EDU-TOURISM

Reimaginging the City

2012-02-18T10:14:00.002-05:00

Reimaginging the City: Washington Square Arboretum, a photo by Edu-Tourist on Flickr.There are many cities besides the one that visitors glimpse through the lens of the guided tour. Old American cities like Philadelphia repay multiple visits and an openness to serendipity. On my quick visit yesterday I had time to kill before visiting with a potential masters student for a lunchtime chat.

Stony Brook U.: sustainable living?

2011-11-06T17:56:00.001-05:00

"this bus used to run on vegetable oil", a photo by Edu-Tourist on Flickr.I'm looking forward to learning more about green initiatives on the Stony Brook University campus. Perhaps it is because I work in the bowels of the Health Sciences Center, but it takes a lot for information to filter down to me. The website is helpful but wish there was an event were I could get some of my questions

Memories of Edinburgh

2011-09-30T17:50:00.001-04:00

Victoria Street, a photo by Lawrence OP on Flickr.This image took me back fourteen years to my first days in Edinburgh. If I remember correctly, all of the new exchange students were delivered by bus to their various residences throughout the city. After getting settled at Rankin House, I took the few days before classes began to explore my local environment. The neighborhood around Edinburgh

Reconstruction of the Fables

2011-09-30T11:21:00.001-04:00

1895 Columbia Bicycle Ad, a photo by Edu-Tourist on Flickr.The times that are a'changin:1. Resignation of Temple University President Ann Weaver Hart, moving to Utah to care for her ailing mother.2. Resignation of Stony Brook Medical Center Chief Executive Dr. Steven Strongwater.3. News of the official breakup of classic 80s college radio band R.E.M.Via Flickr:This is the original Columbia

Coming to the street near you

2011-09-06T10:16:00.001-04:00

The Child Eater, a photo by cartoongoddess on Flickr.We are looking forward to quieter evenings now that the rambunctious youth of Port Jefferson Station are being redirected back to the life of the mind. We will see how long that lasts ;-)

Passaic River

2011-08-31T11:41:00.001-04:00

Hurricane Irene Aftermath: Submerged Jitney Buses in Paterson, New Jersey, a photo by jag9889 on Flickr.In the summer of 1991 I worked for a week with a Habitat for Humanity affliate in Paterson, New Jersey. I was struck by the ethnic diversity of this post-industrial city and by the awesome natural setting of the falls that gave birth America's first planned industrial development.Unfortunately

reflections over an early morning cup of jo

2011-08-30T09:20:00.001-04:00

reflections over an early morning cup of jo, a photo by Edu-Tourist on Flickr.Via Flickr:Location: Bagels "N" a Hole Lot More650 Patchogue Road, Port Jefferson Station, New YorkThis was our family's first major tropical storm. Carla, my wife, has been on service at the Stony Brook Medical Center all week. She came in early to help out with storm preparation.And now that the storm has moved

Visitor from the Tropics

2011-08-27T18:27:00.002-04:00

Hurricane Irene Viewed From Google Earth Weather Satellite (8-27-11), a photo by 54StorminWillyGJ54 on Flickr. Last year Carla and I visited Jamaica's Southeast Coast over the U.S. Labor Day Weekend. We were lucky to make it down to celebrate out 10th anniversary in a country we have grown to love, since Air Jamaica canceled the flight we were originally booked on. Earl turned out to be a

Litter Free Philadelphia Campaign

2011-08-16T10:24:00.001-04:00

Litter Free Philadelphia Campaign, a photo by Edu-Tourist on Flickr.imagine these sidewals as the art of our handsenvision these blocks as our sacred land.one man's trash scars another person's treasurebut one thoughtful action makes a community betterthis is our Earth with its beautiful bodythis is our city with its beautiful faceVia Flickr:Thoughtful campaign to present a cleaner, litter free

Reconnecting to place

2011-08-12T09:05:00.001-04:00

view of a bridge, bridge with a view, a photo by Edu-Tourist on Flickr.Working at Stony Brook University's Health Sciences Center is both a joy and a challenge. My office is a windowless bunker in the bowels of the complex, but only a few steps away one finds this wonderful expanse of roof terrace gardens. Unfortulately, few of hospital employees take responsibility for these exterior spaces.

Advertisement for Bluepoints Company, Inc.

2011-08-07T12:20:00.001-04:00

"Especially popular in 1817", a photo by JFGryphon on Flickr.Though originally named for Blue Point, Long Island, where this oyster is said to have been first found, "bluepoint oyster" is now used as a general term referring to any of many small Atlantic oysters from 2 to 4 inches long. They are considered the best for eating on the half shell. Read more: http://www.answers.com/topic/

New Historical Marker for Setauket Village Green

2011-04-09T19:10:00.001-04:00

New Historical Marker for Setauket Village Green, a photo by Edu-Tourist on Flickr.If the cars speeding down Main Steet can slow down long enough, they will learn that the Setauket Village Green was site of first settlement in the Town of Brookhaven (April 15, 1655) and was involved in the Battle of Setauket (August 22, 1777). Setauket Presbyterian Church and Caroline Episcopal Church jointly

Town Hall - Town of Highlands, New York

2011-04-02T12:12:00.001-04:00

Town Hall - Town of Highlands, New York, a photo by Edu-Tourist on Flickr.Via Flickr:I returned to Highland Falls to contest the ticket I received during my fall visit shortly after taking these photographs: Palisades Parkway; Death Head.

