Beijing: The Missing Piece - Posted to The World is a Book: A Page in Rwanda by Lydia

For me it is all symphonic, and I am so aroused by living – In you alone I have found the same swelling enthusiasm, the same quick rising of the blood, the fullness. Before, I almost used to think there was something wrong. Everybody else seemed to have the brakes on. But when I feel your excitement about life flaring, next to mine, it makes me dizzy. – Anais Nin, Henry and June I draw my coat tighter.. (Read More)

Moving On - Posted to Finding Sustainable Solutions by Bens

As I continue on this journey, I have decided to create my own website to keep people updated on my progress and maintain all my work. The web site can be found at searchingforsustainability.com . I will be updating it periodically on my thesis progress as well as some other projects I have begun working on since returning to school. Once again thank you everyone for reading along and hope you continue to follow this adventure. .. (Read More)

Beginnings... - Posted to Digital Citizen by Pcivetta

This summer, I will embark on a journey to Tanzania, Ukraine, Turkey, Jordan, India, Thailand, New Zealand, Argentina, and Brazil. At each destination, I will research the ways in which digital technologies are fostering civic engagement and government accountability. .. (Read More)

Home Away From Home Away From Home Away From Home…. - Posted to Journey to the East by Nnr234

And now I am nomadic.  After a grueling semester (better spent than any other), I get to do a bit of traveling.  In fact, the traveling began last weekend, as a few buddies and I ventured to one of the world’s most valuable ports, Singapore, to celebrate my friend Dan’s birthday.  Singapore is….    clean.  Weird clean.  That country seems to run like a good business.  For example, in Singapore there is no crossing the street.  Well, on some off-roads there is, but more often than not, pedestrians must use underpasses, because they are safer.  Also, there are designated taxi queues. .. (Read More)

The Final Adventure - Posted to “He who desires peace should prepare for war.” by Britta

Dear friends, The title of this post is a bit of a misnomer, as I will not be telling the story of the end of my time in London.  Instead, I am going to attempt a feat so outlandish, so unprecedented, that you will hardly believe your eyes.  I am going to tell you about my trip- in chronological order. I could spend another paragraph excusing or apologizing for my past inconsistency, but I once heard a Garrison Keillor monologue about a woman who accidentally-on-purpose lets her husband freeze to death because over their decades of marriage, his apologies grew worse than.. (Read More)

In the land of Ultimate Satisfaction - Posted to South African Soliloquy by Alina

(Otherwise known as the U.S.) I’ve been back for nearly a month, and in that month I’ve felt all of the South African influences and idiosyncrasies that I picked up slowly slipping away. But every now and then, I’ll feel a pull in the back of my mind, and I’ll realize how different things are here in America with a sudden jolt. The first time I went to Wal-Mart with my dad, it had only been a day after my return. I’d gotten used to being alone in South Africa, but I guess I was more jittery than I realized. When my.. (Read More)

You mean this isn't another cat Tumblr? - Posted to Front Seat Solidarity by Angela MW

New York is full of distractions...  such as ABC No Rio's precious kitty, who rolls around all over the zines I attempt to read. Hey, it's not my fault there are now tufts of cat hair nestled in the crumbling pages of the early issues of Profane Existence. (Read More)

Slow Start - Posted to Talking About Music by Admin

One of my friends won an undergraduate research grant last summer--in fact, she inspired me to apply for a grant myself. Though my friend ultimately had a great experience, she confessed that doing research--even research about something she loved--could be tedious, difficult, and dull. At the time, I nodded my head in agreement, but internally, I scoffed. She had the opportunity and resources to study an interesting topic according to her own schedule! How could that be difficult or dull? Three weeks into my research, and I begin to understand. Integral to my study is locating three.. (Read More)

Adapting, forcefully - Posted to Où habite Abhit: Dakar, Senegal by Abhit

I’ve been researching in Dakar for almost six weeks, and despite unforeseen obstacles, I’m pleased with how my project has taken shape. As I said in a previous post, I knew the realities of field research in an unfamiliar country would require me to adapt my original research plan, and I was preparing for the unexpected. Coming in with this mindset has definitely been helpful—being adaptive has proven the most important requirement to doing researching in Senegal. Take for example the Supreme Court’s archives. My plan was to go there, find and make copies of the legal cases relevant to my research,.. (Read More)

a chile po! - Posted to Regresando a Sudamérica, Summer in Buenos Aires by Mrr870

