S.O.R. Save Our Reefs

1. What is a polyp? What does a polyp need to be considered “coral”?

A polyp is formed when a coral larvae grows out of a substrate. The polyp is a sessile creature that has a stalk attached to the substrate caudally. Its mouth is located on the opposite end and is surrounded by tentacles. This polyp then multiplies to make hundreds of polyps. At this point the colony is called coral. When there are many corals growing together, it is called a reef.

2. What types of things are coral sensitive to in the ocean?

Coral is very sensitive to change. Slight changes in marine temperature can be disastrous for coral colonies. Even a variation of a few degrees can put stress on a coral.

3. When does coral bleaching occur?

When the temperature of the ocean increases a few degrees, the algae living on the coral (zooxanthellae live symbiotically within the coral tissues to assist in nutrient production) move to a new and more stable location. When this happens, the coral no longer has a sufficient energy source and loses its color as result of the lack of algae. This lack of coloration in the coral colonies is referred to as coral bleaching. If the temperature of the water does not return to its normal cooler temperature quickly, the bleached coral dies.

Picture: (1) Bleached Coral (2) Nearly Recovered Coral

4. Why do scientists think that coral bleaching is occurring more now than ever?

Scientists believe coral bleaching is occurring more often as a result of climate change. Global warming is affecting the sea life we have come to love.

5. List three ways people can reduce their impact to climate change?

Saving energy, avoiding car travel, and recycling are three ways we can help make a difference and help save the coral reefs.

Video #2: Why should we care about climate change/destruction of coral reefs? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wcoyj2VPCOM

1. How many species of: fish, hard coral, soft coral, sea birds, shore birds

1,500 species of fish, 360 species of hard coral, 1/3 of the world’s species of soft corals, 22 species of sea birds, and 32 species of shore birds rely on the Great Barrier Reef ecosystem for survival.

2. What is responsible for warming our oceans?

Climate change is responsible for warming the world’s oceans. We are directly affecting the underwater life on our planet.

3. How does increased flooding affect the reefs and the fish that birds that live there?

Increased flooding pollutes the reef. The fish living in the area move to farther and deeper water to escape the harmful effects of the pollution. As a result of this, birds lose their most important food source. The birds cannot travel so far off the shore and cannot reach the fish.

4. List three additional ways (not listed above) that people can reduce climate change:

We can buy environmentally sustainable products, open windows instead of using air conditioners, and dry clothes on the line instead of using a dryer. All of these things can help protect the environment.

Video #3/#4: Educating children about the effects of climate change

Watch the following two videos that are aimed at teaching children about the effects of climate change. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnqJMInH5yM&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEdoizgeNJk&feature=related

1. List two benefits and two drawbacks to using this kind of media to teach this information.

Benefits: These videos are targeted at Australia’s children. By educating the children, the next generation will be able to create a difference and a better future. These videos are fun to watch. As one watches them, they become attached to the main character and hate to see the harmful effects global warming has on them. These videos make people want to help.

Drawbacks: These advertisements are aimed at specific groups of people. It is hard to create a video such as this that appeals to adults but is on a child’s understanding level. Another issue is most people in other nations do not see these videos. It is harder to create a difference when only a few people are aware of the situation.

Videos about the Great Barrier Reef: Please Watch!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbN161yBBGA&feature=related

This video would be beneficial to adults from Australia because it doesn’t give too much background information that they would most likely already know. Instead this video gives good information on how reefs provide for many different countries. Overfishing is one of the main concerns in the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miLyqOrnwZc&NR=1&feature=fvwp

This video is would be beneficial for foreigners not from Australia because it describes the coral bleaching process in detail and without the requirement of having previous background knowledge. It explains the entire process clearly and gives advanced information on the subject.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inGov_ipVKk
This video is beneficial to the tourists visiting The Great Barrier Reef. It not only provides information on the threat the reef is under, it also gives background information on the reef and the affects the reef has on the economy and on the world. These things are very important for travelers to know before they go to a new place.

Protecting the World’s Largest Living Structure

1. The Great Barrier Reef is considered the “largest living structure on Earth.” It is incredible in its size and biodiversity.

Coral is one animal that is home to millions of others. It is crucial to the survival of the wide range of animal life in the Pacific Ocean.

2. Coral can form solid tentacles to aid in feeding habits. These tentacles are made from Calcium carbonate the coral extracts from the ocean. Coral diet can range from plankton to small fish. Nematocysts, or sting cells, allow coral to capture and kill prey.

