At the end of May 2024, SPO study abroad programs began their adventures thousands of miles away from Princeton's campus visiting South America, Europe and, for the second consecutive year, West Africa! Since their departure, through the magic of technology, SPO has been living vicariously through the amazing images and videos we received daily (and in real time) from the students and group leaders. In addition to academics, the programs expose students to a multitude of culturally significant events, locations and people.

From the metropolis of Buenos Aires to the northern province of Jujuy, Princeton in Argentina (PiA) reach new heights, literally, as they climbed to extraordinary altitudes to witness first-hand the red mountains of Tilcara, said to be one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements of Argentina dating back 10,000 years. Taking full advantage of their time in Argentina, some students ventured to the famous falls of Iguazú which, combined, make up the largest waterfall system in the world! Check out some of the photos from summer 2024.

Meanwhile across the pond, students on the Princeton in Spain (PiS) program traveled to Toledo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and historical city influenced by three distinct cultures (Christian, Muslim and Jewish) where they attended classes at the Fundación Jose Ortega y Gasset-Gregorio Maranon. The group traveled to the plains of La Mancha, which was immortalized by Miguel de Cervantes in 17th century novel, Don Quijote. Stunning

 monuments were visited, and many SPO statue challenges were completed with impressive results! One of the students on the program, Allie Ebanks ‘27, was featured on Princeton’s Instagram this summer. See why she chose Spain and how it helped her as a pre-med major.

Students on the Princeton in Portugal (PiP) program were close by for several weeks in Lisbon before taking off to the islands of Cape Verde in western Africa! As part of the academic program, faculty leaders conducted a scouting visit in January 2023 that allowed them to discover a world of enrichment beyond their wildest expectations. The 5-day excursion was approved and added to the PiP itinerary which ran for the second consecutive year this summer. During their time in Cape Verde, the group met talented local artists, intellectuals and everyday people, explored the capital, Praia, traveled around the island visiting important historical and cultural sites. Watch as faculty leader Andrea De Castro Melloni, takes part in a drum circle in 2023 with talented Cape Verdeans. The group also visited a concentration camp in Tarrafal, a former Portuguese colony off the western African coast, to which Portuguese and African political prisoners were sent by the Portuguese fascist regime ruled by António Oliveira Salazar during the longest dictatorship in western Europe. During the more 

than 30 years the camp operated, Tarrafal became known as the camp of the slow death. Award-winning Portuguese photographer João Pina came to Princeton in spring of 2024 to share “his reflections on the different and often divergent memories of Tarrafal”. Students on the Princeton in Portugal program got to share their own photos of the camp during their visit this past summer and an exhibit of the work of the previous cohort is still available for viewing in the Lower Hyphen of Chancellor Green right next to the Chancellor Green Cafe as of the date of this posting. Check out some images from the opening event October of 2023.

Additional photos can be found on the SPO Facebook Page. We hope you will follow us on SPO's Instagram and sign up for our weekly newsletter for announcements later this fall on the winners of our annual photo contest.