It was with full hearts, tears in our eyes, and plentiful laughter that our group said goodbye today at Kunming Airport. As instructors, we are feeling very blessed to have been a part of this cultural learning and creative living opportunity. Until......Read More
Before leaving the charming city of Dali a couple days ago, our Mekong family retreated to the soft grasses of Dali University to creatively retrace our epic journey through each of the countries that our feet kissed, our sweat dripped, our voices......Read More
To family and friends, The Mekong team is completing their trek along the Tiger Leaping Gorge today. After descending the trail, they will make their way south to Dali this evening where they will meet Angela Cun. Tomorrow, they will round Erhai......Read More
Apologies in advance to Virginia Woolf. *** Thunder rumbles. The rain falls in sheets on the tin roof above my bed. I glance at the mosquito netting hanging fifteen inches from my face and listen to the storm. The door to my room opens and my......Read More
Dear Spring 2018 Mekong Semester Families, It is hard to believe that 3 months have passed since your student embarked on this incredible adventure! It won’t be long until students will be boarding their planes back home. We are sure you are......Read More
Shade, Kaia and I trudged up the windy cobblestone hill, our feet morphing into heavier and heavier stone slabs with each step. Having just played ultimate frisbee on the local school’s concrete basketball court/playground and with the last rays......Read More
As we continue our journey through China, I have been spending time reflecting on our time in Laos. Thinking back to things that made me love Laos so much. There is too much for me to put in one yak post. So instead I will share something small but......Read More
Since arriving here in the Eastern hemisphere, I have felt hesitant to share my personal experiences on a public forum, fearing that it would detract from their meaning. Living in rural cattle communities and rice farm villages has distanced my......Read More
I don’t know exactly what a prayer is. I do know how to pay attention, How to fall down into the grass, How to kneel down in the grass, how to be idle and blessed, How to stroll through the fields, which is what I have been doing all day. Tell me,......Read More
Once the clean blue water from the waterfalls had dried from our bodies and the sun had started to set, we got ready for the lights. The moonlight, the artificial light, the light shining from people’s hearts and glimmering in their eyes,......Read More
Sabai dee! To whom it may concern, we are writing from a travel agency’s internet cafe in Luang Prabang. We would like to share a photograph and a short story from our scavenger hunt today. We began our hunt prowling the dark alleyways of the......Read More
Hello! The Mekong group is in Luang Prabang, the ancient capital city and the Buddhist capital city of Laos, and during an exploration in city we ran into some street vendors, all from different backgrounds and selling a variety of products in their......Read More
Robbie, Kaia and I taking on the scavenger hunt in Luang Prabang. 60 points for a yak! We met a woman working in a handicraft store. She has worked there for six years, but lived here in Luang Prabang for her whole life. We laughed and talked about......Read More
The gong echoed four times through the silent darkness. It’s mystical sound seeped throughout the hall and delivered its relieving rush of harmony through both of my ears. This potent sense of renewed focus traveled inwards, and with a deep......Read More
We’ve just returned from a 3-day excursion to Thailand, our third country visited to date on course. Located just a short journey across the great Mekong River that acts as the boundary with Laos, we stayed at Wat Hin Mak Peng, a Buddhist Temple......Read More
Sabaidee! The fab Mekong team is currently heading north towards Vientiane, excited for our next few weeks of travel! Sunday was our final day in Don Donh – I hope that everyone has been following the Don Donh Diaries for a glimpse of what our......Read More