In 2019, The University of Texas at Austin sent more than 4,400 Longhorns around the world and brought over 8,000 international students and scholars to the Forty Acres, ranking the university at No. 3 in the country for study abroad participation and one of the top global universities in the world. Texas Global is proud to play a central role in developing a more connected university, bringing together scholars and students from more than 100 countries. Although it’s impossible to quantify all the ways international education enriches our campus, the following 12 extraordinary photos taken by Longhorns around the world highlight invaluable international experiences and represent UT’s vibrant global community.
After reviewing hundreds of photo submissions from international students, scholars and Longhorns who have studied, researched or interned abroad, we selected these stunning scenes to represent the impact of international experience in the 2020 Texas Global calendar. These images simultaneously capture the ordinary details and the unique qualities of places across the world. It’s the experience of that duality that makes international education so valuable, when zooming in broadens your perspective.
ZHANGYE, CHINA
“The photo was taken at Zhangye Danxia National Geopark on a trip with my mother. Besides the drastically colorful mountains, we saw endless grasslands with flocks of cattle and sheep, as well as extremely beautiful historic sites of the Silk Road. I’ll cherish this memory forever.” —Yiran Su, Electrical And Computer Engineering Master’s Candidate From Zaozhuang, China
PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC
“From my experience of studying abroad in the U.S., I have learned to never underestimate the beauty of Europe. To have so much cultural diversity, architectural grandeur and historical significance condensed over such a small space is a blessing to have on your doorstep.” — Emer Brennan, Neuroscience Junior From Ardee, Ireland
BARCELONA, SPAIN
“When Antoni Gaudí gave shape to the Casa Milà in Barcelona, the neighbors mockingly called it ‘La Pedrera’ or ‘The Stone Query,’ due to its unconventional structure and design. A hundred years later, the building is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and attracts visitors from all over the world. This reminds us not to dismiss or ridicule unconventional ideas too quickly, as they may be pioneers in the making.” — Nilavra Bhattacharya, Information Studies Doctoral Candidate From Kolkata, India
MARINA BAY, SINGAPORE
“During my eight-week summer internship in Bangkok, Thailand, I had the opportunity to explore so many beautiful places during my free time. I took a weekend trip to Singapore and was fascinated by the extravagance and beauty of the city-state. This snapshot captures the vibrance of Singapore at night.”— Adiba Oiyshi, B.S. ’19 Biochemistry From Dallas, Texas
ANTIGUA, GUATEMALA
“I would pass by the Tanque La Union Park every day on my way to UT Austin’s Casa Herrera and back home to my homestay. Set against a picturesque backdrop of Volcán de Fuego, women come to wash their clothes, mingle and gossip at the pilas (wash basins). It showed me a slice of how life was, and for some, how life still is.” — Monika Husodo, Architecture/Interior Design Senior From Jakarta, Indonesia
MACHU PICCHU, PERU
“When I travel, my main interest is to understand places not with a tourist’s lens, but through an historical and cultural lens. In this picture, we see Machu Picchu, not from the angle we have seen so many times, but from the perspective of the people who used the mountains to live.” — León Guillermo Staines Díaz, Community And Regional Planning Doctoral Candidate From Monterrey, Mexico
CAPE COAST, GHANA
“Overall (and as cliché as it sounds) my time in Ghana has transformed my perspective on life. It made me realize that I’m in a larger equation of what’s happening in the world whether I like it or not, and I have a part to play in making the world a better place.” —Rebecca Chen, Advertising Senior, 2018 President’s Award For Global Learning Winner From Austin, Texas
SAHARA DESERT, MOROCCO
“Walking around the Sahara Desert in Morocco during the winter break, I noticed these two people coming close at the top of this dune. They made me think that there is love even at the world’s most remote places, like the Sahara Desert in Morocco.”— Ioakeim Ampatzoglou, Mathematics Doctoral Candidate From Athens, Greece
LAKE THUN, SWIZTERLAND
“Halfway through cruising over Lake Thun, I realized the scenery had gotten repetitive, breathtaking yet, nevertheless, predictable. Snowy mountains enveloping the turquoise waters on both sides, clouds floating alongside us. A sharp U-turn and a moment later, the fall colors came tearing through the blues, frozen in the past, untouched yet by winter. Looking at this view, one couldn’t help but feel like they were traveling back in time as well to better, simpler, happier times.”— Tessie Krishna, M.A. ’19 Economics From Hyderabad, India
BEIRUT, LEBANON
“I would walk past this corner almost every day as we moved around Beirut, to work or dinners or coffee shops. This was one of the many beautiful places that grew familiar throughout this summer, and I am so grateful for the people, spaces and experiences that welcomed us in Lebanon to make us feel at home.” — Edith Maria Muleiro, Plan II and Middle Eastern Languages And Cultures Senior, 2018 President’s Award For Global Learning Winner From New Haven, Connecticut
WANAKA, NEW ZEALAND
“As the sun set over the mountains, the sky lit up in pink and purple hues. It was in this moment that I gained a true appreciation for the natural beauty throughout this country. While this was one moment on a long list of surreal experiences, it was the perfect end to my adventures across the South Island. Solo traveling through a different country really amplified my sense of independence and gave me time to reflect on all of the important, life-changing lessons I was learning throughout my study abroad experience.” — Christian Roumelis, Hydrogeology Senior From San Antonio, Texas
PARO, BHUTAN
“Hiking to this beautiful monastery, Paro Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest Monastery), cliffed in between mountains, was a wonderful experience. Bhutan is the world’s only carbon negative country, and I was fascinated by the simplicity of life. The concept of Gross National Happiness as the guiding principle behind administration of the entire country is a lesson to be learned.”— Uma Bharathi Govindarajan, Electrical And Computer Engineering Master’s Candidate From Chennai, India