Survey of Development Issues
David´s Farm
Abigail, Participant
This morning we started our day by walking through a field of margaritas (a type of white flower) as the sun poured over our shoulders and shone through the trees. The sixteen of us and our four Spanish teachers walked along a thin dirt path around......Read More
The Mountain that Eats Men
Zack Siddall, Instructor
Yak of the Week
In 1544 the Spanish invaders discovered the mighty Cerro Rico mountain of Potosi. Arguably the largest silver mine in history it’s said that the silver extracted from Cerro Rico could build a road of pure silver from Potosi all the way to......Read More
Tashi, the Tar Doctor
Marka & Darci, Dragons Admin
Yak of the Week
We sat in the back of Tar Village’s small gompa, watching our amalay, Tashi, bend to the floor in prayer. She came and sat down, laughing and taking selfies with the two of us and Tsewang, who was the amalay of Isabel and Caroline. Tashi and......Read More
Women in Morocco
Abril and Emma, Participant
Today after we walked through the scorching hot streets of Goulmima, we waited at a taxi stand and were pleasantly surprised when we reached our destination. We arrived at a small building that was a women’s center located in the heart of......Read More
Dear Bomb Guard
Sophia Li, Participant
Dear Bomb Guard, You have opened my eyes to the landfills that are slowly becoming the world we inhabit. You show us that, although waste may be invisible to some, it is always there, infecting our water and plaguing our land. Seeing you has made me......Read More
Dear Flushable Toilets
Elliott Bloom, Participant
Dear Flushable Toilets, Why? You suck for people and the environment. You are so pointless. Reasons Why Flushable Toilets Suck: 1. You sit, not squat. Sitting on the toilet is not preferable for the easy flow of “solid waste.” Also, this......Read More
Remembering the Khmer Rouge
Sally, Participant
Yak of the Week
One of the core reasons I decided to apply to this program is Cambodia’s rich history. I was extremely interested in learning about the genocide and the nation’s recovery from it because much of this isn’t mentioned in US textbooks and......Read More
Development! It’s even more wild than I...
Liza (Lyza), Participant
Okay people, let’s talk about confusion. That kind of all-consuming, mind-numbing, makes-you-want-to-scream confusion that comes from having a WHOLE LOT of emotions that you can’t quite identify and can’t quite process because you can’t......Read More
Defining Development
Francesca Verdugo, Participant
What defines you as a person? Is one’s hair, eye, nose, face, voice, style, mannerisms, networking, habits, words, consistency and countless things that define us. We are continuously developing ourselves. Time changes......Read More
development! it’s wild!
Liza (Lyza), Participant
Yak of the Week
It was brought to my attention recently that I say the word “wild” a whole lot. “How is your homestay, Lyza?” “It’s truly wild.” “How is your ISP going, Lyza? “Oh let me tell you, it is......Read More
Group Update on the Rohingya Situation.
Lexi Kanter, Participant
Yak of the Week
*This yak is a compilation of writings and research done by the entire student group* Before we all left for this program, Myanmar was at the forefront of global news due to the conflict occurring in the Rakhine State. Prior to departure a lot us......Read More
COPE
Nate and Ethan, Participant
Yak of the Week
A little less than a month ago in Vientiane, our group of travelers visited a local NGO called COPE. COPE educates both locals and foreigners about the “Secret War,” a Vietnam War campaign by the US military to incapacitate Viet Minh and......Read More
Welcome to the Jungle
Mara Kauffman-Puchall, Participant
Yak of the Week
I’ve put together some pieces from my journal about our time in and around the Katambe Jungle on Sumatra, and our first experiences with Indonesia. This yak is like 3 weeks late, sorry. I’m here, and it’s stunning. We took an 8......Read More
Developed vs. Developing
Natalie Pierce, Participant
Today we had a discussion on what defined a developed nation vs. a developing nation. This time last year I was having the same discussion in economics class, sitting behind a desk. An important point that my econ teacher made focused on laundry......Read More