3. The coral found on the base of the Great Barrier Reef is connected and grows as one giant mass. The coral would not be able to do this without the help of red algae. Red algae act as a glue to connect and cement a coral to another coral with sheets of Calcium carbonate.


The Great Barrier Reef is an important ecosystem and provides the world with a wide variety of species and life. The reef is influential to its regional economy as it provides a wealth of tourists, products, and food.

4. The Great Barrier Reef became a national park in 1975.

This, however, did not entirely protect it from disaster though. Environmental hazards and over fishing are primary concerns today.

5. Currently, 33% of the Great Barrier Reef is protected from fishing.

The world will need to do more to do more to help save this beautiful underwater land.

6. Scientists believe the current reef is approximately 20 thousand years old. However, recent research has shown there was a reef before this one buried deep as the next generation of coral continued to grow on top of it. The ancient reef is believed to be ½ million years old.

Something so precious and so old needs to be protected.

Children Away

An advisement letter to the Prime Minister of Australia recommending an apology to the Aboriginal people for the pain and heartache caused by the Stolen Generation.

Advisor S.

120 West Abigail St.

Sydney, Australia

5 December 2007

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd

Prime Minister

Parliament House

Canberra, Australia

Dear Prime Minister,

The Aboriginals and the westerners have been interacting since Australia was colonized. When the British came to colonize Australia they didn’t think of the repercussions their actions would have on the native culture. They knew only what they brought with them. They divided up the land, taking the best for themselves naturally, and decided the natives could move. What they didn’t understand was that the Aboriginal tribes lived in family groups and their spirits would return to the land their family lived on when they died. When the colonists moved in, the aborigines felt the need to protect their ancestry from the invaders. In addition to this, the westerners brought disease and influenza, cut down forests, and exhausted water holes. Soon “white settlers and Aborigines were at war for… land and water” (http://library.thinkquest.org/28994/abhistory.html). Aboriginals were told where to live and were not even considered citizens until 1967. [Think about that for a second… this is around the same time the U.S. was introduced to the John F. Kennedy assassination, The Beatles, Martin Luther King Jr., and Elvis Presley. The world had been through two world wars and fought for the rights of various nations. The Australian natives gained their rights only two years before NASA landed Neil Armstrong on the moon! Can you imagine such a world with so many advancements and yet so far behind?] The upset in the Aboriginal culture begun all the way back in 1788 and progressively worsened over time.

By living in close proximity with each other, the two cultures began to mingle. A new nationality was created: half Aborigine and half white. The Australians disliked the idea of this race embracing their Aboriginal heritage. In an attempt to promote assimilation, these children were taken and educated in the western culture. Gaining popularity in 1909 through 1969 the government allowed for the forced removal of children with mixed Aboriginal and white backgrounds. They were often taken by force and without a warrant. This caused traumatic stress for both the children and their families. This event was left a festering sore by history and called the “Stolen Generation.”

Being a part of the Stolen Generation completely changed one’s life. It’s not as simple as saying you’re sorry after a time out like a child. Innocent people’s lives were forever changed, never to know the original outcome. In most cases across the country the outcome of the children’s family replacement was extremely negative. In many of the cases the children were mentally, physically, or sexually abused by their new families. This caused traumatic instances and negatively influenced the way they lived their lives. Similar to the situation with African Americans in the United States, they were sold to white families and unfortunately were virtually used as slaves. Some of the kids found their way back home years later, but most never saw their families ever again.

The policy of the Stolen Generation “…broke important cultural, spiritual and family ties which crippled not only individuals, but whole families and even whole communities” (http://reconciliaction.org.au/nsw/education-kit/stolen-generations/). The policy had a lasting impact on the treatment of the Aboriginal people. As a result of the terrible conditions the children were forced to endure caused depression, anxiety, post traumatic stress, and suicide are common among the stolen. These people have to endure these mental handicaps for the rest of their lives. Aborigines still have trouble accessing adequate health care, housing, and even food and water (http://china.hrw.org/press/news_release/letter_to_australian_prime_minister_kevin_rudd). Life expectancy and the infant mortality rate of Aborigines are very poor today as well. These past actions have been carried by their bearers into the present. The Stolen Generation also feels a sense of “cultural alienation.” They didn’t find out their cultural background until later in their lives and now they do not feel they fit into their own culture. Unfortunately the westerners succeeded in wiping out the culture in this generation of aborigines.

