Carly Hosford Israel's photos from Panama

Carly says "The global issue for these photos is the exploitation of indigenous people through tourism. That is not to say that this past trip to Panama provided this experience, but rather that it taught me the alternatives to this problem. These photos to me symbolize the most important aspect of tourism being positive human connections. Ultimately, these connections could lead to an un-diversified monoculture of assimilation, but if people constantly lived with this fear there would be not travel industry."

Melannie Levine's photos in Thailand on CRC

"10,000 Monks Charity Event" Chiang Mai, Thailand

What happens when you have 10,000 monks collecting alms, people donating food, and the Thai military present to lend a hand? A HUGE charity event for the monks in southern Thailand. The issue of human rights has existed as long as humans have been around and it affects people in every part of the world. Southern Thailand has a large number of Muslims who do not want to change their ways from being practicing Muslims and, yet, the Thai government says they must if they are going to reside in Thailand. Military action has been brought against the Muslims so some Muslims have started to fight back by hurting and killing monks living near them. The quantity of the food being collected on this day alone will not rid the world of lack of human rights or even Thailand of lack of human rights, but every mouthful counts to lending a hand to those in need.



"Dragons are Extinct" Golden Triangle, Thailand

Although we should have been remorseful knowing that dragons and serpents of this size no longer exist, we could not help but take advantage of such an opportunity to get about half our class on the back of this creature.



"Boundaries" Golden Triangle, Thailand

What do you see? I see trees, water, buildings, land, sky, and clouds. Others see three countries (Burma, Laos, and Thailand), three sets of laws, three living conditions. One's way of life (from birth to death) is completely determined by the human invention of borders and boundaries.



"A Religious Peace" Plikweewek Buddhist Retreat outing near the Burmese border in Thailand

Peace has been sought after for thousands of years. Five of our CRC peers have incorporated what we have learned throughout the semester of comparing several religions, and taken a stand on their version of peace.

Elsa Little's photos on CRC

"Stop Child Trafficking"
This mural was painted on the wall of an elementary school for children at high risk of being trafficked into child labor or sex work.


"March of the Monks"
The soldiers pay respect to the 10,000 Monks that gather in procession to collect alms (mostly food donations) to help feed other monastics in the South.


"Golden Triangle"
A peaceful view of Burma (to the left) and Laos (to the right), leaves the military violence on the border unnoticed.

Larissa Fardelos' photos in Taiwan and Thailand on CRC

Julie Virgin plays with some young girls during a visit to a rural school in Northern Thailand.


The students return to their rooms next to the lotus pond after a morning of teaching English to novice monks in a nearby high school during the meditation retreat. Service learning was incorporated into the meditation retreat, along with lectures on Theravada Buddhism and lessons in mud hut building, rice harvesting, monk etiquette and such.


Matching in white meditation outfits in front of the large Buddha statue recently erected near the monastery where the CRC students had a Theravada Buddhist meditation retreat in Northern Thailand.


CRC students greeting the approaching typhoon off the coast of Taiwan.

Brianna Deutsch's photos from Thailand on CRC

Brianna's photos were taken while on a CRC trip to a Buddhist monastery in northern Thailand. Students spoke with the head of a Burmese refugee camp and visited a school for Burmese refugees. They were also able to teach English to novice monks, many of whom were Burmese orphans. The situation in Burma causes many ethnic minorities to flee into Thailand, particularly those in the Shan State of Burma. In some cases, once they reach Thailand they are forbidden to leave the refugee camp, or their family has been killed trying to cross the border. They face a hard life, yet are still full of hope and joy.

Sophie Kirpan's photos in Thailand on CRC

4) Global Issue: Variation in Culture

CRC students visited a school attended by these laughing lads where 80% of the pupils are Shan (an ethnic minority from Burma) and the remaining 20% are a mix of Chinese and Li-Zu people.

Image captured by Sophie Kirpan on November 6th, 2009 during the Comparative Religion and Culture program, Thailand.

3) Global Issue: Inclusion in Society

CRC students are led by Ting Lee in a dance party at The Healing Family Foundation, an NGO working to provide adults with disabilities a place to do art and practice life skills as a way to contribute to and participate in society.Image captured by Sophie Kirpan on November 12th, 2009 during the Comparative Religion and Culture program, Thailand.

