Cambodia: Learning Service & Community Building (Summer)

It is ridiculous to think that one could choose one event that alone led to the most learning. The course was an entity built up from thousands of minute segments. Simply labeling one of these moments as "the most influential" is like trying to feel the power of a storm from a single raindrop. The course was profound, sincere, authentic, influenceable, and unforgettable. Health and Safety: Knowledgeable instructors kept our safety a priority.

Weather you are called by the the vibrant, green rice patties of southeast Asia or the warm plains of west Africa, responsibly traveling the world with Where There be Dragons is an elucidating experience. Dragons courses are intentionally designed to foster a global citizen. My Dragons-Cambodia course revealed a way of life that is very different from my familiar, midwestern comfort zone, but simultaneously impressed upon me that we all share one world. Cambodia is especially beautiful, full of rice, ice coffee, wrinkled smiles, beeping motorbikes, incense, and saffron robes. However, it is also plagued with political vice, human rights violations, limited access to education, and a cruel past. The spirit of Cambodia is infectious--full of determination, kindness, and potential. What I learned in and about Cambodia has translated into all aspects of my approach to life.

It's been two years now since I went to Cambodia with a small group of committed peers and instructors, and I still feel its influence on my life every day. This program, with its absolutely authentic commitment to cultural engagement, deep questions and challenging scope, has fundamentally shaped the way I approach the world and helped me grow in incredible ways, as well as giving me lifelong friends and partners in change. I don't think there is anything like it!