What occurred in this chapter of the history of Australia is terrible and unforgivable. There isn’t a reason why one should not apologize for these actions. It was not moral to take these people’s lives away from them. Prime Minister John Howard stated the “current generation should not be responsible for the mistakes of the past.” If we are not responsible for the past how can we be responsible for the future? How will we learn? I believe a formal apology should be made as soon as possible. An apology is necessary for our country to grow. Most Aborigines are only looking for an apology to know that they are accepted and an important piece of Australia.

Respectfully yours,

Advisor S.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd did issue a formal apology to the Aboriginal people for the loss and poor treatment of those included in the Stolen Generation soon after he was brought into office.

Please Watch!

Archie Roach is a member of the Stolen Generation. He began writing and singing songs about his experiences. This is his 1987 hit, Took the Children Away, which launched him on an upward musical career. He says, "I still feel the pain, every day. Sometimes it threatens to engulf me. But I'm not going to let it destroy me."

It’s a beautiful song with a good message.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLXzKYP1uCw

WWE Smackdown: Technology vs. Culture

Elliott’s concern in his article “Savor the Trip, Don’t Tweet It” is that new technological advancements are ruining the way people travel. Traveling “…meant leaving the world you knew for a world you didn’t,” but with new technology, spontaneous travel is “…at risk of extinction” (Elliott 1). In today’s world people do not have to worry about many things. They have become extremely reliant upon their computers, smart phones, and I-pods to complete daily tasks for them. When depending on things that are so familiar and convenient, the spontaneity and happenstance is taken out of travel. Many people are beginning to question why they should take the risk traveling when they can see everything in the world through their computer. Elliott makes the argument that if you are looking at life through a camera, you are not truly experiencing your surroundings. By relying on technology while traveling, you’re only seeing the sights, not living them. You’re not really traveling until you can feel the culture moving around you. This cannot be done without turning off the phone in your pocket. Elliott wants the reader to think about how important updating your status is when you’re looking at a wonder. There are many negative effects of relying on technology during travel. It can ruin the trip and the memories it should bring you.

I am going on this trip to experience new wonders and to expand my knowledge of the world. This trip is for my benefit; it’s there for me to develop my understanding of cultures around the globe. I want to experience new things and to live in the moment. I don’t want to miss any of the experience by doing something I could do at home. This includes things such as facebook. The right kind of technology can be helpful while traveling and can create a safety net for travelers. Things such as maps and translators found on the internet can be very useful for travelers, and can help make their trip run more smoothly. In my experience however, it is the crazy and spontaneous experiences that make the trip more memorable. It is sometimes more beneficial to your trip to not rely on technology. Travelers need to know where to draw the line. Before they go to a new country, they need to be aware of where they are going and how their technology can help them get there, but they also need to plan to explore the area. The role of technology in my travels is to help with particular situations, not to get in the way.

I think people have become too dependent on having the latest and greatest technology in today’s society. Personally I think it is amazing how advanced technology has become, but I don’t see it right for people to always be glued to it. It is especially bad when this situation is applied to travel. Instead of looking at the wonder, people are worried about how other people will see their pictures. They are trying to come up with a cool status, something that will impress their friends. They are looking for a reaction out of everyone else, when they should be looking for a reaction within themselves. This year, some of my friends recently had the opportunity to go to Europe. While on facebook a few days ago, I saw one of my classmates had posted she was about to go see the Eiffel Tower lit up at night. I think it’s neat for her friends and family to be able to check up on her trip and see how she’s doing, but this should only be an occasional thing. If at all while traveling, updating statuses should be done during one’s free time at the end of the day in one’s hotel room instead of on the bus or while eating lunch. Even while sitting on a train you could have the opportunity to meet a local or experience a new aspect of the culture you never knew existed. Don’t ruin the moment by tuning out the world with your favorite artist. After reading this article I can see the dangers technology can pose on people’s experiences in a new land.

Last year on the China trip, we completely detached ourselves from the internet and from the news. We were shocked at how much had happened in the amount of time we were gone and the things that occurred when we came back, such as the BP oil spill. We soon got back in the swing of facebooking, e-mailing, and texting, but in the end I liked the detachment. When you are away from news and gossip, the most important things become clearer to you. I think as a class we should set a boundary on technology during the trip to Australia and New Zealand because this detachment is an important aspect of travel. It allows for memories to be made. I don’t think our group should be on their phones or on the internet during the day. If one person is on their I-pod other people may feel obligated to get theirs out, and soon no one is focused on the culture in front of them.

