Hugh Masakela at The Concertgebouw in Amsterdam
by Micah Hendler: Last Friday, I saw a performance at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. The Concertgebouw is renowned as one of the world’s foremost concert halls, particularly for orchestras. It has the names of all the famous composers of the Western tradition emblazoned on the balcony, as well as many I’d never heard of, whom...
The Preservation of Greek Folk Music
by Micah Hendler: The Whiffenpoofs reunited in Athens last week after a much-needed break. After a day of sight-seeing, I decided to explore the city by myself. I set off toward the Acropolis and ran across a man who was selling buzukis in his crafts shop (a buzuki is a Greek traditional long-necked lute of sorts). Naturally,...
From Alexandria to Patagonia
by Eric Gresham: For my last blog post this summer, I’ve posted an article I wrote for my newspaper back home in Alexandria, Virginia summarizing my journey to and through Chile. If you’ve been keeping up with my posts, you might find some stories familiar, but I hope my attempt to reason why I’ve ended...
Seven Days in Tibet
by Sanjena Sathian: When Heinrich Harrer wrote his now famous travel memoir Seven Days in Tibet, he boasted often of being one of only a handful of Europeans to have penetrated the country so deeply. Half a century later, Harrier is certainly not the only European to make it into Tibet, but he may still...
I Finca Better Go: Knowing When to Re-route a Journey
by Aliyya Swaby: I had wanted to WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) since I had decided early sophomore year that I was not going to go for a traditional internship or job this summer. With its network of free or cheap hosting options on different farms, WWOOFing seemed like the best way to...
The Jewish Communities of Fez, Buenos Aires, Rome, and Bethesda
by Micah Hendler: So I’ve been more Jewish than usual in the last few weeks. When I was in Fez on my birthday, I decided to find the Ibn Danan Synagogue, a 17th-century synagogue in the Jewish Quarter of the city (outside the walled Medina). When I arrived, I was shown around by a young...
Hunting Practice
by Aliyya Swaby: “Aren’t you, well, afraid of going to visit the Waorani?” asked James, one of about 15 scientists and visitors at the Estación Científica Yasuni. The station is in Yasuni National Park, in the Ecuadorian Amazon, and I have been staying here for about a week to do firsthand research for my journalism...
Writing English in Arabic
by Conrad Lee: After teaching a few weeks of classes, I’ve gotten to know my students and their level of English a little better. I teach the most advanced group of 8thgraders at SEP, which means that I have the privilege of interacting with some of the brightest young students in Jordan. Although most of...
Adventures in Bariloche, Argentina
by Eric Gresham: Normally by July, Bariloche, Argentina is a month into ski season. However, this winter has been marred by the potent combination of Chile’s Volcán Petrohue’s eruption, whose ashes have disrupted flights all over Argentina, and a rare lack of snow. Consequently, many have shied away from Bariloche this season, paralyzing the local...
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