Guatemala – History, Culture, and Forensics

• Dates – November 21st to December 1st (Thanksgiving Break)
• Purpose – This year’s trip to Guatemala is designed to help students understand how Guatemala became the country it is today.  We will spend time on historic sites in Antigua and the mountainous countryside to visualize the region’s rich Mayan and colonial heritage.  We will hear directly from families who saw their lives torn apart by the Guatemalan Civil Conflict.  We will enjoy the beauty of the natural resources that have made the region such a coveted “possession.”  We will explore villages and the big city.  And from beginning to end and place to place, we will trace the throughlines of natural resource extraction, colonization, religious conversion, and foreign meddling.  Students will also have the option of daily Spanish lessons taught by local teachers.

Senegal – A Unique Country Across Time & Place

• Dates – February 27th to March 10th (Preseason) or March 16th (entire Spring Break)
• Purpose – This year’s trip to Senegal will provide a unique window into life in “The Country of Hospitality.”  The itinerary is designed to reveal the history and more current events that have shaped Senegal as a stark contrast to the generalizations of Africa.  Students will get to live in the middle of a traditional Mandinka village in the southeastern corner of the country, explore the vastness of Niokolo Koba National Park (the largest in West Africa), experience the labyrinthian mangrove creeks of the Sine Saloum Delta, feel the vibes of Dakar, learn about Sufi Islam and the Mouride Brotherhood in Touba, and relax in a quiet fishing village south of the capital.  Throughout the trip, they’ll get to know incredible individuals with unique life stories – and the themes of trade, colonialism, the blending of religions, and physical strength will tie it all together.  

India – Rivers of History & Culture

• Dates – May 25th to June 12th
• Purpose – This year’s trip to India will focus on the world’s holiest river system in the northern state of Uttarakhand, the Ganges.  We’ll study the impacts of a major dam project that will permanently alter the region.  Students will get to look at the social, environmental, and economic considerations and contribute to ongoing research on the project.  We’ll consider the many ways that people continue to live off of the world’s holiest river.  In Agora, nestled above a key headwater, we’ll see traditional living at its finest.  Near Rishikesh, the Yoga Capital of the World, we’ll feel the spiritual significance of the mighty river and explore a National Park protected by the region’s religious significance.  Throughout the trip, students will get to meet incredible people, eat some of the best food in the world, ride elephants, and generally benefit from what is undoubtedly one of the most unique countries on the planet.