News of VIS in ’07 and ’08, and Unique Himalayan “Friends of VIS” tours

News of VIS in ’07 and ’08, and Unique Himalayan “Friends of VIS” tours September 2007 Dear VISionary friends, This past spring, Vermont Intercultural Semesters concluded its third semester for high school students in Ladakh with stellar student exhibitions. Details below, as well as plans for 2008 that include opening VIS to students outside Vermont, a 2008 fall “gap” program, and three adventurous tours to Ladakh to benefit VIS. 2007 VIS Ladakh Concludes with Exhibition Presentations in Ladakh, and at Home The VIS Academic Program features courses integrated into daily life of the SECMOL boarding school, where both sets of students live, work, study and travel together. VIS students are enthusiastic about the curriculum that takes advantage of being in a landscape and culture like Ladakh, and provides the opportunity to delve deeply into an area of interest in a class culminating in the VIS Exhibition. Final exhibition projects include written as well as audio/visual components, and are presented to students, teachers and mentors at SECMOL, and to various communities back at home. Last May, VIS students, dressed in their Ladakhi clothes, spent a fine spring day making last minute preparations (including cooking a major feast), and setting up the big hall at SECMOL for their exhibition presentations. After biscuits and tea, students presented research on various topics that had captured their interests in Ladakh. Some of these included the Tibetan refugee situation; controversy over educational reforms, and the various written forms of Ladakhi language; the work of the last traditional potter in Ladakh; and cultural change. Students produced radio pieces; one condensed stories from Gesar of Ling (a Tibetan epic). One student illustrated a children’s book about Tibetan New Year, which she wrote in English and Bodhik scripts. Another showed two large paintings, illustrating the Buddhist Wheel of Life, with its symbolism and representations of the realms of life and cycles of Karma, and an American Wheel of Life illuminating socio-political commentary on the American Dream. For the audio portion of her Exhibition on language, one student gave a 30-minute talk entirely in Ladakhi during after dinner speech time. Another, who compared the sustainability of agriculture in both Ladakh and Vermont, also produced a delicious dinner that included paneer and eggplant curries, beans, salad, and chocolate chip cookies. For a list of 2007 students and their exhibitions, see www.vermontis.org . As the semester drew to an end, the VISpas went on last treks with SECMOL students, to Rumbak, a village at 14,000 ft where there is a great deal of snow leopard activity, and then to Chilling, a village near the Zanskar River. Back at SECMOL, they threw a “cinco de mayo” party for the Ladakhi students, for whom piñatas have now become legend. This tradition will carry on by popular demand! 2008 Spring Semester opens to students outside Vermont In response to widespread interest, VIS High School semester programs have been opened to students from outside Vermont. For information about VIS programs, and for 2008 staff bios, please see www.vermontis.org. Unique, Adventurous “Friends of VIS” Tours in 2008 A new travel organization supporting Vermont Intercultural Semesters has been formed by Ashley Morton, a VIS instructor during the 2005 spring semester, and Tashi Wangchuk, VIS Ladakh liaison/guide. The inspiration for “Crossroads Himalaya” was born in a yak herder’s hut in the high mountains of Ladakh, with the hope that participants will experience this ancient Buddhist culture, explore its’ dramatic Himalayan landscape, and witness the unique, reciprocal partnership VIS has developed with SECMOL. All proceeds from these trips will go to a fund for joint VIS/SECMOL educational projects. Crossroads Himalaya will offer three tours in spring/summer 2008: ▪ VIS in Motion:An Exploration of VIS in Ladakh with opportunities to participate in daily life at SECMOL ▪ Nomad Trek: Ancient Movement in the Himalaya traveling with the Nomadic group of Kharnak and their yaks to their summer camps ▪ Off the Grid: Lessons of hope in the High Himalaya an opportunity to learn about local grassroots initiatives working to counteract global problems such as energy use, global warming and the disappearance of traditional cultures For more information, please contact Ashley Morton at infor@crossroadshimalaya.com, or click here. Applications available For fall ’08 “gap” semesters in Ladakh The VIS semester for “gap” year students, and those admitted to college for February, offers cultural immersion, and the opportunity to participate in one-on-one internships with Ladakhi community members in an area of interest. Jullay, Curtis Koren Director, Vermont Intercultural Semesters