2) Global Issue: Sustainable Farming or Big Business Agriculture?

CRC students help the monks harvest rice in the paddy during a five day Buddhist meditation retreat. Image captured by Sophie Kirpan on November 4th, 2009 during the Comparative Religion and Culture program, Thailand.

1) Global Issue: Understanding Another Religion

Invited by a monk to meditate in a cave below a Buddha statue, CRC students James and Molly open up to a new religion.Image captured by Sophie Kirpan on November 26th, 2009 during the Comparative Religion and Culture program, Thailand.

Adam Brooks' photos in India

A sticker adorns the steps of a temple at Jaisalmer Fort in Rajasthan. The footprints
featured are those of the goddess of wealth and prosperity, Lakshmi, whose presence is anticipated in the homes of Indians each Diwali.

Workers at Jaipur Foot, the world's largest prosthetic provider, craft knees and lower legs for patients. The organization is a model for how hundreds of thousands of the world's amputees can be assisted, free of charge.

A butcher in Jaipur, Rajasthan carefully, but confidently, slices mutton by gripping the
knife between his toes. I assisted my host father to this shop to gather ingredients for dinner.

Elise Stukenberg's photos from Keeta Village, India

"Peacock Silhouet"

In Keeta village, everyone awakes with the sunrise, I was pleased to find peacocks greetings us with the mornign light.

"Home Cooking"

After a full day of road work, my host mother cooks us dinner over a wooden clay fire; the meal took hours to prepare.

"Dada"
A small boy named Ramesh sits with his Dada, meaning grandfather in Hindi.

"Burden of Sand"

The women of Keeta village manually carry sand to make a road that will connect their village to the main highway.

Susan E Smith's photos from Rincon de la Vieja National Park, Costa Rica

Hiking inside of Rincon de la Viaja Volcano's crater. What kind of impact does making a trail have?

Swimming in La Cangreja lagoon, at the foot of Rincon de la Vieja Volcano, where the springs trickling into the water are warm from the underground lava. Does swimming in the lagoon affect the water?

Hiking out of Rincon de la Viejo Volcano's crater, down through the lava shoots. Does walking on the hardened lava create erosion?

Looking at the pure beauty of a waterfall from the source of the Colorado River pouring down Rincon de la Viaja Volcano. Could we drink this water here and also after it passes through the town that is down just outside of the National Park?

Julie Virgin's photo in Thiland on CRC

A family waiting to send their latern during Loi Drathong (Festival of Lights), Northern Thiland

The Lotus Pond outside of the little mud huts the CRC students lived in during a five day meditation retreat with Theravada Buddhists, Northern Thailand.

Students teaching English to novice monks (monks under 20 years old) along the Thai/Burmese border.

This photo is of a blind street musician singing in the middle of the Sunday Night Market, in CHiang Mai, Thailand.

Molly Dutton-Kenny's photos from India

"Man throwing out trash"
"Honestly it just ends up in the same place," we were told on throwing trash out the window from a train, or throwing it away in our apartment in the city.

Student Anna Vreeland at the Nandi Hills outside of Bangalore. "All of Karnataka (the India state of Bangalore is in) used to look like this. It's a shame, really," our friend told us surveying the landscape and pointing out the city link in the distance.

"Maintaining tradition in the face of globalization"
Student Sandra Marin lights Diwali candles at the India Center.

"Capturing antiquity, tourism at ancient attractions"
Student Sandra Martin at the Amber Fort in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India.

Dean Glass in Costa Rica with the students and staff

Carly Hosford-Israel's photos in Costa Rica

This photo was taken in La Carpio with the children in the Montessori.

This photo was taken in Boruca as students listened and learned about the process of making Boruca crafts.

This photo was taken in La Carpio as Kristen was playing and learning in the Montessori with the children.

This photo was taken during Spanish class as we fresh squeezed orange juice to go along with our Costa Rican cooking.

Susan E Smith's photos from Nicaragua

A woman selling "quesillos" on the Nicarguan/Costa Rica border. I am positive that the quesillo that I bought from this woman and ate made me sooooo sick. Lesson: Do NOT eat street food! What I find interesting is the Walmart plastic bag she uses for trash...
Meat for sale in the local Wimes Market, Managua.

Los pollitos dicen "pio, pio, pio."

I guess they're selling pork today.