Traveling is when you’re Alive enough to realize the trivial things in Life no longer matter

Connections in History

There are many different stages societies of people undergo in order to form a country. One way is by breaking off of another nation. Imperialism became popular in Europe during the 19^th century, however colonizing areas for resources and power was popular at a much earlier date. The formation and history of the three countries, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States are very similar in origin.

The Colonies:

Great Britain established many colonies in its different spheres of influence all over the world. Britain created its first colony in the Americas in 1607, claimed Australia in 1770, and gained control of New Zealand in 1840. Great Britain forced its government on these territories, forcing them to accept British rule.

Revolt:

After enough provoking, British rule proved to be too much for the colonies (taxation, no representation in the government, etc.). The American Revolutionary war broke out in 1775. The revolt ended successfully for the new nation, the United States, as it ended in 1783. The U.S. had gained its independence and began working on creating equal rights for its citizens through a democratic government system. Britain had its eyes set on Australia for its new penal colony after it could not send its convicts to the U.S. anymore. Many explorers had been to Australia in the 16oos, but “…it was only after the loss of the North American penal colonies, that the British started sending the first significant numbers of White settlers to [Australia]” (white-history 1). Australia did not fight Great Britain’s rule though. By 1901 the Commonwealth of Australia was formed. Universal adult suffrage was given to the citizens of Australia under the new democratic government in 1908 (britishempire 1). However the Aborigines were not given the right to vote until 1962 and they were not allowed to lay claim to their ancestral lands until the Aboriginal Land Rights Act was passed in 1976. The Australian parliament apologized for their past wrongs against the Aboriginal people in 2008. New Zealand’s reactions to British rule on the other hand were closer to the U.S.’s response than that of Australia. After Captain James Cook began exploring New Zealand in 1769 he found that the Maori were “intelligent and adaptable, in spite of their inter-tribal wars,” and suggested that Britain should create a settlement in New Zealand (history-nz 1). Cook’s advice was not taken by Great Britain, but many European and American whalers came to the land. Tribal wars erupted along with European disease spread through the fisherman and missionaries passing through. Britain soon stepped into the equation, creating the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840. This gave Britain possession of Maori lands in exchange for protection. Land wars developed in 1860 between the Maori and the British settlers and continued for decade. New Zealand eventually became a dominion (self-governing community) within the British Empire in 1907. Finally New Zealand gained their independence in 1947. The United States and New Zealand revolted from Britain’s rule, but Australia did not.

Gold Rush:

Out of these three countries, The U.S. started off the gold rush in 1828 in Dahlonega, Georgia. Active gold mining continued in various locations for the next 20 years, and then the California Gold Rush in 1848 really got things moving. Gold mining continued in the United States as people tried to “strike it rich” in Georgia, North Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, Virginia, California, Washington, Nevada, Oregon, Arizona, and Colorado. The U.S. gold rush lasted until 1860. The first gold discovery in Australia was in 1851 in Victoria. Many different locations in Victoria would find a person rich from 1851 until1860. New Zealand picked up where the U.S. and Australia left off. In 1861 on the South Island Victorian minors who had exhausted the mines in Australia rushed the Otago goldfield at Tuapeka. There was another rush on the South Island in 1864. In 1867 the goldfield at Thames on the North Island was opened for the rush of miners. The rush ended in New Zealand in 1872 (kaelewis 1).

http://www.white-history.com/hwr46.htm

http://www.britishempire.co.uk/timeline/20century.htm

http://history-nz.org/wars.html

http://www.kaelewis.com/global.htm

Creation Stories

People have always been curious and have challenged their outlook on life. They question their origins to try to understand themselves and the world around them. Obviously people understand where the future generations come from, but where did the previous? One can look back on every generation history can remember, but what was the generation before that one? Or even the one after that? Who were the first? The curiosity of man is what draws humans to attempt to explain their origins. I find it fascinating that people all over the world and in every ancient civilization created their own theory on how we were placed on the Earth. Imagine different people, from different backgrounds and locations, who have never had any contact, coming up with similar creation stories. It’s incredible. I believe man looked at the world seeing its beauty, and the only explanation he could conclude was that nothing human could have created such magnificence. The complexity of the world and its organisms is far too great to be simply explained. Religion has had its place in history and certainly has its place in the modern world. Civilizations have been built on religious beliefs and cannot easily be ignored. Religious stories are deep rooted in every culture. It can be seen in a peoples’ morality. Take biblical teachings for example: Stories like the Good Samaritan or the 10 Commandments, define how people live their daily lives. The “stories” that people believe in define who they are as a person and as a whole.

