Introducing the 2023 IEDP Cohort!

& all the ways we said goodbye.

Hi everyone, I’m Jes and I will be your default narrator this year! Our semester began just 4 weeks ago. I’m still getting to know my cohort mates and all the ways our individual paths have converged at the IEDP. Together, we represent 16 countries spread across 3 continents and speak over 20 languages. Not only do we hail from vast regions, but we also represent a diversity of careers, interests, and thought. We come with backgrounds in Finance, Psychology, Engineering, Ministry, the Social Sciences, and of course, Education.

Just last month, we were scattered all over the world and shared the common experience of having to say goodbye to our homes and our families. Some of us traveled not at all (because they live several blocks from campus!) while others endured 30+ hr travel itineraries.

Here are some of the ways we said goodbye and prepared to usher in our time at the IEDP.

On her way to Philly, Bin stumbled across a giant (and probably ancient) tortoise. She was on her way north from Brazil and decided to make a stop in Santa Cruz, one of the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador.

Ellen, from Shenzhen, China, traveled to a local temple to welcome more luck into her life this year. One of the cards she holds says, “ Everything goes smooth” and the other, “Everything you wish will come true.”

Chippie attended a friend’s wedding on his last days in Malawi. He traveled from Blantyre, his home city, to Lilongwe, Malawi’s capital.

Joy traveled with her family to Lhasa, Tibet since her home city of Chengdu, China is the closest urban city to Lhasa. Here she is posing in front of Potala Palace.

The only way Nicole says, “Goodbye” is over a pizza pie. She has lived in Philly for years, but when she returns home she’s greeted with cheesy slices.

Ruviel’s family and friends gathered at the Sea of Cortez in Los Cabos to send him off to Philly sun-kissed and serene.

Fatima who has identified as a cat lady since she was 18, took this final snapshot as she prepared to travel 12,000 km (~7,500 mi) away from her family and felines.

Bona Lee’s family traveled 3 hours to be by her side for a final send-off. Here they are in Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, Vietnam just before her flight.