Long Island Greenbelt Trail at State Route 111

2011-03-31T16:27:00.004-04:00

Long Island Greenbelt Trail at State Route 111, a photo by Edu-Tourist on Flickr.Via Flickr: This photograph was taken during a hike led by Shari on the central portion of the Long Island Greenbelt Trail. The hike on Marsh 19, 2011 was sponsored by the Long Island Greenbelt Trail Conference, a group of volunteers across Long Island who enjoy outdoor activities and look after an extensive trail

Field Report: Soldiers & Sailors Preserve from the Edison Tower

2010-10-31T09:31:00.005-04:00

Note: This post is compiled from the Eco-Tour guide provided by Walter Stochel as well as personal observations - information on upcoming tours (.pdf)Under Amtrak NE Corridoruploaded by Edu-TouristThe State of New Jersey owns 102 acres of parkland/preserves in the Menlo Park section of Edison. The parcels are located in the Southern Branch of the Rahway River watershed. When combined with the

Field Report: Middle States geography meeting in West Point, New York

2010-10-24T13:22:00.012-04:00

Spanning the Hudson, by Edu-TouristThis past weekend, I had the distinct pleasure of attending the 2010 Annual Meeting of the Middle States Division, Association of American Geographers - website. This is always an interesting meeting, but this year it had the added attraction of being held at the historic Thayer Hotel, located on the grounds of the United States Military Academy at West Point,

Field Report: 36th Annual Atlantic Antic Street Fair

2010-09-29T16:35:00.001-04:00

1980s NYC Subway T-shirtsOriginally uploaded by Edu-TouristIt seems like all of Brooklyn turns out for the Atlantic Antic - link. The section of the Avenue from Atlantic Termal (Flatbush Avenue) to the water is turned over to venders and performances. It gets better every year - this is only the second time I've gone. I posted photographs of the day to my flickr photostream. Amongst the

Elegantly Simple

2010-08-29T13:50:00.001-04:00

Eisenhower Interstate System in the style of H.C. Beck's London Underground DiagramOriginally uploaded by Senex PrimeCheck out this wonderful mashup of the U.S. Interstate Highway system and the London Metro. So many stories to tell about this elaborate system of cross-country automobility: the struggle to get the roads built and the sometimes successful community mobilization to resist them.

Exploring Lake Ronkonkoma

2010-08-18T14:59:00.001-04:00

Towns of Smithtown & Brookhaven, from David Burr, An Atlas of the State of New York (1829)Originally uploaded by Edu-TouristOld maps can sometimes reveal patterns in the landscape that will otherwise be missed. Case in point: Lake Ronkonkoma/Sachem. While exploring the headwaters of the Connetquot River, I discovered Islandia and Lakeside, lovely communities that have been able to retaining

Distance and orientation

2010-07-26T14:46:00.001-04:00

LI North ShoreOriginally uploaded by Edu-TouristSummer afternoons out here on Long Island, we often get caught by sudden downpours. Besides the nuisance of having to wipe down my truck's interior, these rains help to clear the air and lend themselves to beautiful sunsets. Last night I was getting out of an extended book-buying session at Huntington's renowned Book Revue to note one of these

Meandering through the Ohio Valley to the way to Missouri

2010-07-12T13:53:00.001-04:00

Ellie at the Original Indiana CapitolOriginally uploaded by PreservationNationI am looking forward to an exciting swing through the Ohio Valley this week on the way to a Dorns/Sullivan reunion in Saint Louis, Missouri. The first night of the trip I will be staying in Morgantown, West Virginia. The second night will be particularly special, as I will be visiting historic Corydon, Indiana. This

Long Island Seasoning

2010-07-08T10:25:00.002-04:00

Living simply on Long IslandOriginally uploaded by Edu-TouristOn July 2, Carla and I celebrated our tenth wedding anniversary at the Stony Brook University Hospital! Carla was pressed into service as an attending physician helping all of the new July 1 interns, while I was being observed expectantly by the Family Practice doctors as my wound grew and then finally began to heal from the healing

Exploring Long Island's East End

2010-07-04T09:27:00.001-04:00

Support farmers - buy locally on Long IslandOriginally uploaded by Edu-TouristThis past weekend, I had the pleasure of exploring Long Island's North Fork with fellow Suffolk County photographers Linda, Tony, Joe and Ann. The highlight of the day for me was the opportunity to explore Orient, New York, which is at the eastern end of the North Fork. Local farmers do a bisk business at the local

Welcome to Port Jefferson Station, NY

2009-10-31T13:01:00.002-04:00

directionally challengedOriginally uploaded by Edu-TouristAfter living in Philadelphia for the better part of the 00s, Carla and Mike have picked up and moved out to Suffolk County, Long Island. This is a strange new world for us. Carla finds that much here reminds her of the countryside she grew up in, but with a twist. Mike has never been anywhere quite like this before. Suburban Ohio certainly

