Rose-Hulman students are taking their college experiences to Japan, Sweden, Turkey, and Germany for enriching global adventures that will enhance their career horizons.

   Partnerships with international universities have long benefitted students. This year has been no different, and many have taken advantage of opportunities to participate in a variety of educational and cultural activities overseas.

   Donna Marsh, Kelly Macshane, and Dylan Kessler spent three months this spring at Japan's University of Aizu as part of an exchange program between the two leading engineering and science institutions.

   Kessler, a sophomore who is majoring in software engineering, attended classes in computer science, while making the time to learn about his Japanese classmates. "I have always been interested in Japanese culture," he states in a recent

e-mail. "When I was first looking at (attending) Rose-Hulman, I spoke at

length with Dr. (Cary) Laxer (head of the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering) about study abroad opportunities. He told me about his time on a sabbatical at Aizu. When the opportunity came around to apply for the program, I jumped at the chance."
   Chris Taylor became interested in travel early in his college career, and, as a freshman last year, jumped at the chance to go to Japan this winter. He completed courses in Japanese culture and geography, and served as the master of ceremonies for a student group's presentation on the mapping translation project at Japan's Ishikawa Prefectural University. A total of 20 students participated in the trip, led by Scott Clark, professor of anthropology, and Mike Kukral, associate professor of geography.

   "It's a very positive atmosphere,"

says Taylor, a sophomore mechanical engineering major. "The best way to learn a language is to just immerse in it. Basically, we got over there and we were talking with the Japanese students. I got a piece of paper out and started writing down the phrases I knew we'd use most."
   In less than two weeks, Taylor tripled his vocabulary, and now is proficient with using chopsticks.

   Sophomore mechanical engineering major LeKisha Bradley will spend the next school year in Germany through the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals. She will attend a two-month intensive German language course, study at a German university or professional school for four months, and complete a five-month internship with a German company in her career field.

   "I'm looking forward to experiencing life in other parts of the world and seeing how people live, work, and play," she says.