I have been tear gassed twice in my life, both times in Chile. The first time was last year after a fútbol match. Most recently, I got caught up in student marchas protesting the Chilean educational system. Jackey and I had decided to take a short trip to Santiago to visit some friends and load up on pisco and palta (pisco is grape brandy and is a favorite among Chileans and palta=avocado). [caption id="attachment_67" align="alignright" width="150" caption="smoggy Santiago"][/caption] Before arriving I had heard a little bit about the school strikes, but I didn’t.. (Read More)

Back in California: where the sun is shining, tacos are readily available and everyone keeps being friendly to me. - Posted to Поехали! Adventures in Russia by Shaunacy

A stranger walking his dog down the street at 10am on a Monday morning said Good morning to me as I passed him. He had almost entirely gone by before he said it, and it took me a little by surprise, though it’s not unusual around here. There’s a bond that comes with being the only two people out on a path in the morning, the bond of mutual exercise or mutual enjoyment of the perfect weather, something like that. It’s polite. But it’s not something that Russians do, and after eight weeks I grew mostly accustomed to the lack.. (Read More)

New Mural in Memory of Innocent Victim of Gang Violence - Posted to Pilsen Pigment by Victoria Sun

Wow, seeing a mural in the making? I never thought I would have the fortune to come across a freshly-painted work. Luckily for me, my friend Jake told me about a new mural that is located about a block east of the 18th Street El stop. About fifteen youths were working on the mural on Wednesday. Their t-shirts indicated that they are participants in the After School Matters Program, which aims to draw youths in Pilsen toward the arts and away from gangs. Wanting to find out more about the project, I.. (Read More)

Parting thoughts from the world's worst blogger... - Posted to A Cemetery Summer by Skt511

So I managed a total of four posts, two while on the island... Pathetic, I know. The thing is, I discovered a lot of things about myself over this summer, and one of the most important ones might be that I do quite well without internet. In fact, I kind of enjoy it. My computer now looks threatening whenever it's turned off in a corner. It's saying "soon you'll need to use me and you'll be forced to stare into the 13 inches of my screen for hours on end". No thanks. I'd rather be outside. What I'm really trying.. (Read More)

Nos Vemos En Argentina! - Posted to On The Edge by Admin

Is this a dream? Somebody please pinch me now. In less than a week I will be stepping off the plane and entering the international Ezeiza airport of Buenos Aires, Argentina. A bit surreal perhaps, considering that almost a year ago I had stepped off that oh so long plane ride and frantically searched for one specific sign ushering the rest of my study abroad group on to the taxis that took us to our host families. After studying abroad in Buenos Aires last fall, I never thought I would be awarded the opportunity to return to the captivating city,.. (Read More)

Pack, unpack, pack, unpack. Pack! - Posted to Viajera Permanente by Aja

[caption id="attachment_113" align="alignnone" width="655" caption="My job for the day...."][/caption] You would think that by now I would be a pro at cramming my life into a couple of suitcases. In the past few months I’ve had to pack up everything from my room on campus, get half of it ready for moving into my new apartment this winter, get the other half to fit into some baggage to take on the first leg of studying abroad, unpack and find enough space to fit everything into the.. (Read More)

Define "Success" - Posted to Flashmobs in Chicago by Cas423

Since my research began, one of the most important things I have learned is that not all flash mobs go on to YouTube fame. Actually, my past two flash mob experiences have left me feeling a bit like this guy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bd8ppk0UCx8 The first flash mob I am referring to occurred during Reading Week this past Spring Quarter. During this week, a flash mob produced by GoEnnounce (a company that makes graduation announcements) was scheduled. There were close to 30 participants, the choreography was cute, and everyone was very enthusiastic to perform. Unfortunately, since there are no classes during Reading Week, the.. (Read More)