Philadelphia streets may still be mean, but now are also GREEN

2009-09-17T12:34:00.002-04:00

Mean Green Philadelphia Recycling Truck - side viewOriginally uploaded by Edu-TouristPhiladelphia is undergoing a green makeover under the leadership of Mayor Nutter's new Office of Sustainability. Although employees of the City have been taking advantage of PhillyCarShare for several years, the Office of Sustainability is forging new partnerships - facebook. In this blog post, I would like to

St. Thomas, 114 years ago

2009-08-11T09:52:00.004-04:00

The National Library of Jamaica has recently joined the elite group of museums of are sharing some of their valued map collections with the general public. This is one of my favorites so far - a closeup of the parish of St. Thomas from a 1895 map of the island.

Getting a sense of the political landscape on Long Island

2009-08-11T09:03:00.004-04:00

I have recently moved from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, heavily Democratic, to more conservative Suffolk County, Long Island. Although Carla and I certainly aren't fully moved in yet, I am taking the opportunity to become acquainted with some of the local communities. One thing that disturbs me is the xenophobic orientation of many residents. I see this particularly strongly in the organized

The psychology of Caribbean people at home and abroad

2009-03-15T15:43:00.001-04:00

Question and Answer with Sharon-annOriginally uploaded by Edu-TouristCarla and I were lucky enough to be invited to present on work in progress to a supportive audience at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus. The closing performance by Sharon-ann Gopaul McNicol was fitting the the setting, the Old Dramatic Theatre. Dr. Gopaul-McNicol spoke about the need for psychologists to consider

Travelogue

2008-12-27T11:48:00.002-05:00

crosshairsOriginally uploaded by Edu-TouristAs the annual Christmas pilgrimage draws to a close, we thought we might share with our (admittedly few) Edu-Tourism blog readers some glimpes 'from the road. Enjoy, and feel free to share your comments, or better yet your Christmas stories. Mike

Saying Goodbye

2008-07-05T20:06:00.002-04:00

predeparture-photoOriginally uploaded by Edu-TouristWell, all good things must come to an end. This photo documents the last minutes at Carleva Bay for this year's group of Temple University students. 12 in all, they had a great time exploring and working with our partners on projects of their own design. Many of these projects will be continued on future trips.Panograph #3, Morant Point

Photo featured with NPR story

2008-07-04T19:56:00.002-04:00

Kosciuszko National MemorialOriginally uploaded by Edu-TouristEdu-Tourist strikes again! Readers of this blog will recognize that I have been enjoying the opportunity to teach two summer abroad courses in Jamaica for the past five weeks, organizing a field excursion with members of the Kingston Flickr Meetup (see below) and enjoying the hospitality of Ms. Beverley Smith of the St. Thomas

Calm afternoon at Rocky Point, Jamaica

2008-06-21T20:22:00.001-04:00

Rocky Point, JamaicaOriginally uploaded by islandgirlemtAs our driver Mike Marshall reminded us, there are two Rocky Points, one on St. Thomas and the other in Clarendon. Rocky Point in St. Thomas is a sleepy fishing village that affords an opportunity the replentish and relax after a grueling drive on mud track out to the Morant Point Lighthouse. We found this visit to be very educational as

Bath hot springs, Jamaica

2008-06-21T19:17:00.001-04:00

Bath hot springs, JamaicaOriginally uploaded by MeraMMrs Smith described to us now this business had gotten its start.

Bellevue Great House, S. Anne

2008-06-18T06:55:00.001-04:00

Bellvue Coffee PlantationOriginally uploaded by griffjonI hope to be able to visit this coffee plantation on an upcoming trip to Jamaica.

Implications of the informal economy in Oracabessa, St Mary

2008-06-17T12:00:00.001-04:00

And now for something completely differentOriginally uploaded by amataiclaudiusYoung men in Jamaica are raised with the expectation that they will leave school at a young age and hustle in order to support their families. Opportunities for support vary according to the region one lives in. When visiting the National Gallery of Jamaica, I ran across what appeared to be an informal car wash less

Sunrise over the salt pond

2008-06-16T19:54:00.001-04:00

Sunrise over the salt pondOriginally uploaded by Edu-TouristWe have been bringing groups of students to St. Thomas for five years now. For the first two groups, accommodations were arranged at a hotel in Morant Bay. For the past four years, however, the students have enjoyed the opportunity to get to know the rural landscape around Yallahs. The villa purchased by Novella and Nelson Keith in

Returning to the Morant Point Lighthouse

2008-06-05T17:16:00.001-04:00

View of Morant Point Lighthouse Facing East IIOriginally uploaded by Edu-TouristThe Jamaica Flickr Meetup Group is joining with Edu-Tourism, Inc. this week to sponsor an excursion to the Morant Point Lighthouse in St. Thomas. It will be a full day, starting at 7:00 am in Kingston, featuring a drive across a mud track to the easternmost point in Jamaica, and finishing up with hospitality at

PM Bruce Goldring on BBC's "HARDTalk"

2008-05-21T23:22:00.003-04:00

If the Jamaica Gleaner are Jamaica Observer are fair indicators, Jamaicans are standing by their prime minister while awaiting the international backlash. What will come next? How can people with alternative sexual orientation possibly count on protection by rule of law after the homophobic sentiments expressed by Jamaica's new prime minister Bruce Goldring in his BBC interview with Stephen

Blue Mountains Kumina

2008-05-08T11:04:00.010-04:00

This video of a Kumina group was shot by faculty of the University of Indiana at Ambassabeth Cottages, high in the Blue Mountains.To learn more about the history, geography and culture of this region, I recommend the following books. Start planning your own visit and learn from the farmers of Bowden Pen, St. Thomas.Bev Carey (1997) The Maroon Story: The authentic and original history of the

Hurricane Dean news from Kingston

2007-08-19T15:14:00.000-04:00

News from Kingston - Power Going DownSunday, August 19, 2007, 9:00 amBy fwade - moving back to jaIn an hour or so (10am Jamaica time) we are supposed to lose power -- an intentional shut down for safety reasons. There is also a 48 hour curfew that is in place. So you might not be hearing from this part of the world in a few minutes, for what could be a while. What we will have is decent cell

Bloglines - Incremental infrastructure, or how mobile phones might wire Africa

2007-07-05T08:00:00.001-04:00

Bloglines user mdorn (mdorn@temple.edu) has sent this item to you, with the following personal message: Does the expansion of cell phone use in countries like Jamaica offer any insights into development strategies more generally? Power blogger Ethan Zuckerman shares his thoughts. Mike ...My heart's in Accra EthanZ's musings on Africa, media and international development

how do you get there? Cunha Cunha Pass Trail

2007-06-16T10:02:00.000-04:00

As you can see from the photographs I've posted on Flickr ( 'maroon country' photoset ), one of my favorite places to take photographs in Jamaica is a Blue Mountain cultural treasure: the Cunha Cunha Pass Trail (CCPT). The trail runs between Maroon communities of Hayfield in the Parish of St. Thomas and Millbank in Portland. Local historians have traced the origins of the CCPT back the indigenous

Jamaican news

2007-06-12T17:07:00.001-04:00

Stamp to Mark 200th Anniversary of Abolition of Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade LaunchedKINGSTON (JIS)Sunday, June 10, 2007The Postal Corporation of Jamaica has launched a commemorative stamp to mark the bicentenary anniversary of the abolition of the trans-Atlantic trade in enslaved Africans. The stamp, which is available to the public at a cost of $30, bears the picture of a dove to symbolize peace,

Oprah's Leadership School for South African Girls

2007-01-05T19:30:00.000-05:00

U.S. talk show queen Oprah Winfrey, right, shares a podium with former South African President Nelson Mandela, left, as students look on, during the official opening of Winfrey's Leadership Academy for Girls School at Henley-on-Klip, South Africa, Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2007....(photo supplied by Harpo Productions Inc.)This school, located in Midvaal Local Municipality southeast of Johannesburg (

Upcoming trip to NYC - Chinatown and the LESTM

2007-01-03T10:12:00.000-05:00

NYC - Chinatown: Manhattan Bridge Arch - Spirit of CommerceOriginally uploaded by wallyg.I am looking forward to my trip to New York next weekend. Margot and Chris live in Brooklyn, and we are going to meet up earlier in the day to visit the Lower East Side Tenement Museum (LESTM). This is a really great social history museum that profiles the experiences of families that immigrated to the United

Jamaica: Earning a quick dollar in the ghetto makeover

2007-01-03T09:16:00.000-05:00

Linguist, journalist, blogger Ria Bacon shares a photo of women working on Barbican Road in Kingston, Jamaica as part of the annual city clean-up, spawned not so much by civic pride as by political clientelism. This item was brought to my attention by Global Voices.

Insights in to an Indian melting pot: Gujarat State

2006-12-29T10:34:00.000-05:00

I have been enjoying learning more about the Gujarat region of India. Northwest of Mumbai and south of the Indus River and Pakistan, Gujarat enjoys an expanding economy. As more and more of the region benefits from economic globalization, we start to see a Gujarati presence on social networking websites such as Flickr. Get a taste of this new landscape by searching Flickr for "Gandhinagar," or

Podcast on Globalization and the Rise of Religion

2006-10-15T10:37:00.000-04:00

I am blogging while listening to this week's "Speaking of Faith" podcast, featuring interviews with sociologist of religion Peter Berger and Harvard business professor Rosabeth Moss Kanter. The program offers a fascinating overview of currents that have become more noticable since 9/11, with discussions of the 'clash of civilizations' and the globalization of different religious faiths.I think

TED: Majora Carter (2006) video

2006-09-30T08:57:00.000-04:00

Majora Carter is the Macarthur-winning founder of Sustainable South Bronx, an organization dedicated to holistic community development, sponsoring projects that create jobs, protect the environment and bring beautiful green space to the inner city. In this charismatic presentation (which received a prolonged standing ovation), she explains the inspiration behind her commitment to environmental

Map of the Liberian coast, 1831

2006-08-03T19:16:00.000-04:00

Finley map liberian coast 1831 Originally uploaded by Edu-Tourist.Since returning from Jamaica my travels have been a little bit closer to home. In my spare time (or when I need a distraction, I like to hunt down historic maps on the Internet. This image is taken from an atlas for school use produced by a Philadelphia cartographer in 1831. It is so interesting to read the place names that the

Thanks to everyone for a great trip!

