unpacked 1st issue

WPI’s International & Intercultural Magazine

unpackedunpackedunpacked

Issue 1: Fall 2012

Inside this issue : Argentina * Bhutan * Costa Rica * Kenya

Morocco * Namibia * Paraguay * South Africa * Thailand * US * and more!

Depiction of Kal Bhairav in Hanuman Dhoka, Basantpur, Nepal.

This fierce manifestation of the Hindu god Shiva is associated with

annihilation and is one of the most important deities for the

country. He is sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists. Taken by

Colleen Callahan-Panday (2009).

Letter from the Editor

Many of us travel; we travel for work and for study, to visit family or friends, and for pleasure and

relaxation. Travel can take many forms; we might travel for a long weekend as a tourist, or live

abroad for many years. Some people constantly itch for the next adventure, and others only travel

when they must. Yet whether you travel for a short while or a long time, whether you have a good

or a bad experience, one thing is universal—travel is an experience. Often it is one that begs fur-

ther reflection. When we return from a trip, many of us are quick to unpack our clothes and our

souvenirs, however we do not generally give ourselves an opportunity to unpack our experiences. This magazine wants that to change. We want to see your photos, stories, poetry, articles

and artwork— we want you to “unpack” and share with the entire WPI community! Let us see your

pictures from that IQP in Costa Rica, let us hear your story about attending a Chinese New Year

party with your roommate on campus, let us enjoy a reflective poem about your family trip to Ire-

land, or the painting inspired by the canals in Venice. There are many stories on campus just wait-

ing to be told...

unpacked’s mission is to provide undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty and

staff of the WPI community a space to share and reflect on international and intercultural experi-

ences. The magazine aspires to promote global awareness, cross-cultural understanding and dia-

logue on campus with the aim of informing, challenging, and expanding the university’s views on

culture and the global community. unpacked hopes to both educate and encourage community

members to be interested and responsible global actors.

As someone whose life has been greatly informed and changed by international and inter-

cultural experiences—whether it was a study abroad experience in India, an internship in Kenya, or

learning new and interesting things from the international students I work with everyday—I can at-

test to the importance of understanding more about our world. We hope that unpacked will intro-

duce you to new people and places, new cultures and experiences, and inspire you to find out

more.

Please enjoy our first issue, and we look forward to hearing YOUR story next!

Colleen Callahan-Panday,

Editor-in-Chief

Assistant Director, International Students and Scholars

Editorial Board: Leanne Johnson (IGSD), Ulrike Brisson

(Humanities & Arts), Christine Drew (Library)

3 unpacked * Fall 2012

ON THE COVER: “Shishani at Sunset” taken by Donal Boyd,

Chemical Engineering ‘13, Namibia (D ‘12). For more of

Donal’s photos see page 9.

Do you have something to submit for

unpacked Spring 2013? a Submissions, questions and comments/letters-to-the-

editor can be sent to [email protected] a For more information visit:

wpi.edu/offices/ih/unpacked.html a

Next submission deadline: February 3, 2013 @ midnight

ABOVE: The editor, dressed in traditional

Maasai clothing, taken during a study

experience living with a pastoralist family

in rural Kenya (2004).

Table of Contents

Worcester Polytechnic Institute 4

7 Where Are You From? The Story of a Third Culture Kid

Sakshi Khurana ‘16

8 I Walked On

Jighjigh Ivase ‘13

9 Namibia: Photo Series

Donal Boyd ‘13

15 Riding the Bus

Nicolas Gomez Enriquez Riart ‘16

17 Namibia and Germany—A Lavender Marriage?

Ulrike Brisson, Assistant Teaching Professor of German, Humanities and Arts

20 Morocco: Photo Series

Molly Homchenko ‘15

25 Safari-ing Across Savannahs

Manisha Krishnan ‘16

27 Gross National Happiness in the Thunder Dragon

Saraj (Jetro) Pirasmepulkul ‘16

29 Apartheid and Togetherness in a Cemetery in Darling, South Africa

Scott Jiusto, Associate Professor, Interdisciplinary and Global Studies Division

31 Bond

Monolina Binny ‘14

33 A Snapshot of Namibian Culture

Patrick Ford ‘13

35 La Vaca Enamirada

Aarti S. Madan, Assistant Professor of Spanish. Humanities and Arts

38 Thailand: Photo Series

Abby Albright ‘12

41 Costa Rica: Education for Sustainable Living

Caitlin Swalec ‘16

43 My Trip to Thailand

Sean GIle ‘13

45 Take Every Opportunity That You Can

Jessica Colon ‘13

47 Building Cultural Understanding One Meal at a Time

Rick Vaz, Dean, Interdisciplinary and Global Studies Division

1, 5, 16, 32 Pictures: Nepal, Thailand, Santa Fe, London

Various Contributors

Culture


Ayutthaya, the ancient capital of

Kimberly Woodward

Chemical Engineering‘12,

IQP Thailand (C’11)