The Aborigine and Maori creation stories are also deeply rooted with ideas of morality. By understanding a culture’s idea on creation one can see the very basic outline of its values. Both the Aborigine and Maori stories were centered on family and a balance of power between the gods. A big part of both stories was nature and interacting with one’s environment. This is seen through the presence of animals, forests, and water. Humans are seen as superior to animals, but the stories describe harmony between them. Respect for their surroundings appears to be present in the nations’ cultures. Aside from this harmony the stories also describe separation. The Sun Mother was sent on a mission away from the Father of All Spirits in the Aboriginal story, and the children of Sky Father and Earth Mother separated their parents in the Maori stories (similar to Greek mythology). These ideas may prove to show these people believe in parental respect, but realize the importance of change in order to create a better future (awake the spirits/create life in the Aboriginal story and bring light upon the world in the Maori story).

Tane pushes Sky Father and Earth Mother apart ->

The similarities seen in the Aboriginal and Maori stories can be countered with the differences. The Australian story has a light tone whereas the Maori story had a very dark tone. The Australian spirits willingly separated for the betterment of the world. The Maori gods had to force their parents apart through physical violence. According to the stories, the Australian culture would seem to be more open to change and the Maori culture would react more violently to change. These differences may be the result of the effect of different locations or different ancestral regions. The answer is unclear but the values projected through the different cultures’ creation stories can be seen in the daily life of their people throughout history.

It is easy for people today to accept the ideas of science and forget or disregard their culture’s religious beliefs. I think just accepting a simplistic answer cannot be enough to explain the wonders of the world. Many people are overcome by doubt because a scientific discovery may prove an aspect of their religion wrong. If there is one thing wrong with the theory, they believe there are more. Soon, these people no longer know what to think. The amazing complexity of life on Earth or the vast expanses of space should be proof enough that there is a power far beyond science. If anything, the new discoveries in science should prove this even further. Take the Law of Conservation of Matter: matter cannot be created or destroyed, it must have a source. So where did our matter come from? We had to come from a powerful source. The idea of a God is universal in cultures around the world; it cannot be proven or disproven by science, and is up for individual interpretation.

I believe that everyone is open to their own interpretation of life and creation. Personally, I believe God is real and that living through Him will change one’s outlook on life. I believe God created us with high hopes that we would live our lives through faith and belief. I am a Christian and agree with the creation story that God created light, the universe, life on Earth, etc. I think that science can coexist with religion in certain areas. For example God created the Heavens, the Earth, and light, and then the next day He created the water on the Earth. Science explains this as being over the expanse of approximately 10 billion years. A single day may have been seen as a longer period of time, we are just interpreting it wrong. I grew up with faith in Christianity; the stories I grew up learning morals from have helped shape me into the person I am today.

I don’t believe science will ever be able to prove where humans originated because it is simply beyond our comprehensible capabilities. There is a reason for why we can’t know all the answers to our questions.

Blog 2: The Journey Itself is Home

1. Why do you travel? Do your reasons align with Iyer’s essay? Please explain.

There is not an easy answer to this question. There must be hundreds of reasons for why I travel. An important one: because I love it! I love experiencing and getting to see new places and cultures. I agree with Iyer even more now than I did before the China trip. I completely agree that “we travel, initially, to lose ourselves; and we travel, next, to find ourselves.” We travel to lose ourselves so we can understand new cultures, but by doing so, we soon discover new things about ourselves. By the end of the journey, you’re hooked.

We travel for the little things just as much as we travel for the big ones. The small ones are actually what make a trip the most memorable. Spontaneity is what keeps you excited on a trip, and even in life. Living for the moment is much more fun and rewarding than sitting there pondering if you should poke your head out of the comforting background. My lesson: Live your life. If I hadn’t put myself out there in the action on the China trip last year, what would have happened? I would have sat on the sidelines, in my comfort zone, wondering for the rest of my life what those moments would have felt like. I don’t want to spend my life in wonder. I want to live. Why do I travel? I travel for the adventure. You only get a short amount of time on this Earth, how will you spend it?

2. Iyer says, “The real voyage consists not in seeing new places, but in seeing with new eyes.” What does this mean? How might this relate to you?