2006-06-18T14:31:00.000-04:00

lighthouse group2Originally uploaded by Edu-Tourist.I'm finally back in Philadelphia for good (at least until we pick up the moving van) and am finally able to find the time and the bandwidth to catch up readers with some of the wonderful stories accumulated during our month in Jamaica. There were too many highlights to the trip for me to be able to pick one. So you are just going to have to

Edu-Tourism in Jamaica - Report #3

2006-06-09T08:04:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone: As our return to Philadelphia approaches, I would like to take some time to update you all on the various sorts of activities we have been engaged in. So expect a flurry of blog posts here. As before, I will begin with a summary of our daily events, and follow with more in-depth description and analysis. More pictures shortly.Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - Working at various

Arrangements for the day - one week left in Jamaica

2006-06-08T08:32:00.000-04:00

Hi Carla,As you can see from the schedule mailed last night, I am off this morning with a group that is heading to Kingston for the day. We have arranged to meet with UWI Prof. Michael Witter, a renowned economist who appears in many documentaries discussing the situation of Jamaican culture and economy. I hope our arrangements to meet with him prove fruitful. Matthew Borda has prepared a

Edu-Tourism's Technological Divide Initiatives

2006-06-05T10:44:00.000-04:00

As described on our NGO main website's Projects Portal, Edu-Tourism has ongoing initiatives in four areas in St. Thomas: the empowerment of teen mothers; the promotion of sanitation initiatives to improve public health indicators; computer initiatives with pre-kindergarten Jamaican youth. We see advances in each of these projects this summer. In January 2004, we began installing computers in

Edu-Tourism in Jamaica - Report #2

2006-05-23T09:57:00.000-04:00

Hello friends and family! I am pleased to offer the following report from our first week in Jamaica. As time allows I will be adding eye candy.Monday, May 15, 2006 - From Philadelphia to Yallahs.- Arrive in the Norman Manley International Airport, Kingston- Stop at the Harbor View Centre for bank machine and Tastee Patties- We were welcomed by news that Yallahs has been largely devoid of rain

Edu-Tourism in Jamaica - Report #1

2006-05-17T15:57:00.000-04:00

I have been traveling to the Parish of St. Thomas in Jamaica for the past three summers along with Nelson and Novella Keith, President and Secretary of Edu-Tourism, Inc. We provide university students with the opportunity to get involved in on-going service projects in this region. The NGO establishes partnerships with local organizations, trying to find interesting opportunities for students

Save Darfur: A rally against genocide

2006-05-01T16:51:00.000-04:00

On Saturday morning, I loaded a 60-seat bus along with six other members of the First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia and headed south on I-95. We were traveling to Washington, DC to participate in a small but very important rally with the goal of bringing to an end the genocide currently being perpetrated against the black Muslim population in the Sudanese region of Darfur. On the way down to

Edu-Tourism's revitalization

2006-04-30T06:55:00.000-04:00

Edu-tourism has always been a side project of Mike Dorn, professor of Urban Education and Disability Studies at Temple University. Efforts to get other students and faculty involved in as co-editors have been largely unsuccessful. Instead of wishing things otherwise, I will proceed with a more appropriately personal approach to posts in this log. The next year will be full of change and

Edu-Tourism 2006 Information session

2005-12-24T13:56:00.001-05:00

To all Temple students and Philadelphians who love Jamaica and want to make a difference ... Get involved in a new student group that will be fundraising and traveling together to Kingston and the eastern parish of St. Thomas, Jamaica this coming late May to mid-June, 2006. We will work hard, do good and have fun. Enroll and earn six Temple University credits.The time to start preparing for the

gosiame (goodbye) to Gabs

2005-11-20T18:00:00.001-05:00

November 20, 2005Dear Friends & Family:My time in Botswana is coming to a close soon. The past 2 weeks have been busy, with busy weeks in the hospital and weekends exploring the wildlife and landscapes of Botswana and nearby.Work at the hospital continues to be intense, with many sick patients, deaths of some of our patients (many younger than us—young doctors in our 20s and 30s hate to see

Touring Southern Africa

2005-11-09T11:15:00.000-05:00

This weekend Carla will be traveling north to visit the famed Chobe Wildlife Reserve. A region rich in the famed flora and fauna of Africa. We all look forward to her report upon her return!One of the greatest natural wonders in Africa, the Falls of the Zambezi River, 5,400 feet wide, 320 feet deep. Named Victoria Falls after the English queen, by the explorer David Livingstone. The falls are

With another week gone, and a little more seasoned, medicine in Botswana is both more familiar and more extraordinary

