Athenas Scattered Across the Globe

Every year, CMS Volleyball recruits athletes who are capable of playing at the Division I and Division II level, but who are also anxious to experience everything college has to offer. Among many other things, one of those experiences students look forward to, is the opportunity to study abroad in a foreign country. Most Division I and II volleyball schedules include an extensive Spring season, making it impossible to study abroad. At the Claremont Colleges and in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC), the spring volleyball season is a non-traditional one in which team practice is allowed 3 days each week for a 5 week period. These practices are scheduled to accommodate the students' schedules and no competition dates are allowed. At CMS, we have decided that the experiences afforded by the study abroad experience outweigh the benefit of 15 practices, and we have encouraged those student-athletes interested in studying off campus to do so, while making an active commitment to stay fit and come back in the Fall ready to go. Nearly 80% of our junior class over the last 5 years has studied outside the United States. In 2007, we had one student in Prague, Czech Republic, one in Strasbourg, France, one in Galway, Ireland and another in Cork, Ireland. Here are some of their comments!

Lizzie Balch, CMC ‘08, Neuroscience major: Last semester I studied abroad in Prague, Czech Republic.  I had an amazing time and really loved living in the city and getting to see a totally different kind of culture.  I got to travel all over the Czech Republic, touring the Moravian wine region and getting to see the original Carlsbad.  I also got to cover a lot of eastern and central Europe.  My favorite trip I took had to be my spring break trip when I got to go to Ireland to visit Lindsay and Alicia for St. Patty's day!  Prague is the most beautiful place I have ever been and I can't wait to go back!!

Alicia Freeman, CMC '08, Government/Leadership major: I studied abroad in the south of Ireland in a grand city called Cork.  It was amazing because I lived right in the City Centre (downtown) of this beautiful city and I got to do a lot of traveling around the small Irish villages (and pubs) of the south.  I also joined the volleyball club there and got to meet lots of Irish students as well other international students from all over Europe! We went to a tournament in Galway and though we ended up losing in the semi-finals, it was great craic.  I also got to do a lot of traveling with fellow captain, Lindsay Hull.  This Athenas pair hit London, Paris, and Rome together and we saw lots of cool, old stuff.  We also met up with fellow Athenas Lizzie Balch and Collette Hooper for a real Irish St. Patrick's Day. It was a great semester but it's great to be back on campus with the team preparing to dominate SCIAC!

Lindsay Hull, CMC '08, Literature/Government major: I spent my spring semester abroad studying at the National University of Ireland in Galway. Galway sits right on the west coast of Ireland.  It was absolutely beautiful, but it took me some time to adjust to the cold, rainy and windy climate. I spent a lot of time traveling around Ireland and the rest of Europe, making stops in England, Scotland, France and Italy, many with my teammate Alicia. I lived in a house with three Irish boys and two other American students. It got pretty crazy sometimes, but we all got along well. I'd love to go back someday and have a pint at the pub with all my Irish friends. Slainte!  

Collette Hooper, CMC '08, Economics/Accounting major: I studied abroad in Strasbourg, France and lived with the most amazing host family.  My French family made sure I was always speaking the language, learning about the city and region  around us, and attending as many local events as possible, including election parties during their presidential elections, sporting events, and local traditions.  The traveling and site seeing I did was also a great aspect of my semester abroad, however, having a new family in France and spending time with them at their country home on their vineyard was the best part of my time abroad.  I can't wait to go back and see them over Christmas break.