Want to get away from it all? We mean, really get far, far away? Check out Uni alum Ethan Stone's solution to the gap year dilemma. It involves the Rotary Youth Exchange and plenty of curiosity and initiative. Just the thing for Uni students looking for something different after graduation!

This summer, junior Eleni Yannelis, English teacher Adele Suslick, and French teacher John Garvey participated in the European Union's summer study trip on governance and economy in France and Belgium. The tour was organized by the EU Center and was funded by the European Commission. Check out Eleni's firsthand account of the trip.

Nancy Tang is back from her year abroad in Shanghai, China, and eager to talk about her time in one of the world's largest cities. "In every sense, Shanghai is a city at the crossroads," she writes. "The cultural capital of China is where old meets new and East meets West, all blending into a bustling, cosmopolitan city."

Nancy Tang could have been president of the sophomore class during the 2008-09 school year. After all, she had already won the election. But she wound up spending the year living in China's largest city, Shanghai, a municipality of more than 18 million people. Now she's back, and Kahlilah Cooke has the story of her experience abroad.

The start of the 2009-10 school year saw the return of several Uni students who spent last year abroad. In this article, Eunjung Kim, Nancy Tang, and Erika Belmont talk to sophomores Elena Bauer and Sarah Yockey along with senior Nick Zukoski, who tell us about their experiences in Germany, Lithuania, and Singapore, respectively. Look for separate coverage of Nancy's own year in China.

Last year, Elizabeth Allen overheard Ethan Schiller excitedly mention a scholarship program he was applying to, which would send him on a three-week trip to Germany. So she was not surprised when, a few months later, she found herself scrolling through hundreds of Facebook pictures of Schiller in Germany.

Not many Uni students can say that they were detained by Moroccan soldiers and police this summer — in fact, there's only one. Senior Loic Hostetter and his roommate were taken into custody after one of them took a snapshot of a stop sign near a military base. But all ended well, and Loic now looks back fondly on his five weeks in Morocco.

This summer, a group of Uni students led by history teacher Chris Butler headed off to the beautiful mainland and islands of Greece for a two-week trip. They explored archaeological sites and the gorgeous islands, getting a full immersion of Greek history and culture. Check out their pictures, Animoto style!

So much to see in Rome, so little time. When 12 Uni Latin students and their chaperones spent spring break in Italy, they hit as many of the must-see spots in the capital city as possible. In the conclusion of her series, Katherine Allen talks about the group's final day in Rome, and how she and chaperone Krisanna Zusman unexpectedly had to stay an extra two days in Italy. Why? Look inside to find out.

So much to see in Rome, so little time. When 12 Uni Latin students and their chaperones spent spring break in Italy, they hit as many of the must-see spots in the capital city as possible. In Part 5 of her series, Katherine Allen talks about the group's experiences in the ruins in the ancient Roman town of Herculaneum and along the winding Amalfi coast into the quiet resort town of Positano.

So much to see in Rome, so little time. When 12 Uni Latin students and their chaperones spent spring break in Italy, they hit as many of the must-see spots in the capital city as possible. In Part 4 of her series, Katherine Allen recounts the group's walking tour through old Rome, with highlights such as the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, and Pantheon.

During spring break, a group of 12 Uni Latin students and three chaperones headed off to Italy, and junior Katherine Allen made sure to keep a diary of the trip. In Part 3 of her series, she talks about visiting the Capitoline Museums and Vatican City, including some of the world's most famous artworks, the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica.

Every year, two or three students leave town as their parents go on sabbatical. Their travels can take them as far as Japan and Spain or as close to home as California. But no matter where they go, they're forced to adjust to a new way of life. Katherine Allen takes a look at sabbaticals and what it's like to be away from your comfort zone.