2005-11-06T23:06:00.000-05:00

November 6, 2005Dear Friends and Family:With another week gone, and a little more seasoned, medicine in Botswana is both more familiar and more extraordinary. The average age of my patients is mid-30s, with a few middle aged diabetics and elderly heart patients, and many young people admitted with HIV, meningitis, wasting syndrome, and coughs suspicious for TB, and often all of these. It’s not

It has been 10 days since I arrived in Africa

2005-10-30T19:35:00.000-05:00

Dear Friends: It has been 10 days since I arrived in Africa. I left Philadelphia at 5:40 am for Atlanta, and waited 3 hours there for the next flight. The flight from Atlanta to Johannesburg, South Africa is the longest I have ever been on, 18 hours including an hour refueling in the Canary Islands. Then after another 3 hours in Johannesburg, it was an hour on a prop plane to Sir Seretse Khama

first days in Botswana

2005-10-23T13:58:00.000-04:00

Dear Mike: Gabarone reminds me of Leon, Mexico and other third-world cities I have seen. The expat cocoon here is quite dense: living in a gated community, restaurants that are predominantly white and foreign clientele, and a language barrier that is profound (despite an official language of English) between us and the elderly and poor because of availability of schooling in the past and present

safe in Botswana

2005-10-20T14:44:00.000-04:00

Dear Friends: I have arrived safely in Gabarone, Botswana after acumulative 21 hours in the air and 6 hours at various airports. It is warmand inviting here, and will be even more so after I have had a nap.More soon ... Love, Carla

Heading to Botswana

2005-10-18T22:02:00.000-04:00

Hi! I'm Carla Keirns, Mike Dorn's wife.Tomorrow I leave for Gabarone, Botswana, where I will spend the next 5 weeks working in a hospital there.For those who don't know it, Botswana is a country of about 2 million people in Southern Africa just north of South Africa and west of Zimbabwae. Its other bordering nations are Namibia and Gambia. The country of Botswana is predominantly Kalahari desert

INFO: Relief for Katrina Victims with Special Needs

2005-09-02T16:25:00.000-04:00

A clearinghouse with Katrina disaster relief information for people withdisabilities http://www.katrinadisability.info/A colleague of mine, Penny Richards, offers her summary of blog discussionand outreach to people with disabilities affected by Katrina,http://disstud.blogspot.com/UCP Greater New Orleans maintains a message board that is being used "toshare information with others on needs,

Hurricane Katrina response

2005-09-02T10:19:00.000-04:00

See my comments to a post on the current state of disaster relief in New Orleans. Atmospheric scientist have noted that we now in an active hurricane cycle. So why wasn't our Homeland Security apparatus drilling for the South Coast's long-anticipated 'Big One' scenario? Scholars in the earth sciences and environmental engineers have long insisted that New Orleans was living on borrowed time.

Hurricane Dennis; from Dave

2005-07-08T18:31:00.000-04:00

Wow - thanks for this news Kingsley. I am sharing this message with ourpast trip participants. I'm glad you are still able to communicate withNovella and Nelson. One wonders how much damage our friends on higherground in Hayfield and Bowden Pen must have seen.Please keep us posted - a blessing that none of our groups were there toexperience this storm.Mike-----Original Message-----From:

hurricane dennis approaches jamaica

2005-07-07T08:35:00.000-04:00

National Works Administration has just posted a news update that Yallahs Ford, known so well to participants on Edu-Tourism trips, is closed due to flooding. The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management reports that the Airport Road is inundated, and communities in the Blue Mountains such as Hagley Gap, Epping Farm and Penlyn Castle are currently inaccessible by road. Of course,

wikipedia: 2005 london transport explosions

2005-07-07T08:26:00.000-04:00

There is a new wikipedia entry for the '2005 london transport explosions.' Wikipedia entries are group edited - as the events unfold the entry will be modified in real time to reflect the unfolding coverage. As the story develops, pay attention to the haunting similarities with the 11 march 2004 madrid attacks.

a day for the history books, and the blogs

2005-07-07T07:50:00.000-04:00

As with most mornings I turn to the television to help me wake up. As usual, when I turn on the TV, the first station to come up is CN-8. I noted that the Yoga Zone show was wrapping up with meditation. Pressing on the remote, the television flips to the station I viewed last night (still stored in its memory). The BBC World News - no coverage the G8 summit, just large white letters against a red

busy hurricane season

2005-07-06T15:43:00.000-04:00

Keep our Jamaican friends in your thoughts as they watch another hurricane approach. Nelson and Novella are still in Yallahs and can share their impressions. It has been a wet summer so far, the busiest start ever to the hurricane season, with four named storms by July 5!Coverage of so-to-be-Hurricane Dennis, from the Houston Chronicle http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/

novella's jamaican update

2005-07-05T10:48:00.000-04:00

I received the following message from Novella on June 29, 2005. She describes the kind of impact that our group is making. I hope it inspires readers of this blog to consider joining us for future trips. MikeJune was wonderful, in terms of our work here. Mike will tell you about the first group. As for the second (we had a group of high school students, the CommuniTech Club from Gratz High School