A change in perspective can truly make a trip memorable. By being put right in the middle of a new culture you’re faced with two options: embrace it or judge it by choosing to point out the differences. While embracing a new culture, you’re able to achieve a wider view on the world. When you are taken from the pretences of your normal comforting life, you are given new eyes. You can then see the world without complaints and you are able to give your own interpretation of life based on your own true experiences. We travel for these new eyes in particular. By stepping back and looking at ourselves with these new eyes we discover things inside of us we never really understood before.

After the China trip last year, it became a little easier for me to talk to people and participate in activities that were clearly out of my comfort zone before the trip. Obviously this is a difficult task, and I often find myself shrinking back into my turtle shell, but on the trip I realized I didn’t have to be shy. This may sound like a silly realization, but I now try to push my limits because I know that once I put myself out there, I feel more comfortable being myself in front of people I don’t know very well, which has been a struggle for me my entire life.

This new perspective allows us not only to see the beauties of a new culture and understand ourselves better; it also allows us to see our own nation better. Through the eyes of a new culture, we are able to look at our own culture and see what the rest of the world sees of us. Whether it is good or bad, we can understand it once we are far enough away from our daily lives and agree to accept new concepts. While in this new country with new insights on our own culture, we have the choice to help change the views that the people we meet have on our nation (we want to make a good impression).

3. Iyer says, “What gives value to travel is fear.” What does this mean? How might this relate to our journey?

No matter how brave you are, there will always be fear residing in travel. The fears change from place to place, but they are always present. Becoming lost, losing baggage, illness, and being stolen from were some of my top fears while traveling to China. Another challenging fear I had to overcome was the fact I had never been that far away from home before or away from my family for that long. Fear may be one reason that draws people to traveling. Fear brings a sense of excitement to things. Just like adrenalin junkies are drawn toward scary movies and roller coasters, travelers are drawn to new places and new experiences. When you overcome a fear you are rushed with an intense amount of emotion; pride, hope, encouragement, excitement, etc. I believe the personal challenge of pushing one’s limits gives value to traveling like Iyer stated.

4. Iyer talks about a traveler being a human “carrier pigeon”, transporting ideas and culture from one society to another. Do you believe that travelers have a responsibility to share their knowledge and experience with all they visit and those they return to?

Travelers are literally carrier pigeons as they move from place to place, collecting their own ideas on different cultures and gathering a wide view on the world. Many people are not as privileged as we are and may never be able to visit another country and experience the things we will get to see. We are very lucky and should be eternally grateful for all of our fortunes and for the opportunity to see the world. I know I am. The people who cannot experience the world for themselves, whether it be because of insufficient funds or a restricting government, they rely on other travelers to relay their memories and experiences so they can create their own opinion on other nations and the world as a whole. Travelers help bring upon cultural diffusion. As Iyer states, “…we carry values and beliefs and news to the places we go, and in many parts of the world, we become walking video screens and living newspapers, the only channels that can take people out of the censored limits of their homelands.” As I have said before, as travelers we need to set a good example for the people in other nations, so we can leave a positive impression on them about the people from our country. While we are in a foreign land, we represent our nation as a whole to the people living in the country we’re visiting. When we come home, we then represent a gateway to a new culture to the people in our country. As a result we should share our stories to give others the opportunity to initiate their thoughts on other countries (Well… that and who doesn’t like a good story?!). This is why we are making these blogs- So we can share our story and our knowledge to better everyone’s understanding of the world around us.

5. “Travel, then, is a voyage into that famously subjective zone, the imagination, and what the traveler brings back is-and has to be-an ineffable (def: deep) compound of himself and the place, what’s really there and what’s only in him.” As your teachers, this is our favorite quote. Please find your favorite quote and explain why you chose it.

“Abroad is the place where we stay up late, follow impulse and find ourselves as wide open as when we are in love. We live without a past or future, for a moment at least, and are ourselves up for grabs and open to interpretation. We even may become mysterious-to others, at first, and sometimes to ourselves-and, as no less a dignitary than Oliver Cromwell once noted, “A man never goes so far as when he doesn’t know where he is going.””

This is one of my favorite quotes because it reminds me of some of my favorite memories in China. The spontaneous actions made the trip incredible for me. I like this quote because it reminds me to live for the moment. I like the idea that while we are without a past or a future, we are able to open up to interpretation. I love the quote from Cromwell at the end as well because it paints a nice picture of living through impulse. While we travel we are free and open to the beauty around us.