The Peru Biology Course reports:
We are doing well in the Amazon Basin.

The Italy Fine Arts Course reports:
We are doing well. We will be heading to Florence soon.

The Brazil Course reports:
On Tuesday we spent our last day in Montes Claros by visiting the local hospital where we heard a lecture on their humanization project, made room decorations for the pediatric wing and participated in an arts project. We also attracted local TV coverage again. The pictures are a group shot following the lecture and two students giving interviews to the TV crews.

On Wednesday we visit our next to the last spot, Salvador, the Afro-Brazilian capital. Internet access will become more spotty and updates will probably be less frequent.






The Ireland Course reports:
After crossing a border that we could not see and exchanging Euros for pounds, we have settled into our hotel in Derry. Today we will explore the history of this city at the Tower Museum and then take a walking tour of the murals commemorating Bloody Sunday and the city walls.

The Peru Heritage Course reports:
We have arrived in Cuzco for 3 nights and 2 days of class and local touring.

We spent the last four days in Chivay, Puno and on the island of Amantani. On the way from Arequipa to Puno we crossed over the Andes at 16,000 feet but decided not to stop because of inclement weather. In Chivay, we stayed at a quaint little hotel that Wade Harvey dubbed "the Shire" because it reminded him of the Lord of the Rings. The students enjoyed a visit to the hot springs and a quiet night of adjusting to the altitude. The next morning we awoke early to try to catch a glimpse of the Andean Condors as they rise on the thermal currents. It was a cold morning and even though we saw condors, we did not get a close up view. But wait, we decided to stop for lunch on the edge of the canyon and were treated with three young condors that flew directly over our heads!

After lunch we headed back over the high pass and thanks to better weather we stopped so the students could catch a great view of a series of Andean volcanoes. We then continued on a long bus ride to Puno and Lake Titicaca.

The next morning the students and Don Daniel embarked on their voyage to the floating islands, called the Uros, and onto the island of Amantani. On the Uros Islands, our local guide and island hosts explained to us how the islands were constructed and maintained. The islands are constructed of the roots of the reeds that surround the low water of the bay of Puno and when the reeds die, the roots float like cork. The students were even invited to "eat" the island since parts of the reeds are edible and are a source of fluoride for the locals. After visiting two of the floating islands we traveled across Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world, to Amantani. The people of Amantani invited us with open arms, especially Don Daniel who has visited several times and is blessed to be a godfather to a young girl named Milagros.

After lunch we divided into groups and met the families that would host us for our home stays. The students settled in and then hiked to the top of the island to view the sunset on the lake and get a view of Bolivia. Our first day on Amantani was finished with a fire and dancing. Don Daniel was the first to dance and taught everyone the local dance. At the end of the night the students presented Don Turibio, one of the local elders, with books and supplies to help the school children and pledged that they would try to perpetuate this exchange. All the locals thanked us on behalf of their children and grandchildren.

The next morning was spent working the fields or cooking with our families. For example, Larissa and Lauren plowed the field with Don Benedicto and Annie, Dan, Jordan, and Kelly helped weed and harvest potatoes. After lunch we returned to Puno.

From Puno we headed to Cuzco. The students are currently on their own eating dinner and we will start our formal schedule tomorrow.

The China Course reports:
After coming down from the roof the world, we've arrived at Yunnan Province at the foot of the Himalayas. Everybody just loves Yunnan Province in southern China very much. Here, the air is fresh, the hotel is nice, the food is delicious, and the landscape is beautiful.

Yesterday morning, we visited a small village called Qixing, which is home for Sani people, one of the 56 minority ethnic groups in China. In the afternoon, we enjoyed the fantastic Stone Forest, a unique karst landscape that has been designated as a UNESCO Geopark and World Heritage.

This morning, we went to see the Minority Cultural Village which is an epitome of the 56 minority groups in Yunnan province. While enjoying the various beautiful buildings and unique architectures there, the students had a chance to ride elephants and fly on the zipline.

After lunch, we flew to Lijang, which is believed to be the real location for Shangri-La. Many students have instantly fallen in love with it and don't want to leave for the rest of the course. We'll keep you updated when we start our exciting journey tomorrow!

Here are some pictures from our journey: