Mod Abroad

Opening our students to the world around them is a crucial element of the St. Mary's curriculum, and the Mod Abroad class plays an important role in helping students understand our world.

St. Mary's faculty are currently developing the curriculum for each of these trips and we hope students can take advantage of the unique opportunities the Mod Abroad class offers.

*Mod Abroad is available to high schoolers. Additional fees are required for international travel. 
 
For the 2025-2026 school year, St. Mary's is offering Mod Abroad: Iceland.
Legend says that when Floki of the Ravens first visited the island, he journeyed up a hill and spied a land covered in ice. Iceland soon became the land of Sagas and Giants, where skalds sang the tales of Thor, and men traveled from across Scandinavia to seek fame, fortune, and perhaps some peace and quiet away from the political strife of Europe.

A land deep in history, students will explore the oldest functioning democratic society at the Althing outside Reykjavik, tour the Viking World Museum, and even have a relaxing soak in the Blue Lagoon Geothermal Spa.

From Reykjavik students will embark on a tour of the entire island in a road trip along Iceland's Ring Road as they explore geological wonders and tour historic sites. Beginning in the south, students will hike Eldfell and watch puffins on Vestmannaeyjar, get up close to the iconic Seljalandsfoss, and even have the chance to traverse Sólheimajökull Glacier. 

They'll stay in Egilsstadir on the eastern side of the island and visit Reindeer Park before heading north towards Akureyri. On the way they'll travel through Stuðlagil to witness the canyon's otherworldly basalt columns before stopping at Myvatn Lake for another geothermal spa experience. From Akureryi students will explore the lava formations in Dimmuborgir, enjoy the disappearing waters of Godafoss, and get to explore the modern culture scene of Iceland's "Northern Capital". They'll round out the trip exploring Skagafjörður and tour the Glaumbaer Turf Museum on their return to Reykjavik.

Mod Abroad: Scotland

Fourteen intrepid students had the joy of traipsing all around Scotland for our Mod Abroad class.  The students spent the first fourteen days of the mod learning about Scottish history, literature, and culture from a Scottish historian and guide and then traveled throughout the country for the next twelve days.  From visiting the famous western isles of Mull and Skye to exploring the Scottish Highlands to touring the industrial, financial and cultural capitals of Glasgow and Edinburgh, the students saw a great deal of the country.  It was a special trip with many unique and unforgettable opportunities to see the real Scotland.
While the dates and years have yet to be determined, St. Mary's looks forward to offering the following Mod Abroad destinations:

List of 5 items.

  • Mod Abroad: Iceland

    Legend says that when Floki of the Ravens first visited the island, he journeyed up a hill and spied a land covered in ice. Iceland soon became the land of Sagas and Giants, where skalds sang the tales of Thor and men traveled from across Scandinavia to seek fame, fortune, and perhaps some peace and quiet away from the political strife of Europe.

    A land deep in history, students will explore the oldest functioning democratic society as they set out from Reykjavik to the Althing, participate in the recreation of the Battle of 1238, and even get to try their hand at living off the sea on a whale watching and sea angling expedition.

    But the trip won’t be all history: students will explore Iceland’s geological marvels from Seljalandsfoss Waterfall to the Myvatn Geothermal Baths (bring a bathing suit!) and the Geysir Geothermal Area. Rounding out the trip will be a leisurely stay on the Isle of the Westerners where students will get to visit the Beluga Whale Sanctuary and Puffin Rescue Center and hike the volcanic mountains left from a time before the Vikings.

  • Mod Abroad: Greece

      More information coming soon.

  • Mod Abroad: Spain & Portugal

    Christian, Jewish, and Muslim art and architecture, literature, religion, philosophy, history, and culture will intertwine as we spend the entire module learning about Spain. While the topics covered will be varied and wide-ranging, the central focus will be on “La Convivencia,” the period in Spanish history when the “peoples of the book” lived together in productive harmony under both Christian and Muslim rulers. The course will begin in the St. Mary’s classroom, but finish with 11 days in Spain where we will visit Madrid, Tolled, Granada, Cordoba, Ronda, and Seville. The travel component is required for credit and includes an additional fee.

  • Mod Abroad: Tallinn, Riga Stockholm

     More information coming soon.

  • Mod Abroad: Cities of Indochina

    Three countries, two religions, political and economic systems, and more will all come to light as we spend the entire module learning about Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand in preparation for a trip to all three. Given the expansive nature of the trip, the class will be dedicated to an equally broad range of topics. Two particular areas of focus will be on the major religions of the region (Buddhism and Hinduism) and the roles of communism and capitalism in the contemporary era. The travel component is required for credit and includes an additional fee. Students will earn a social studies credit, an English credit, and a general elective credit for this three-bin course.
Mod Abroad allowed me to create memories that will last a lifetime! It allowed me to dive into a culture I was interested in and experience what I learned firsthand. Working with students, I don’t usually have classes with them, and traveling with them made the program even more special. The extraordinary leaders and tour guides made this experience unforgettable, and I am incredibly grateful that St. Mary’s allows us to travel the world!
-Lily Jensen '24

Mod Abroad: Japan

Always Follow the Pikachu


By Kylie Winger '15

The 2024 St Mary’s Mod Abroad trip took twenty-six students to the land of the rising sun. Our trip covered eastern and western Japan, stopping in five cities and visiting dozens of historic cultural heritage sites. As an alum of both St Mary’s (2015) and the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (2019-2022), I was beyond thrilled to have the opportunity to accompany students on the trip and share with them my own experiences of living and teaching in Japan.
Before departing on the 13-hour flight to Tokyo, students spent several weeks studying Japanese history, literature, and culture. I flew out from Chicago to teach the 1914 novel Kokoro by Natsume Soseki, using it as a focal point to consider Japan’s relationship to its traditions and modernity.
Upon arrival, we joined forces with our local guide, Saeko-san. A former teacher herself, Saeko-san kept us informed on the history and customs of the locations we visited and kept us oriented by holding a tall wand decorated with a Pikachu coin purse as she led our group around. Very quickly, we learned: Always follow the Pikachu.
Our trip began in Tokyo, where we got to see the best of modern Japan: the Tokyo Sky Tree, the bustling crowds of Shibuya, and the street fashion of Harajuku. From Tokyo, we left to visit Mt Fuji and stayed the night at a hot springs resort in Atami, where students had a chance to dress in traditional yukata and enjoy a set-course seafood dinner.

By Day 3, we felt we’d already been in Japan for two weeks. Several students had already consumed two weeks’ worth of ice cream. Saeko-san quickly noticed how much the kids liked their ice cream, and she pointed out her favorite gelato shop for us when we reached Hiroshima.
We boarded a high-speed bullet train that took us to Kyoto, the former capital of Japan, and the heart of our trip. Our hotel beside Kyoto Station gave us a home base for exploring the area’s temples and shrines. This portion of the trip yielded my favorite highlight: seeing the Golden Pavilion, a 14th-century structure covered in gold leaf, in the gently falling rain.
After a day in Himeji, where students toured Himeji Castle (and a small group found some stellar Kobe beef for lunch), our trip ended in Hiroshima. We toured another castle, we visited the peace memorial and museum dedicated to the atomic bomb survivors, and then we packed up and prepared for the long trip home.
Our trip lasted only ten days but produced a wealth of learning and memories. Although I had to part from the group in San Francisco to fly home to Chicago, I hope to keep in touch with some of the students, and I hope the trip helps inspire another lifetime’s worth of learning.

ST. MARY'S SCHOOL