______________________________

Thailand, lies just north of Bangkok’s

city limits. In contrast to the colors,

smells, and pace of Bangkok, Ayut-

thaya radiates the Thai cultural

through temples aged over hun-

dreds of years, with relics of weath-

ered Buddha figures, and struc-

tures commanding awe and re-

spect with their grandeur and con-

tinued strength. Faith, battles, love

and life are preserved in the stat-

ues and remnants of the former

grand palace and surrounding

temples. Each beheaded Buddha

tells a story of a conqueror at-

tempting to pillage gold, or an en-

emy desecrating a statue to curse

a temple. There is a unity between

the land, structures, and people, as

trees have intertwined with stone

bodies, and locals continue to

gown select ancient statues in

decorative orange garments. Cul-

ture and history are preserved in

each brick, and the city holds a

unique brilliance. Ayutthaya con-

tinues to show off the genuine

beauty of the Thai culture and

connects past and present as one.


Where Are You From?

The Story of a Third Culture Kid

By Sakshi Khurana

Biotechnology ‘16, from India and Indonesia

“Where are you from?” That’s the first question I get asked every time I meet someone new.

Usually, I’ll simply say ‘Indonesia’ because, well, I

was born there and I grew up there. Sometimes,

however, I’ll hesitate and then give the long

and honest answer.

I’m ethnically Indian. My dad was born in

New Delhi but my paternal grandmother is origi-

nally from an area that is now part of Pakistan.

She moved to New Delhi with her family during

the partition in 1947. My mother was born in a

small town near New Delhi called Meerut in the

state of Utter Pradesh. My maternal grandpar-

ents, though, are originally from the border be-

tween Afghanistan

and Pakistan. I, how-

ever, was born and

brought up in Indone-

sia. I went to an inter-

national school there

for 12 years. Here’s

the funny thing: I have

no legal ties to Indo-

nesia and instead,

have permanent resi-

dency in New Zea-

land where I spent a

small amount of my childhood.

Third culture? You could say that.

The term ‘third culture kid’ comes from

the early 1950s, created by a sociologist and

anthropologist named Ruth Hill Useem. She used

this word to refer to children who migrated with

their parents to another society. Third culture

kids are often referred to as global nomads. In

more recent times, an American sociologist, Da-

vid C. Pollock developed an improved defini-

tion for third culture kids: “A Third Culture Kid

(TCK) is a person who has spent a significant

part of his or her developmental years outside

the parents' culture. The TCK frequently builds

relationships to all of the cultures, while not hav-

ing full ownership in any. Although elements

from each culture may be assimilated into the

TCK's life experience, the sense of belonging is in

relationship to others of similar background.”1

As the years have gone by, my experi-

ences have shown me that I am incredibly fortu-

nate to be a third culture kid. My parents grew

up in India, moved to Singapore shortly after

they got married and were later transferred to

Jakarta, Indonesia. They love to travel and ex-

perience different cultures. They believe that

being open minded about new sights, sounds

and places is an important skill in life. Because

of them, I have had the opportunity to visit

some of the most amazing places in the world

and try some of the most won-

derful food in the world. Yup, I

admit it, I’m a huge foodie.

From authentic Swiss fondue to

delicious fish and chips from

New Zealand’s north shores to

spicy Thai prawns in Phuket,

food will always be a big part of

my life.

But it’s not just food I

swear! It’s the multi-cultural ex-

posure, learning about the

world through a multitude of

different perspectives and the sense of global

citizenship that has been engraved into my

unique way of life since I was a baby.

Being a third culture kid is difficult; I’ve

never felt like I truly belonged anywhere. In-

stead, I feel like I belong everywhere. I’m a child

of this playground that we call the world and I

am free to go where ever, and do whatever I

want. And what is it that I want? I want to learn,

and grow and then take that personal develop-

ment and spread it. I want to change the world.

I will change the world.

___

1 Pollock, D. C., and R. E. Van Reken. Third Cul-

ture Kids: Growing Up among Worlds. Nicholas

Brealey Publishing, 2009. Web.

