Expanding Points of View

Expanding Points of View

Holy Cross Students Discover the World

Whether hiking three days into the Andes Mountains to see Machu Picchu, exploring a slave castle in Ghana, or riding elephants in India, the International Experience, in which each Holy Cross College student participates in their junior or senior year, leaves them with memories for a lifetime. As you’ll come to understand by these firsthand accounts, this is not your typical college vacation abroad.  The International Experience is a working adventure where students are asked to see and do what the Brothers of Holy Cross see and do each day in their ministries. Holy Cross students learn about the ecology and the past, current, and political histories of the countries they visit.  They see the challenges of poverty and illness faced by the population. They also discover the joy, responsibilities, needs, and aspirations of individual citizens whom they get to know and befriend.

My trip to Ghana was one of the most important experiences of my time at Holy Cross. It was there that I was able to take what I had learned in the classroom and apply it to real world experiences. For example, we spent a day at an orphanage in Ghana meeting the children who lived there. We worked with them to help them learn their numbers and learn the alphabet.  One of the things that struck me was that many of the kids weren’t even orphans, they were third or fourth children from families that couldn’t afford to feed or clothe them. As I walked around the facility, I remember seeing a 10 pound sack of rice leaning against one of the group homes.  The burlap was stamped “US Aid.” I knew that without that sack, many of these children wouldn’t get a meal.  Later, when I worked in Washington, DC for Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN), the memory of that bag of rice gave votes on foreign aid more meaning than they may have had otherwise. Going to Ghana taught me how to relate to other cultures in an engaged, compassionate, and open manner.

—Jared Sawyer ‘08

My trip to Ghana was the most amazing experience of my life. From being in the rainforest, feeling like you were on top of the world to painting desks for less fortunate kids in an orphanage school, everything was great. The brothers really went out of their way to make sure that our experience there was worthwhile and meaningful.

—Steven Henderson ‘08

My international experience to Ghana is something I will always carry with me.  Through the witness of faith and hospitality of the Ghanaian people, I saw the fruits of what a life centered in faith can reap—true joy.  I learned so much about myself during those three weeks. I also conquered my fear of heights, and a developed deeper friendships with my peers and new friendships with the Holy Cross Brothers and others we encountered on our journey.

—Ellen Ludwig ‘08

My  trip to India was literally life changing. It brought many of the issues on television and that we talk about in class to a firsthand experience. Hearing about issues such as poverty and seeing them for myself is completely different. After I came back to the United States I have a different perspective on many of the things that we take for granted that others never even think about. India was a trip full of memories and values that will remain with me.

—John Mark Curtis ‘09

Three days hiking in the Andes was not an easy feat. Even some of the most experienced hikers had difficulty with this trek. At 15,000 feet above sea level, breathing was a hard task. When the elevation wasn´t taking our breath away, the views were. Snow capped mountains, llamas, alpacas, and so much more surrounded us. The only way to truly explain how beautiful the sites were are to see the pictures we took. In a way, this was a trip of firsts for many of us: first time hiking, first time camping, first time without a "real" bathroom, and my first time riding a horse. Although it was extremely challenging, the end result (Machu Picchu) was incredible. It´s hard to believe that it is still standing after hundreds of years.

—Chris Castagnetti’08