Beyond Friendly

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Welcome to Beyond Friendly, a place where Guilford College students write about their study abroad experiences! Are you a current student or alum who has recently studied abroad? Become a Beyond Friendly blogger! Contact the Office of Communications and Marketing to learn more.

Castle Life

Most Recent Post

What's it like to live and learn in a castle? (The same castle, by the way, where Harry Potter and friends learned their magic.) Find out from H'Neamy Mlo '23, Public Health major and East Asian Studies minor, who recently studied abroad in Scotland.

H'neamy Mlo '23 holds an owl over a gloved hand during a study-abroad trip to Scotland.

More Than a Tourist's Haven

Featured Post

International Studies and Community and Justice Studies double major Drew Erickson '24 writes about falling in love with Costa Rica's history and culture.

Drew Erickson stands on a red suspension bridge, surrounded by trees, wearing long blue pants, a cropped tank top, a shirt around the waist, and sandals.
Delaney Nightingale '23 poses in front of Roman ruins in Italy.
That International Sports Life

Delaney Nightingale '23 of Lisbon, New Hampshire, a Sport Management major and Business minor, writes about her experience traveling through Italy and Greece in spring 2022 with Guilford's Sport Studies Department.

Maddie Smiley stands on a bridge in front of a lake wearing a short sleeve shirt and sunglasses.
Finding a Passion for Travel

Maddie Smiley '23 an Early College Student at Guilford, writes about her experience in Germany — including mountain climbing! — in spring 2022.

Sondria Lacewell (left) wearing a traditional blue dress, stands with two people in Korea, one wearing a green dress and one wearing a purple dress.
A New Home in Korea

Sondria Lacewell '23, a Sport Management major, shares about visiting Seoul, South Korea, her first time traveling outside of the United States.

Hunter smiles in front of the Colosseum in Rome, Italy.
Rome-ing Around the World

Sport Management major Hunter Neal '22, Presidential Fellow and student in the new Master of International Sport Management program, had the experience of a lifetime roaming around Italy and Greece this summer during his study abroad trip to Europe.

Guilford College student Sonya Brunk '21 stands by the ocean in New Zealand.
Down Under in New Zealand

Environmental Studies and Biology double major Sonya Brunk ’21 had the experience of a lifetime studying Ecology and Environmental Policy in Whakatiwai, New Zealand.

Photo of Chelsea Sosa '21 standing in Japan looking at cherry trees.
Journeying Through Japan

Sociology and East Asian Studies double major Chelsea Sosa ’21 spent her spring semester on her dream trip, taking in the sites, building friendships, and absorbing Japan’s vibrant culture.

Amber Dumont poses for a photo in front of a fountain in Spain.
This Pilgrim’s Purpose

On her journey to enlightenment, Honors student and Criminal Justice and English and Media Studies double major Amber Dumont ’22 overcame fear and exhaustion on the days-long walk to Santiago de Compostela.

Guilford student Khassir Atchabao '20 looks over the city of Senegal in the evening.
Swept Away by Senegal

French major Khassir Atchabao '20 shares how he was swept away by the beauty and hospitality of Senegal and how his experience shaped his understanding of the world today.

Guilford students including Jameson Lynch take a photo and show off their big smiles while in Munich.
Grüße aus Bayern!

Jameson Lynch '20 found his second home while studying abroad in Germany. He shares his experience as a teaching assistant on his second trip to Munich.

Savannah Henry poses for a photo in Spain.
Witnessing History in the Making

Savannah Henry '22 witnessed historical political activities during her semester in Barcelona, Spain. She shares how these events impacted her time abroad, as well as her outlook on the world.

Guilford student Quinn Candelaria smiles in a photo with a fellow Guilfordidan.
When I said, "Auf Wiedersehen, Deutschland!" I meant it

Quinn Candelaria '20 credits Guilford's study abroad program in Munich with molding him into an international citizen. He shares how this fulfilling and authentic experience has changed his life — and given him a new home.

Student Anna Honer pets a dog in this photo.
A Dream Come True in India

Anna Honer '21 shares her life changing experience working with the Comprehensive Rural Health Project in Jamkhed, India as part of a new Guilford Edge study abroad program.

Samantha Brooks poses for a photo during her trip.
Environmental Stewardship

Samantha Brooks ’19 interned at the Greensboro Science Center and gained valuable participatory knowledge about local community environmental projects.

Guilford College student Xinxin Zhou travels to Taiwan on study abroad.
Taiwan Travels

Hello, my name is Xinxin Zhou '20, an international student from China and double major in Political Science and East Asian Studies, joined a CIEE study abroad program and went to National ChengChi University in Taipei, Taiwan.

Student Mallory Cerkleski and a friend hold goats in this photo from their study abroad trip.
Global Food Connections [Q&A]

Sustainable Food Systems and Political Science double major, Mallory Cerkleski ’20, traveled to not just one country for her semester abroad, but three! Here, Mallory reflects on her study abroad semester, Rethinking Food Security, in a Q&A with Katie Claggett ’19.

Students including Shea Orth-Moore share a meal during their study abroad trip.
Learning in Each Moment

My name is Shea Orth-Moore and I had the most incredible opportunity to study abroad (for a second time), in Mexico. I had the most transformative and intellectually stimulating experience of my life while studying with the Autonomous University for Social Movements, also known as the Mexican Solidarity Network, all over Mexico. 

Student Robert Neff-Taylor stands on top of a mountain in Colombia.
'En Barranquilla Me Quedo!'

iHola amigos! My name is Robert Neff-Taylor, and I’m a 4th year at Guilford College majoring in Criminal Justice and Political Science with a minor in Psychology. Barranquilla is an old industrial city on the northern coast of Colombia, right where the Magdalena river exits into the Caribbean sea. 

Student Mikayla Jones poses for a portrait with a large golden bear in Seoul, South Korea.
Finding a Seoulmate

My name is Mikayla Jones, and there are no words that will ever be worthy enough to describe the impact Korea has made on my life. The summer of 2018 changed how I view the world. During those eight weeks, I was able to see, hear and eat things I could only dream about. For the first time in my life, everything I have ever been interested in was in one location. 

Student Gillian Sherman stands with friends behind a fence in Seville, Spain.
Sweet Seville

Hola! My name is Gillian Sherman and I am a senior here at Guilford majoring in English and Media Studies. Last semester in Spring 2018, I had the amazing opportunity to study abroad in Seville, Spain (or Sevilla in Spanish) which turned out to be one of the most fulfilling and joyful experiences of my life. 

Guilford College student Austin Bryla studies abroad in Africa.
In Awe of Africa, Akwaaba!

This marked my second study abroad experience following the 2016 Sienna program, which provided necessary cross-cultural and self-learning, (cultural shock included) that factored my decision to study in Africa.