SOUTH AFRICA
Women's lacrosse student-athletes Nikki Ortega, Jenn Casadonte, Samantha Giacolone and Samantha Lynch spent three weeks in South Africa through Notre Dame's study abroad program.
"One thing I will bring back with me to the US is a different perspective on how I view my own experiences. Our teacher said to us in the beginning of the trip 'don't expect anything.' And we really couldn't. We didn't have a daily schedule or itinerary; we just had to go with the flow. I honestly think it made the experience so much more enjoyable. I brought back the perspective 'Don't expect just experience' because it makes life so much more entertaining." --Samantha Giacolone
First Day in Cape Town! This photo was taken at Hout Bay, where we saw Seal Island and had the best fish & chips around.
"I felt fully engaged in the South African culture and am so grateful that Notre Dame gave me this opportunity, especially since I was able to share it with three of my teammates. To be able to go through this experience with Sam Lynch, Samantha Giacolone, and Jenn I feel even closer than before. We all went through long periods of no contact with the outside world, forcing us to really make the most of each other's company (bonfires and Jenga helped this). This trip not only showed me different sides of my teammates, but also gave me a different perspective on South Africa and on myself. Notre Dame has so many incredible study abroad programs, and I strongly encourage others to take full advantage of these trips, especially the South Africa trip, because it is something I will definitely never forget." --Nikki Ortega
"As an engineering student, most of my classes are very math and science heavy. Therefore, one thing I love about my Notre Dame education is that each student takes foundational courses in subjects such as theology, philosophy, and social sciences," Samantha Lynch said. "Having the opportunity to take a psychology class this summer (in South Africa nonetheless!) was a great way to continue my well-rounded ND education."
EUROPE
While several members of the team spent time in South Africa, women's lacrosse student-athlete Hannah Proctor traveled to Europe with another Notre Dame study abroad program. Proctor had the opportunity to visit London, Barcelona, the Cliffs of Dover, Amsterdam and Portugal. She also ventured to Berlin, Prague and Vienna later in the summer.
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Credits:
Created with images by Henning Supertramp - "View on Cape Town"