Global Explorers Blog 
Travel Music Buzz – Takk by Sigur Rós
When Icelandic foursome Sigur Rós released Takk in 2005, their fourth full length album, they had already developed an international reputation for
operating far outside the realm of “normal.” Their music is still difficult to describe using words. Rather, images, feelings and experiences seem more appropriate. After all, before Takk, the band had never even sung an entire album in anything except “Hopelandic” – the band’s made up combination of gibberish and their native language of Icelandic. The release of Takk was their biggest step toward accessibility in their music, giving the listener a more balanced and focused sound that patiently unfolds into an ethereal chorus of soothing soundscapes, powerful climaxes and playful orchestrations.
This is a record that comes from the very heart and soul of the band’s identity. It makes you feel the chill of the harsh Icelandic landscape, yet feel the warmth and beauty of its people. Although the Icelandic words of Takk may still sound like gibberish to the English speaking listener, experiencing this work of art some how evokes a feeling of clarity. It’s a celebration of what it means to be alive. It sets the imagination free, yet stimulates a concrete connection to humanity and nature. It unleashes an ageless spirit that captivates the soul, no matter how young or old. Though developed and mature sounding, the tenderness of this music suggests feelings of childhood and the innocent curiosity of youth. Just try closing your eyes and listen to a track like Hoppípolla and see if you don’t envision yourself hopping through puddles (which is, in fact, the literal English translation of the track title).
Share on Facebook Post to Twitter Posted by Jordy Oleson · March 30, 2011 · travel music
You’re Going to Cambodia! How Does it Feel? — Part 2
As many of you know, Global Explorers was awarded the fortunate opportunity to allow thirty students the chance of a lifetime to travel to Cambodia this June thanks to funding from the U.S. Department of State. A whopping 298 incredible students applied from across the nation in hopes that they would be able to take part in this immersive adventure. After months of preparation, application madness, lengthy interviews and the grueling process of having to choose a limited number of participants, Jordy was finally ready to inform the lucky thirty students that they had been selected to take part in the American Youth Leadership Program. As you can imagine, the student’s elation was overwhelming!
To launch our first series of student blogs, Jordy offered the AYLP team the chance to write an entry, if they so desired. The question – a seemingly simple one: What does it feel like to be chosen to participate in the American Youth Leadership Program to Cambodia? The response – some exceedingly vivid descriptions that only the happiest of students could have concocted. Earlier this week we put up the first part of the student blog series with entries from two of our awesome AYLP participants. Here are another two excellent entries that we had to share with you:
Share on Facebook Post to Twitter Posted by Administrator · March 25, 2011 · cambodia, state department, students
You’re Going to Cambodia! How Does it Feel? — Part 1
As many of you know, Global Explorers was awarded the fortunate opportunity to allow thirty students the chance of a lifetime to travel to Cambodia this June thanks to funding from the U.S. Department of State. A whopping 298 incredible students applied from across the nation in hopes that they would be able to take part in this immersive adventure. After months of preparation, application madness, lengthy interviews and the grueling process of having to choose a limited number of participants, Jordy was finally ready to inform the lucky thirty students that they had been selected to take part in the American Youth Leadership Program. As you can imagine, the student’s elation was overwhelming!
To launch our first series of student blogs, Jordy offered the AYLP team the chance to write an entry, if they so desired. The question – a seemingly simple one: What does it feel like to be chosen to participate in the American Youth Leadership Program to Cambodia? The response – some exceedingly vivid descriptions that only the happiest of students could have concocted. This week we will be putting up some of the entries we received – here are two of them:
Share on Facebook Post to Twitter Posted by Administrator · March 23, 2011 · cambodia, state department, students
What an Amazing Experience!
At Global Explorers we encourage all of our board members to travel with a student group at least once. In this way we can each have a first person understanding of the life changing experiences that our programs provide for students. As a board member I had this experience several years ago when I traveled with Global Explorers to the Baja Peninsula of Mexico.
