Professor Polack
Professor Polack, a distinguished computer science professor at the University of Mary Washington, possesses a deep curiosity for global exploration. Driven by a desire to broaden her understanding of different cultures and technological landscapes, she aspires to study abroad in countries across the world. Professor Polack's ambition to study abroad exemplifies her commitment to enriching both his own academic perspectives and the field of computer science as a whole.
View UMW Trip 2024
Iceland, where we spent weeks exploring the stunning landscapes of this Nordic island. One of the highlights of the trip was driving around the famous ring road, a 1,332-kilometer highway that circles the entire country. Along the way, we marveled at cascading waterfalls, rugged coastlines, and towering glaciers. We had the chance to immerse yourself in Icelandic culture, sampling traditional cuisine and learning about the country's history and geology. This unforgettable journey through Iceland's dramatic beauty left a lasting impression all of us.
View UMW Trip 2023
After leading a study abroad trip to Brazil and Argentina, where the students explored the wonders of the Amazon Rainforest, embarked on a captivating river cruise along the Amazon, and marveled at the breathtaking Iguazu Falls from both sides of the border, Professor Polack decided to create a photo book. With meticulous attention to detail, he curated a collection of photographs capturing the vibrant landscapes, fascinating wildlife, and joyous moments of the trip. I aimed to provide a visual narrative that would forever remind the students of their remarkable journey.

Brazil Creepies!

When I was looking through my videos to make this project, I came across several different videos that when I was taking them, had me a bit uneasy. So I decided to put them together! Two of these clips are from the same night, the night we went on a night cruise on the Amazon. Even though we didn’t see as much wildlife as we did during the day, hearing the sounds of the night and the several Caimans, it was kind of creepy. We also only had one light guiding us through the night, which added to the creepiness.

The first clip is from our many flights on the trip. I believe this one was on approach into São Paulo, there were storms in the distance where we could see the lightning making the large clouds shine. I took a video because I thought it was cool, and had total trust in the pilots that we were safe being what seemed so close to the storm. While I had trust in the pilots, there is something uneasy about flying through the sky with what looked like a very turbulent storm.

Overall, there weren’t too many things during the trip that made me feel uneasy, and I was definitely the most uncomfortable during the night safari on the Amazon. Something about cruising around in the dangerous waters with caimans, piranhas, and electric eels in the water just inches away from you is creepy. I wouldn’t change any of the experiences, each one was special and only enhanced the experience. But I can’t help but acknowledge the “Brazil Creepies!”.