Tag: People
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An Apple for an Apple: An International Tale of Citizen Diplomacy
Rumbling through Moldova on a midnight train, Shawn and I find unexpected human connection over a simple piece of fruit, creating “apple diplomacy.”
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Photo du Jour: A Novice Monk in Luang Prabang, Laos
In the Southeast Asian nation of Laos, it’s common for boys and young men to temporarily commit to monkhood, even if they do not remain in service for the rest of their lives. This custom brings a merit to both the novice monks and their families. As the elder monks do, the boys shave their heads…
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Scenes from Hoi An, Vietnam
Even on the most overcast of days, Hoi An’s streets are replete with color. Salespeople stand before crumbling, mustard-colored buildings, enticing the young — and the young at heart — with bunches of fluorescent balloons. Nearby, market stalls overflow with vibrant-colored produce. There are miniature bananas, silk scarves of every hue, and blue-and-white dishes with…
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Georgetown, Malaysia: An Illustration of Contrasts
A stroll through Georgetown gives one a sense of being whisked to several countries in a matter of hours. In this largely Chinese city, bundles of smoldering incense scent the maze of bustling streets as crimson red lanterns sway overhead. Bollywood music rumbles in Little India, echoing off storefronts dotted with colorful saris and bins…
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Seeing Beyond a Physical Challenge – Profiling the Inspirational Isabell Pfeufer
You may remember my having met German university student, Isabell Pfeufer, in late 2009. Introduced to her by a former colleague, I was invited to write a newspaper piece on Isabell’s experiences – as a blind student teacher – with a classroom of third-graders. In the years following that interview, I’ve been delighted to have…
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Our Heart For You: A Beautiful Coincidence in Bali
The man sat hunched over, with sunken cheeks, and spindly legs. As we walked along one of Ubud’s main streets, his empty stare, meek mumbling and outstretched hand caught our gaze. Our hearts sank. Though we had a tourist site to which we were heading, we unconsciously tossed the plans aside. We were determined to…