In the cooperative spirit

2005-07-01T14:18:00.000-04:00

As the Live 8 concert arrives in Philadelphia tomorrow, it may be worthwhile to update everyone on the activities of Edu-Tourism that endeavor to construct first-third world linkages and address difficult social problem. Edu-Tourism board member Nicola Shirley has been working with the fledgeling Women's Center in Morant Bay to explore micro-enterprise initiatives. One of the ideas that is

Edu-Tourism / Sustainable Development June Meetup

2005-06-21T14:31:00.000-04:00

This is going to be an informal meetup for folks who want to learn about Edu-Tourism's activities in Jamaica and to become involved in planning Philadelphia-based activities for the fall. Feature presentation (after it gets dark): Stephanie Black's excellent documentary Life and Debt, on Jamaican economy and society and the impacts of IMF/World Bank-sponsored structural adjustment.When:Thursday,

time to congratulate our latest 'alumni'

2005-06-17T09:15:00.000-04:00

Let me take the opportunity to welcome back a new group of students. This year's Jamaica course is going well - we are in the process of planning a final class session next week, probably at the Jamaica Jerk Hut. Katie Tanner, Kristen Hunter, Colleen Tomaszewski and Dan Savage spent the first half of the month in Jamaica, enjoying the hospitality of Novella and Nelson Keith and the staff at the

accessing computers in the formative years

2005-06-17T09:03:00.000-04:00

Children are using computers at a increasingly early ages in the United States, according to a recent report from the National Center on Educational Statistics. One would like to see this pattern replicated in Jamaica, but we find that schools still lack the infrastructure and trained staff. Many of the basic schools now have one or two computers, but do not have a strategy for making the

jamaica: is universal design on the map?

2005-04-13T20:28:00.000-04:00

Scott Rains notes the challenges that Jamaica presents to travelers with disabilities, as well as some of the steps being taken to overcome them. http://www.rollingrains.com/archives/000401.html

Getting computers into the hands of children

2005-04-05T14:29:00.000-04:00

As our Edu-Tourism initiative places computers in Jamaica's basic schools, we are still aware of the gaps that exist at the primary school level. Non-profits and governments each have roles to play in filling this widening gap. With this in mind, it is heartening to learn of initiatives at MIT to manufacture inexpensive laptops that can be ordered in bulk and brought in by governments. AP

Linking North Philadelphia and Rural Jamaica

2005-03-16T20:20:00.000-05:00

I'm happy to announce an initiative to bring students from the CommuniTech Club at Simon Gratz High School to the Parish of St. Thomas in June, 2005, where they would be installing a computer lab and conducting trainings in computer training and operation. Please consider lending your time and financial support to this important cultural/technological exchange.

The Power of Numbers

2005-03-05T12:40:00.000-05:00

Blogs, like other media, tend to amplify and reinforce viewpoints that have widespread acceptance. Many writers intend to dispel misconceptions, but few have the experience and the tools to do so. I regularly check out Ethan Zuckerman's weblog for insights like the one that he recently offered on African population statistics.

Edu-Tourism Fundraising Walkathon

2005-03-03T18:14:00.000-05:00

***Please put the following event in your calendars!***Get friends, family, coworkers and community members to sponsor your involvement in the Edu-Tourism initiative. Follow this link for the cover letter and sponsorship form (PDF format), http://isc.temple.edu/neighbor/jamaica/walkathon.pdfEdu-Tourism Fundraising WalkathonLocation: Jamaica Jerk Hut, 1436 South Street, Philadelphia; Phone (215)

TU Summer Course in Jamaica - Info Session this Thurs. at Ritter Hall

2005-02-27T03:29:00.000-05:00

Meet with Profs. Mike Dorn and Novella Keith in 303 Ritter Hall on Temple University’s main campus to learn more about an outstanding study abroad experience! Thursday, March 3 from 3:00 to 4:30 pm is the drop-in time to learn more about participating in the Temple University course Ed 321 (undergrad) and 621 (grad): International Service Learning and Community Development. This Summer Session I

Computer installation and training plans for Morant Bay/Yallahs

2005-01-27T08:59:00.000-05:00

From: Novella Keith To: Janice Steinberg Cc: Mike Dorn Subject: Edu-tourism information Hi Jan, hope you are enjoying the snow! Actually, I'm assuming that schools are closed today, but am not sure that's the case. I have some information that hopefully you can use. sorry I didn't get it to you before, but I've been under pressure from some deadlines (and actually that work isn't finished yet

invitation to organizing meeting for summer 2005 trip

2005-01-19T17:39:00.000-05:00

Please come to this meeting if you are interested in being involved in planning this semester, and/or traveling with us to Jamaica in June. Mike We are beginning planning for a Summer I International Service Learning course that will again take students to a rural (non-tourist) area in Jamaica. You are invited to an organizational meeting next week: January 25, from 4 to 5 pm, in Ritter Hall

rita denies recent reports

2005-01-14T17:50:00.000-05:00

From recent press reports: Rita Marley has denied any intentions to exhume Bob Marley's body from Nine Miles in St. Ann and re-inter the remains of Jamaica's most famous citizen at Shashemane in Ethiopia. Coverage in the Jamaica Gleaner and BBC Entertainment News. Very confusing, to say the least. Mike

temple university reflects on the marley news

2005-01-14T13:24:00.000-05:00

Two discussion lists that I subscribe to here at Temple University are currently engaged in a heated debate over the recent news that Bob Marley's widow Rita plans to exhume and rebury his remains near of Addis Ababa in Ethiopia. I may be posting more on this discussion if I find the time. Meanwhile, check out the AP coverage of this story.