This group of travelers was different from the typical GEx group in that we included several families—parents traveling with their own children. We stayed at a sustainable lodge that had minimal impact on the environment. We explored the desert ecology (it was so hot that we actually did fry an egg outside on a stone) and viewed magnificent night skies. We did a research project on the biodiversity of the beach ecology and visited with local families in their villages. We kayaked in the very salty Gulf of California (also known as the Sea of Cortez) and paddled out to a remote island. There we snorkeled along the coast, studied the ecology of the tide pools, and camped overnight. We saw some amazing animals, including the bioluminescence of microorganisms that light up the sea at night.
Share on Facebook Post to Twitter Posted by Administrator · March 16, 2011
Sargent Shriver and the Citizen of the World Award
On behalf of the Global Explorers Board of Directors and staff, I am proud to announce that R. Sargent Shriver is the recipient of the Global Explorers 2011 Citizen of the World Award for Lifetime Achievement. The award is an honor bestowed annually upon individuals whose actions and accomplishments with youth have exemplified the principles of responsible global citizenship. The Citizen of the World Award for Lifetime Achievement has previously been given to Dr. Jane Goodall and pioneering blind climber Erik Weihenmayer. For 2011, the honor will be bestowed posthumously on Sargent Shriver who died on January 18, 2011.
Sargent Shriver’s life is an example for all who seek to build bridges of peaceful understanding between people of different backgrounds, countries, and abilities. As someone who worked at the Peace Corps, I had the opportunity to witness up-close and contribute to the ongoing legacy of our founding director’s work. He was a personal inspiration to me while I worked at Peace Corps and continues to be one for all of us at Global Explorers. I cannot think of another person who embodies the term ‘Citizen of the World’ better than Sargent Shriver. We believe this award will inspire many more young people to learn Sargent Shriver’s story and motivate them on their respective journeys toward becoming global citizens. In honor of Sargent Shriver’s achievements, Global Explorers will work with Peace Corps to integrate Peace Corps principles throughout our programming in 2011.
The award will be presented to the Shriver family at our annual event in Colorado in November 2011. Interested in learning more about the event? Contact David Shurna, Executive Director, at [email protected].
Share on Facebook Post to Twitter Posted by David Shurna · March 11, 2011 · sargent shriver
“I can’t think right now!”
Have you ever heard someone say this after being asked a tough question? Or even a not-so-tough question?
Let’s imagine you’re sitting in a class. The teacher tosses out a question, maybe about water rights, or revolution in Egypt, or the debate over climate change. But you stayed up too late last night texting with your girlfriend. Now you’re tired. None of this seems relevant to your life. You look down, avoid eye contact. You can’t think right now. You choose not to think. Does it matter?
Yes. It matters. It matters very much. The world is not a simple place. You might wish it to be, but it’s not. T.jpg)
here are problems to solve and challenges to overcome, and if you have the skills to deal with them, you might just find that life gets pretty interesting. Interesting in the fun, sort of meaningful way that helps you fill your days with something you’re excited about (as opposed to interesting in a not very compelling way, that makes you wish you were spending your days doing something entirely different).
Share on Facebook Post to Twitter Posted by Administrator · March 9, 2011
Hope Spring’s Eternal - Take That Winter!
Aside from the riveting weekly drama that the NFL provides I see few, if any, additional reasons to find winter tolerable. Those of you out there that claim anything aside from spring/summer as your favorite season are not being truthful. Have you seen the weather this winter in the Midwest and east coast? Need I say more? But, I digress. This tome is about spring and more specifically what spring brings and means to all of us.
Yes, there is a rebirth of flora and fauna. Leaves sprout, grass comes to life, birds return and snow melts. All of these events and countless others are great and certainly signify that spring is on the way. While working for a green conscious, earth caring, eco-friendly student travel company these yearly occurrences listed above are what my colleagues tend to focus on. Good for them. Good for the planet. However, I’m not talking about any of these events when I discuss my yearning for spring. Here we’re referring to the return of our Nation's pastime… BASEBALL!!
