Life Along the Mekong Semester

  Cambodia

• Other Cities in Cambodia: 
Rural Areas

  China

• Beijing: 
Beijing
• Rural Areas: 
Rural Areas

  Laos

• Other Cities in Laos: 
Luang Namtha

Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: Feb 9-May 12, Sep 6 - Dec 8

Description: This program offers students the incredible opportunity to experience and contrast the rich cultural tradi -tions, various economic and political systems, and pressing environmental issues of south-east Asia. Wending our way down the Mekhong River through southern China, Laos and Vietnam, we witness tremendous cultural diversity and we explore issues of conservation, land-use and population dynamics. We bike through the streets of small villages; we trek through lush jungle forest; and we boat along the great Mekhong. We explore the rich cultures of all three countries and learn about the region's different religious traditions. We also delve into issues common to the region as a whole: development, the environment, cultural survival and change, national identity, and relations with the United States. We begin our program in southern China's Yunnan Province, where we bike through terraced rice fields, meet herbal doctors, and hike along the Yangtze River. Then it's on to the border towns with Laos, and into Laos itself, where - in Luongnamtha, we meet with representatives from the UN, trek through the jungle, and work on service projects. We then boat down the Mekhong River, exploring its ecological, cultural and economic importance. We spend our final weeks in the north of Vietnam, delving into the issues of the Vietnam war, and learning about present-day development. Our sojourn through southeast Asia exposes us to past and present issues of historical significance, incredible landscapes, diverse societies and dynamic cultural forces.

Highlights: China's hydroelectric dam and re-engineering projects threaten Southeast Asia's fragile river ecology and unique river cultures downstream. Here, communities rely on the Mekong for local trade, transportation, and the diverse ecosystem which sustains life and livelihood for millions of people. By focusing on the interdependency of people and the natural world, Dragons' Mekong semester explores the ways in which the demand for electricity and other modern amenities stresses ecosystems and traditional ways of life.

We begin our program along the southeast rim of the Tibetan Plateau, in a remote corner of China's Yunnan Province, where the Salween, Mekong, and Yangtze Rivers reach a geographic bottleneck, forcing their way between a series of parallel mountain ranges. Trekking through sacred Buddhist landscapes, we accrue merit to sustain us during our journey and become acquainted with the immense spirituality embodied in this environment.

Following our powerful group experience, we transition into a student-coordinated portion of the itinerary, setting the tone for the academic focus of our journey. Working with Dragons' in-country contacts and under the advice of course instructors, students consider a number of options in planning the group's travel through southern Yunnan and towards the home-base of our semester, in Laos.

We visit the sites of China's controversial mega-dam projects, and take a hard look at issues related to development on the local scale, such as modernization, forced relocation, and disregard for minority cultures. In villages along China's border with Burma and Laos, we explore the transnational topics of history and politics, and discuss China's threat to the ecological diversity, cultural integrity and economic security of the greater Southeast Asian region.

Crossing into Laos, we explore the provinces of Luang Nam Tha, Bokeo, and Udomxai, all of which are considered some of the most remote regions in Southeast Asia. Now, with increased cross-border trade and a booming ecotourism industry, the area is increasingly defined by modernization. Along the river in these regions, we witness tourist cruises and high-speed motorboats, and we watch as blasting and dredging projects reshape the river, inviting major Chinese ships to dock next to oar-driven fishing boats.

Settling in for an extended 4-week community stay in the historical capital of the first Lao kingdom, Luang Prabang, we find our home along a mighty bend in the Mekong River. Encircled by thickly forested mountains, colorful temples, and tiered waterfalls, Luang Prabang is one of the loveliest spots in all of Southeast Asia. Based in rural home-stays in surrounding villages, we study basic Lao language, engage in mentored studies, learn about sustainable tourism, contribute to local service efforts, explore the area by foot and by bicycle, and spend our afternoons on day hikes, exploring local markets, playing soccer, or cooling off with local children in the slow currents of the river.

From Luang Prabang, we dive deeper into the heart of Southeast Asia, following the river into southern Laos where we explore famous Buddhist temples and Hindu ruins in Savannakhet, learn about coffee and banana cultivation on the Bolaven Plateau, and navigate the beautiful 4,000 islands of the Mekong, home of the rare Irawaddy river dolphin. Crossing into Cambodia, we learn about ancient empires, ethnic disputes and border politics, the tumultuous history of a region ravaged by war and genocide, and contemporary life along tributaries of the mighty Mekong.

We reach the end-point of the program in the Cuu Long, or "Nine Dragons," delta region of Vietnam, where the interdependency of the people and the river is dramatically apparent. Here, the river is at the mercy of every development project to the north. Already, fisherman are catching fewer fish, erosion is affecting traditional riverside agriculture, and the annual flooding that supports the rice plains is increasingly inconsistent and unreliable. Sitting at the confluence of the river and the sea, we enjoy a powerful, reflective space to bring our great journey to a close.

Cost in US$: 6000 - 6500

Application Process Involves:

• Other
• Phone Interview
• Physical Exam/Health Records
• Written Application

Where There Be Dragons's Mission Statement: Through expertly guided and honest introductions to the cultural and physical landscapes of developing Asia and Latin America, and through Experiential Education that stresses the empowerment of the student, Dragons strives to cultivate cultural awareness and sensitivity, opportunities for personal growth through physical and emotional challenges, and a commitment to the communities through which we travel, providing young adults with a richer understanding of themselves, and of the social and physical worlds around them.

Year Founded: 1992