Friday, September 24, 2010

Home in Vermont

Well, it's been a big month.

In an unplanned and surprisingly swift turn of events, I've changed jobs and moved home to Craftsbury Common. Leaving Boulder is bittersweet, and leaving my work with Where There Be Dragons is painful, but from my window I can see the maple leaves changing color. It feels good to have finally come home.

I'm writing from my new office in Mager Hall at Sterling College, the smallest 4-year private college in the nation, which happens to be located a 2-minute walk from my land (photos coming soon). Sterling has always positioned itself at the confluence of community and the environment, as students live and learn through the practice of sustainability. Bill McKibben spoke here a couple of years ago, and told the crowd that Sterling is "one of the most important places we can be in and honor in this country." With only 110 students it's hard to say that that's true, but it might be - Sterling is certainly a unique college, and the values of this community - including plain hard work and profound reverence for place - could go a long way towards solving the ills of modern society.

If you had asked me 3 weeks ago when I was moving home, I would have told you "in a few years" - and I would have meant it. Sometimes the world spins in unforeseen ways, though, and after coming home for a short vacation, I realized that Crafsbury is where I'm meant to be right now. The job opening was serendipitous - my title is publications editor and director of media relations, and I'm throwing myself into the work.

As for Dragons, I have the utmost respect and admiration for the organization and for every one of my former colleagues. Moving home was a personal choice, not a professional one. I've been incredibly fortunate to land in jobs that allow me to work in accordance with my values - whether that means cultivating cross-cultural understanding or an appreciation for small-scale sustainable agriculture.

If you're ever in northern Vermont, please come visit. There will be a spot saved in front of the woodstove for you.

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Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Mekong Semester Fall '09 - Still Going Strong!


Students from the inaugural Mekong Semester are posting some fantastic essays on the Where There Be Dragons homepage.

Read Anna Mack's story of her trip to a Hmong church in Providence.

Read Jake Teton-Landis' manifesto on his return to China.

Read Stew Motta's tale of a bike ride to Kunming.

Read Chris Megrue's impassioned attack on xenophobia.

I'm so proud of these brave new travelers!

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Saturday, January 02, 2010

Choice and Travel


Last night, sitting in front of the woodstove, I started writing again.

It's been a long time. My passion for communicating ideas had dissipated in the last year...for whatever reason, I just wasn't feeling the flow.

Maybe it's the move out to Boulder, maybe it's the inspiration of Dragons, who knows.

All I know is that I'm proud of what I wrote last night:

Choice, Control and Travel

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Tuesday, December 15, 2009

On the way to the Yi village, near Lijiang, China

Who knew that a dance party was waiting for us in the Yi village? Here's Mara Karell's description of the cultural exchange...

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Saturday, December 12, 2009

Dragons Mekong Semester: Fall 2009


Three months ago I was on a night-bus to Tibet with 13 young men and women I barely knew. Now, I'm alone in Phnom Penh, soaking up the memories, wondering how those same 13 students are doing as they transition home to America.

Cue the Celine Dion, 'cause my middle name is Corny, but - gosh - I miss the Mekong Manatees with all my heart.



A full semester of rugged travel down one of the most powerful and remote rivers in Asia is an epic life experience any way you cut it, but in the company of intellectually and spiritually engaged gap-year students, the journey became even deeper, even more profound.

We did SO much. We learned SO much. We grew SO much.

And we made connections.

Connections between friends on the program, for sure. Connections between cultures and communities, definitely. Connections between students and home-stay families, yes.

But we also made connections between mollusks and the moon, between American consumerism and Chinese dams, between Afghanistan and Laos, between stillness and peace.


Our students now emerge into the world as young adults who are empowered and aware.

We need them. I'm proud of them. And I can't wait to see what they do.

....

Here's a link to more information on the Dragons Mekong Semester.

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Saturday, October 31, 2009

The View From Ban Xieng Mene

One of the reasons I love working for Where There Be Dragons is the chance to spend time with incredibly cool people like Allana Hearn. I first worked with Allana on the Cambodia summer program in 2008, and now we're together on the Mekong Semester.


In this photo Allana and I are standing on the banks of the Mekong, having just arrived in the homestay village of Ban Xieng Mene.

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Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Late Afternoon Light on the Mekong

Every day we cross the river between Luang Prabang and the student home-stays in Ban Xieng Mene. This is what the light on the water looks like at the end of the day.



photo by Jake Teton-Landis

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Thursday, October 22, 2009

Trekking in Luang Namtha



On the advice of Steven Schipani, a former Dragons instructor who lives in Laos, we went trekking in the Nam Ha National Protected Area with the Jungle Tour company.

Many students point to this trek as the high-point of the Mekong Semester.

Here's contact info. for Jungle Tour - send an e-mail in English.

Mr. Chittaphong Chanthakoune
Tel/Fax: +856-86-212025
Mobile: +856-20-2990355
PO Box: 046, Luang Namtha 03000, Laos

Email: chttphng@yahoo.com.au

Photo by Jake Teton-Landis.

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Saturday, August 22, 2009

Dragons Mekong Semester


After a busy summer in Vermont, I'm headed back to Asia to lead the inaugural Mekong Semester program for Where There Be Dragons.

The Mekong program will commence in Southwest China, where we'll trek near the headwaters of the Mekong in the Himalayas. After the trek, we move south along the river to Xishuangbanna, Laos and Cambodia.

Check out the Mekong Semester description, and follow our adventures on the Dragons Yak Yak board.

photo by Paul Stevenson

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Sunday, February 22, 2009

New Article! Youth Travel Programs

Each summer, thousands of North American high-school students travel abroad with organizations that specialize in educational travel programs.

Where There Be Dragons

Many of these lucky students return home with increased self-confidence, a heightened understanding of global issues, fabulous photos for Facebook, and a college essay topic that will impress even the most ruthless Ivy League admissions officer.

Parents and students who decide to invest in an educational travel program should be applauded, but choosing the right program is a daunting and complicated task. Dozens of organizations specialize in youth travel, and among these organizations there are tremendous variations in travel style, educational philosophy, and overall quality.

Continue reading How To Choose A Summer Youth Travel Program

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Monday, September 15, 2008

New Article! Youth Travel Programs


Taking a year to vagabond through China and study Mandarin looks more and more like a wise and practical alternative to a prestigious internship with Lehman Brothers or Bear Sterns.


Youth travel programs are one of the most important investments we can make. Please take a minute to read my latest essay over on the Matador Study blog:

Youth Travel Programs Are Vital To Our Security

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