Receiving the travel award heavily impacted my decision to go on the trip. Without the award, it would have been a much greater financial burden that I wasn’t sure I could commit to, so I was incredibly grateful for the opportunity it brought me! The award helped pay for a significant portion of the program fee and my flight expenses, and because of it, I was able to fully focus on immersing myself in the trip.

During our time in Ecuador at the Regeneration Field Institute’s facility, we learned a ton about bamboo from lectures and workshops given by local architects and craftsmen. By the end of our time there, we had built an elevated one-room bamboo structure on the farm that would go on to serve as a nature observation/meditation space. Starting the program with little-to-no experience designing and building with bamboo and ending it seeing this structure we created was so rewarding! One of my favorite aspects of the trip was how immersive and hands-on the education was. Not only did we learn so much about bamboo, but we were surrounded by acres of it growing alongside countless other tropical plants and animals. I also loved the opportunities we had to hike through tropical forests and get face to face with some breathtaking nature; during one hike, we saw a family of howler monkeys!

I see the travel award significantly impacting future VTID students by opening doors that may have otherwise been closed due to financial burdens. My study abroad experience gave me a perspective I would never have gained anywhere else, and the travel award can help give other students the same thing. I would advise any student who finds a program that interests them to pursue it enthusiastically and once they’re in it, to really immerse themselves in the opportunities it brings.

Part of my travels were supported by the IDAB Travel Award and I am extremely grateful to have been awarded the funds to help provide such an incredible opportunity for my design career and personal experience. Truthfully, it was an immense relief and honor to receive that additional funding. The Travel Award covered the cost of my flight (they get very pricey!) and a portion of my dining expenses while I was abroad.

Going into the trip I knew I wanted to find a design topic I was passionate about and I was looking to improve my sketching and observational skills- which thankfully I did! I eventually narrowed down my topic to researching water features and fixtures throughout the cities and towns we traveled through, and I was able to present my research findings and documentation upon our return during the Fall 2023 semester.

This opportunity to observe and interact with design internationally, while being surrounded by equally eager-to-learn design students was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We saw first-hand how cultural differences can influence and impact the design of the surrounding built environment. Having the chance to see the world and design through a different lens is something I am now able to take with me as I begin my professional career after graduation in May.

The Travel Award is a great opportunity to give back to the students who will become our future designers. In facilitating international experiences for them, IDAB and donors are investing in making those trips much easier to manage and simply more possible for students who are looking to learn and expand their design and global knowledge and experiences.