By Caroline Mancini
The Spring 2026 Global Correspondents are here to share their journeys abroad! Global Correspondents are students who are studying abroad this semester, sharing snippets of their experiences with all of us. Get ready for takeovers of the study abroad Instagram and an article published by each student in the Wes and the World newsletter throughout the semester.
Introductions written by each Global Correspondent are below. Read to learn more about where they are and what they’re up to!
Bre Jordan
Class of ’27
Moin Moin, Guten Tag, and Hi everyone!
My name is Bre, and I’m a junior with a University Major in Data & Communication. I’m also the co-president of the Linguistics Club and a writing tutor. I just arrived in Hamburg, Germany, a stunning northern city (which did not invent the hamburger, sadly, but did provide a home to the Beetles before they were a worldwide hit!). I’m so excited to share my early adventures as I navigate this exciting new port city and venture outside the U.S. for the first time. As a Caribbean American, I’m especially eager to explore Hamburg’s diverse communities. And, of course, indulge in the local seafood, farmer’s markets, and chocolate. After Easter, I’ll be starting classes at the Universität Hamburg.
Marthal Aderibigbe
Class of ’27
Hi!! My name is Marthal (she/her). I am a junior majoring in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry with a minor in the College of East Asian Studies. I am currently studying at Seoul National University (SNU) in South Korea. I started my exchange program around mid-February and will be in Korea until June. At SNU, I will be taking a Korean Language Class, Introduction to Korean Musical Culture, Modern Korean Fiction, and Exercise Nutrition. I am so excited to learn more about Korea, Korean culture, and the language. I am so excited to be in Korea, and I look forward to sharing my experiences with everyone!
Lisa Lu
Class of ’27
Hi! I’m Lisa (she/her), a junior double-majoring in Art and Psychology with a minor in East Asian Studies. I was born in China and moved to New Jersey when I was eight. This semester, I’m studying abroad at Doshisha University in Kyoto through the Kyoto Consortium of Japanese Studies. Every morning, I have two hours of Japanese class, and I’m also taking electives on Japanese media and Kyoto artisans. One of the most meaningful parts of the program is the Community Involvement Project. I volunteer at an elderly care center where I teach short English lessons and lead art activities with the residents. Outside of class, I’ve been exploring different parts of Kyoto and visiting nearby cities like Osaka and Hiroshima. I’m really excited for the rest of the semester and looking forward to sharing more about my experiences here!
Roxana Ayala
Class of ’27
¡Hola! Bix a beel? My name is Roxana (she/they), and I’m a junior double-majoring in Psychology and Latin American Studies. I’ve been in the beautiful city of Mérida, Yucatán, México, since the beginning of January with the IFSA Mérida Universities Program. I take classes at two different universities here, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán and Universidad Modelo, which both provide very different experiences compared to Wes. So far, my time here has been nothing short of unbelievable. And very, very hot. I am so excited to be able to share it with you all!