an art atelier, and we had classes from different teachers,” Cardew said. “We did comic classes. We did a lot of ceramics and pottery, and then we did drawing and portraiture at the end. I made so many different things, and I brought back a lot of different art. I made a diary in collage.”

The program also gave the participants an opportunity to learn the language and culture of the Czech Republic. 

“We had to learn a bit of Czech when we were there,” Cardew said.” We had classes each week, mainly for an hour and a half each. We had to order in Czech towards the end.”

Another aspect of this experience includes meeting new people from all over the United States. This allows participants to build connections throughout the trip.

“I was scared before I went that I wouldn’t be able to meet people,” Cardew said. “However, it was really easy, because everyone wanted to meet each other. They didn’t know anyone there either. I met a lot of great people.” 

Additionally, room and board were included in the CIEE program. Students were given the opportunity to stay in dorms along with their peers. 

“I lived with another roommate,” Cardew said. “I shared a bathroom with three other girls. There was a shared kitchen for each floor, and they had a lot of food and stuff that we could eat and make in the morning.”

Ultimately, Cardew says she would visit the Czech Republic again. 

“I think Prague is really cool,” Cardew said. “The area I stayed in was a very artsy area, and I thought it was really great there. My program was really great. Everyone there was amazing. The teachers were really helpful. The art that we did was really fun to do.”