Rather than packing their bags to return home, six student and faculty groups spent spring break embarking on Learning in the World (LITW) trips, immersing themselves in new cultural environments. With destinations ranging from the Arctic to Puerto Rico, a diverse selection of programs was offered.
Established in 2014 by Spanish Instructor Carmen Muñoz-Fernández, LITW grants students the chance to learn about another culture’s customs, identities, and perspectives by engaging with the local environment. Dr. Mária Martinez, an instructor in the Spanish Department and co-leader of the Bomba: Afro-Puerto Rican Resilience program, described how the trip acquainted students with the living tradition of Puerto Rico, as well as the ongoing efforts to preserve it.
“Despite the tradition’s significance on the island, there is an ongoing struggle to keep it alive in various ways. They have developed a unique style of using this physical and rhythmic expression to foster community and resilience. Bomba dance encompasses a variety of steps, styles, and ways of connecting. We concluded our journey by participating in a festival at one of the oldest schools in Villa Palmeras, a historic neighborhood in Puerto Rico. There, students were warmly welcomed into the community’s batey, where they could express themselves, experience the power of the dance, and appreciate its cultural significance,” said Martinez.
For many students, LITW was an opportunity to attempt a skill or experience completely foreign to them. Maya Tomlinson ’28, who participated in the Arctic Adventure: Ski Finland program, detailed her experience of undertaking a new sport and how it caused her to gain an enriched personal outlook.
“I’m clearly not a marathon runner of any sort, and I’m not a nordic skier, either. I’ve never done that in my entire life. My goal was, generally, to finish the marathon because I thought I wouldn’t even last halfway through. I was thinking someone might have to pick me up and take me to the finish line. But I did [complete the marathon], and I did get faster than what I originally thought was possible. That’s a big accomplishment, I would say. I also learned a lot about Finnish culture, which I would have never known without this program. I’ve widened my cultural perspective, gained some new knowledge of the world, and successfully pushed myself to my physical limit,” said Tomlinson.
For others, LITW is a chance to meet people who share similar passions. Ethan Liu, who ’26 attended Performing in the World in London, recounted how connecting with local orchestras for performances alongside sightseeing tours made his experience more memorable.
“We wanted to represent American music throughout our performances. We had a collaboration with the community choir and community kid’s orchestra. That experience was really cool, seeing the joy and smiles of the little children playing the same piece as us. In the time that we weren’t rehearsing or performing, we were on vacation. We had a tour guide and we would go all around London, seeing all the sites like Big Ben, the Royal Palace, Stonehenge, and Oxford… It was a very collaborative setting, and that was really fun as well. I remember one of the kids in the London group was a pianist, and before the concert, we jammed out on the piano together,” said Liu.
Regardless of whether students seek to exhibit their music, learn a new skill, or educate themselves about the practices of another society, LITW encourages students to challenge themselves. Martinez described the growth many participants experience, as well as the importance of being tolerant to new ideas and discomfort.
“It changes how you see the world—not just how you view others, but also how you understand and treat yourself. You learn more about yourself when you’re placed in an uncomfortable situation. You might want something, but those desires may not always be met, and that’s okay. You don’t need to be a dancer, know about Puerto Rico, or speak Spanish. What matters is being open and willing to embrace new experiences. It’s about stepping into the unknown with an open heart and mind. Whether hiking through a rainforest or simply showing up with a water bottle and the right gear, it’s about being ready to dive in and dance. You don’t have to be an expert, but just be open to trying, letting go, and allowing your body to loosen up,” said Martinez.
Mark Cutler, the Director of the LITW Office, elaborated on the program’s changes and new destinations in the next few years.
“It’s hard to predict what changes will come, but if experience has taught us anything, the program will change…What I particularly want to see in terms of the experiences, is a broader diversity of experiences, around the world. Currently we have programs on five continents. I know that seven would be almost impossible to achieve with Antarctica being, of course, the outlier, but I could see us being on six continents. I also know that we have to get back more, in Asia and we’re trying to find more programming there,’ said Cutler.
He continued, “We have some exciting opportunities in places over the next couple of years. We’re looking at Vietnam, Bali, Nepal, and potentially Italy, but a different take on Italy. There is talk about Oceania, New Zealand, especially, and maybe Easter Island.”