"the laud is my shepherd," osmond watson

2004-12-13T20:32:00.000-05:00

"The Laud is My Shepherd," Osmond Watson Originally uploaded by Edu-Tourist. This is one of the fascinating works of art on display at the National Gallery of Jamaica.

national gallery of jamaica

2004-12-13T18:28:00.000-05:00

According to this recent article in the Jamaica Observer, The National Gallery of Jamaica is taking steps to improve its outreach to 'ordinary' Jamaicans. It is a priceless resource, too often overlooked by tourists. It will be interesting to track changes in their programming. When we visited it was still in renovations. They had a very nice bookstore, and were also nice enough to allow us

2005 Gerald L. Davis Memorial Lectures

2004-11-07T18:25:00.000-05:00

From the Philadelphia Folklore Project - An afternoon gathering on Folklore and self-knowledge how stories tell us who we are. . . . “I am not confused about who I am. I am not defined by the accident of my gender or my size or my exceedingly good looks. I am defined by any choices I may have made. . . But where I have gotten to is sacrosanct,” wrote the late great African American folklorist,

Philly Caribbean Link Up!!!

2004-10-30T14:29:00.000-04:00

From: CULTUre040@AOL.COM To: SOCA-L@LISTSERV.TEMPLE.EDU (Student Organization for Caribbean Awareness) U're invited to take a peek @ http://www.rogerculture.com aka http://phillyreggaevibes.com for the Philadelphia Caribbean Community; it's still a work in progress, best viewed with broadband. Your thougths please? Big up to s.o.c.a massive; done know Roger Culture from TU original s.o.c.a

NYTimes: "In Africa, Free Schools Feed a Different Hunger"

2004-10-24T17:21:00.000-04:00

Students throughout the Third World must be able to pay fees in order to attend primary school. In Kenya, the annual fee is $16, the equivalent of what an American family of three might pay for a meal together at McDonalds. Studies by the World Bank have shown that such fees are enough to keep many poor families from sending their children to school. political candidates in democratizing

Lloyd Wilks on Hayfield and Bowden Pen

2004-10-03T11:06:00.000-04:00

From: "JOCAD" Re: Hurricane Ivan's Impacts in Portland and St. Thomas To: "Mike Dorn" Hi Mike, I am sorry but I have to confirm your initial impressions concerning Hayfield. Yes it was hit very hard with an awful lot of collateral damage particularly to crops and infrastructure. The trail has been affected very badly by uprooted trees and broken limbs

2004-09-25T12:53:00.000-04:00

News from Linnette Wilks via Brenda Cushner-George of Ancestral Memories. Our little corner of Shangri-La, the Ambassabeth Cottages at Bowden Pen, sustained serious damage from Hurricane Ivan. The Bowden Pen farmers are making efforts to clear the principal trails, but more funds will be necessary to complete the work and the rebuild the damaged cottages.

concern over our friends in Hayfield

2004-09-24T15:17:00.000-04:00

After our return trip over the Cunha Cunha Pass, we were welcomed back to the Maroon village of Hayfield by Sylvan Sutherland (a.k.a. "Shaggy") and his family. It was a Sunday afternoon and residents were enjoying the fine mountain air. Along the road I stopped to have a conversation to Shaggy's grandfather. With the arrival to Jamaica of Hurricane Ivan a week and a half ago, family's residence

placing the blame: hurricanes and global warming

2004-09-24T14:25:00.000-04:00

Caribbean editors and bloggers are seeking to place partial responsibility for the rash of hurricanes this month on the United States. Does this constitute a collective displacement of blame onto another country? Or is it a case of appealing for international solidarity at a time of great trauma and loss? I'll let you decide, but as with many of these climate-related debates, the jury is clearly

death toll in haiti surpasses two thousand

2004-09-24T14:15:00.000-04:00

It has been a difficult hurricane season in the Caribbean. Americans take notice of Hurricane Jean as it approaches Florida and the East Coast. Yet any student of development will quickly recognize that Jeanne's fury is felt more intensely in countries like Haiti and Jamaica, where infrastructure and building codes are not up the par, and houses cling to steep mountain slopes. You may want to

news of hayfield and bowden pen

2004-09-24T14:09:00.000-04:00

Sylveen Sutherland called me last night, and I returned his call today. His family has lost their residences to Hurricane Ivan. Shaggy also lost his farm. The grandparents are living with his sister near Retreat, the same place he was staying when he visited us at the Whispering Bamboo Cove Resort. Given the crowding at his sister’s, I assume he is what we might call ‘marginally housed’ right now

Theresa Heinz Kerry on Hurricane Aid

2004-09-17T17:13:00.000-04:00

Interesting story on relief efforts being organized in New York.