Blog

Sleep is refreshing. When consumed by daily life, sleep can sometimes be the only way to put the mind at ease. We worry, we sleep, we wake up anew. But when living our mundane lives, do we really wake up anew? On my journey to Southeast Asia, however, sleep really does bring a new beginning. My blog begins in a quiet city along the mighty Mekong River in Laos. I opened my eyes just as the sun was rising. I had little time before our 8:00 am departure. I had little time… Read more

In a remote village in the mountains, our group arrived for two full days of intensive Buddhist meditation. We began with discarding our old clothes and donning an all white set. This symbolized the beginning of our spiritual journey and the purifying (white) we would do. Our training monk introduced us to the ancient tradition of Buddhist meditation in Thailand with a late-night session. Our days started with early morning meditation when we were still at peace after a… Read more

One of the most unexpected challenges I experienced so far on our Southeast Asia Semester was been the meditation retreat. Prior to the retreat, I was under the assumption that this would be something to my liking-I mean how could it not be since I regularly practice yoga and I've gone to a couple group meditations, ya'know? I suppose you could say I was expecting a breakthrough or an epiphany of some sort from the two day retreat (I know, ha!). In retrospect this soun… Read more

As we departed Chiang Mai and rode into the mountains, we saw a vastly different side of Thailand than what we had previously. We had recently visited Sukhothai, the ancient Thai capital, along with Bangkok and Chiang Mai, two bustling and growing cities. We were now seeing a more rural, traditional side of the country... and it was this lesser known part of Thailand that impacted me most. While at Elephant Nature Park (ENP), we learned the stories of the elephants who… Read more

We head to Crazy Horse Buttress, a rock climbing and caving area outside of Chiang Mai, with equal parts excitement and trepidation. After being introduced to our guides, Gee and Bus, we split  into two groups. Outfitted with our climbing gear, our team sets out hiking to a set of limestone walls and cliffs where the guides teach us to belay and climb. We spend the next few hours channeling our inner mountain goats as we take turns tenaciously tackling the climbs. Time… Read more

We awake in the town of Sukothai. Sleepily, the group packs their bags and gathers around the table where we are served either yogurt or eggs. Some  slept better than others, all are excited for the travel to come in the next few days. Before long, we pack ourselves like sardines into a pair of vans and hit the road to Chiang Mai. The drive is long and uneventful, punctuated with the occasional stop at a gas station to buy snacks and use the restroom. Two hours in, we … Read more

Walking through the streets of Bangkok to get a massage, my first impression of Thailand was one of vibrancy, color, andchaos. There is a great contrast in the city: huge skyscrapers and tiny shacks; small  lively restaurants, concrete buildings undergoing construction, and wonderfully ornate temples. Stalls line the bustling streets where locals sell all types of street food, some of which I certainly wouldn't find back home in England - grasshoppers, and even scorpio… Read more

Southeast Asia Gap Year Semester instructor, Kate Sabo, says... Xin Chao Travelers! My name is Kate and I'll be one of your program instructors throughout SE Asia this Spring. I thought I'd take the opportunity to introduce myself - after all we will be sharing a bamboo hut together, crawling through caves, traveling by every form of transportation, and maybe even having to endure a bout of traveler's diarrhea together. I'm sure by the end of our semester together we w… Read more