2020 Winner Selections
Students on international work terms in Fall 2019 & Winter 2020 shared their photos and stories of them discovering their global identity through their international experiences - whether it was through the beauty of the location they were at, the value of their global experience, or their resilience and transformation through chaos and crisis.
Winners of "Where in the World?!" Co-op Photo Contest
1st Place: Samantha Michelle Loaiza Alvarez, Biomedical Engineering, on her work term in France
Click on the photo to see the full quality image.
“France taught me most things are temporary, but some are lasting. This is a photo of myself in front of one the famous falaises d’Étretat; this one specifically is the Falaise d’Aval. I went with someone who supported me through the confinement away from home, and I remember he told me it was fascinating to think Claude Monet had once been standing in the same place, almost 150 years ago, painting something that had not changed in the slightest ever since. It was comforting to know that even when everything is changing and nothing can be predicted, something was steady.”
2nd Place: Daniel Kwon, Systems Design Engineering, on his work term in Norway
Click on the photo to see the full quality image.
“The Norweigan concept of “friluftsliv” roughly translates to “outdoor life” and is very clearly reflected in their culture. One of the most common pastimes in Norway is to hike, among other outdoors activities like cross-country skiing and cycling. As a result, with the recommendations of coworkers, I endeavoured to experience the culture and the picturesque scenery of Norway through hiking. This is a photo near one of the trailheads – the mountains surrounding the town of Reine in northern Norway.”
All Finalist Photo Contest Submissions
Toni Li, Management Engineering, on his work term in California, USA. - “An hour outside of Cupertino is the Big Basin Redwoods State Park which is one of the most breathtaking places I visited during my co-op term. Driving through the increasingly narrow and winding roads led to 360-degree views of the largest trees we had ever seen. The juxtaposition of the towering trees and peaceful silence of the forest was something that I will never forget. The serene feeling of being engulfed by the surrounding nature is something to remember. Photos don't really do these trees justice ... even my wide-angle lens couldn’t capture the full scale of the redwoods!”
Daivik Goel, Computer Engineering, on his work term in New York, USA - “This photo is of a pond in Central Park in New York City. In that moment I could not feel anything else than a moment of clarity. The constant rush and noise of the city seemingly shed behind for a calm moment of reflection and an unexplainable connection with the nature around me. I wanted to submit this photo as a reminder that even with everything we have going on, there is a time and place where we should just stand and observe the beauty all around us. It really helps keeps things in perspective.”
Mandy Coleman, Environmental Engineering, on her work term in Uganda - “Western Uganda is home to some of the only mountain gorillas left in the world. Their population has declined mostly due to deforestation and poaching for human consumption. I was given the opportunity to follow a group of gorillas in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The funds from this initiative go towards conservation and the rangers who track these amazing creatures. Viewing them on foot was a bit daunting, especially when the silver back, the dominant male of the group, walked just meters away from me. However, being so close you truly understand the strength and personalities of these beautiful animals.”
Mackenzie Collins, Biomedical Engineering, on her work term in France - “This photo depicts the highlight of my travels while in Europe before COVID cut them short. Here, I am paragliding the Alps with the town of Chamonix in under me and Mont Blanc ahead of me. Running off the side of the mountain took a lot of nerve, but it was undoubtedly worth it for this view. My guide taught me how to steer myself, told me about the scenery and even took me through some “wingovers” at the end. It was a lot of fun and an experience I will treasure for the rest of my life!”
Olivia Baldassare, Kinesiology, on her work term in Kenya - “This photo was taken the morning of my last day in Kenya before I had to be evacuated out due to COVID. I was working at a local running camp and woke up to this beautiful dewy flower. Behind it, you can see the hut where the whole team would gather to eat meals and play games. This team welcomed me like family and made me feel at home. I made lifelong friendships and I know that while that was my first trip to Africa, it definitely won’t be my last.”
Ion Buzdugan, Mechatronics Engineering, on his work term in California, USA - “The 1849 California Gold Rush (namesake of the San Francisco 49ers) prompted white prospectors and USA militia members to commit tragic crimes against the Native Miwok peoples. It was in part to protect the sacred land that in 1890 Yosemite National Park was established as a national park. Yosemite is an escape for Silicon Valley working professionals, serving as a place to step out of the man-made concrete landscape and reconnect with the granite faces carved by glaciers tens of thousands of years ago. It’s a special place where many UWaterloo students visit at least once in their Bay-Area experience and discover a passion for the great outdoors. For these reasons, I am submitting my picture of Yosemite’s fiery granite faces during a sunset as seen from Tunnel View.”
May Wang, Science and Business, on her work term in New York, USA - “This is a photo of the sunset over the Brooklyn Bridge with the NYC skyline in the background taken on the Manhattan Bridge. Everyday, I would go to a new spot to watch the sunset in NYC and this was by far the best spot I found. There aren’t nearly as many tourists on the Manhattan bridge, and by not being on the Brooklyn bridge, I was able to capture the iconic landmark in my photo.”
Tiffany Chui, Legal Studies, on her work term in Taiwan - “During my coop term, I had the opportunity to travel around Taiwan with my co-worker, and experience Taiwanese culture. We explored beautiful and surreal landscapes since there were many natural scenic destinations. This was a picture of the sunrise at Sun Moon Lake, one of the famous lakes located in Nantou County. Its name originated from how the east side of the lake resembles a sun and the west side resembles a moon. Many travelers would bike around the lake (about 30km) to view it from various vantage points. This was the most breathtaking sights amongst all the other stunning views of Taiwan. Every day was a unique and exciting journey for me with new places to discover and to anticipate for the next adventure!”