Experience


“I’ve never felt like I truly belonged

anywhere. Instead, I feel like I be-

long everywhere… And what is it

that I want? I want to learn, and

grow and then take that personal

development and spread it. I want

to change the world. I will change

the world.”

I Walked On

By Jighjigh Ivase

Aerospace Engineering ‘13, from Nigeria

I Walked on

On my path to destiny’s rendezvous,

An imminent stutter to my step—that certain sense of hesitation

But I walked… I kept walking.

What questions will she ask?

What mysteries possesses she?

What power in her grip

What elements harnesses she?

To wield us go?

For yield we so.

I wondered noisily within me for a time

Then it came to me: “Look up, look around,

You are not alone on this journey”

I looked and saw

I listened and heard

My fellow travellers.

It was a case for eyes:

“My eyes are the window to my soul,” said one traveller.

Another replied “These eyes are a light for my spirit.”

Yet another traveller, “My eyes are the best part of me,

In them all my essence is captured.”

“My eyes give me definition, I look everyone in the eye—fearless.”

I walked on

Quietly thinking to myself:

Does the soul need a window, can’t it be a soul all in itself?

And do our spirits need light? They are lights powerful in themselves.

Is our beauty, comeliness... essence captured only in a part of us, can’t we

be beauty itself?

And why be defined by a single stare,

The boundless entity you are, wrapped up in a mere stare?

I Walked on

On my path to destiny’s rendezvous,

Thinking to myself... I still am

Thinking to myself.

Inspiration


Namibia: Photo Series

By Donal Boyd

Chemical Engineering ‘13, Namibia (D ‘12)


Experience

ON THE COVER/BELOW: “Shishani at Sunset”

Shishani Vranckx is a singer/songwriter born in Namibia to a Bel-

gian father and a Namibian mother. She left her motherland at

the age of five and grew up and in the Netherlands, where she

currently lives. Her mixed European/African background exposed

her to various styles, but her main influences have been Soul, Jazz

and RnB. Over the years she has collaborated with various artists

with who she recorded and performed internationally. Together

with guitarist/songwriter Koron she created a repertoire of original

Folk/Soul music during a period of five years.

This image was taken in Sossusvlei, Namibia. Right: After leaving the

Boulder Beach South

African Penguin Nature

Reserve, where a few

friends and I observed

the penguins on the

beach from raised plat-

forms; we decided to

explore a random

beach and unexpect-

edly came across a

group of wild penguins

outside of the Nature

Reserve. As we swam in

the cold Atlantic waters

of Simons Town, South

Africa, we were fortu-

nate enough to swim

side by side with the

penguins—I will never

forget the two hours we

spent on that beach,

swimming with the Pen-

guins.

Male Lion—King of the Jungle


LEFT: In northern Namibia, a Makalani seed falls

from a palm tree where it is plucked by the hands

of a skilled Namibian artisan. The artists collects

over 100 seeds; he first labors to break the hard

hollow outer layer of the seed to reveal the rock-

hard inner core that is white with dark brown skin.

Next, the artist travels over 600 km to Windhoek,

the capital of Namibia, where he begins the tedi-

ous work of boring each seed by hand to attach

leather bands. Finally, the artist then stations him-

self at the corner of Independence Avenue. He

patiently awaits customers, tourists, with a smile

and a scalpel. His intention is to sell, as he states,

a “piece of Namibia.” The “piece of Namibia,” in

this photograph was carved, by scalpel, in no

more than five minutes by Kalabi. Kalabi learned

how to carve any animal from his father when he

was just ten years old. He has been making the

1200 km round-trip more than 30 times per year to

collect Makalani seeds for the better part of

three decades and sell his pieces of Namibia, to

support his family.

Donal Boyd’s final photo can be found on page 26

Riding the Bus

By Nicolas Gomez Enriquez Riart

Industrial Engineering ‘16, from Paraguay

9:10 pm, I jumped onto the Linea 30 bus on

Avda Peru to ride back home after my Portu-

guese course. There were five people on the

bus; the driver, a couple, my French-

Portuguese classmate Nelly and I. Nelly was

exhausted from a long troubling day, and

asked me to let her know when we were three

blocks from Sacramento Avenue so that she

could get off at her bus stop. Then she slept. I

admired her ability to sleep on a Paraguayan

bus which emitted thunderous engine and

break sounds

throughout the en-

tire trip. Meanwhile, I

observed the peo-

ple in the bus. I saw

the driver texting as

he drove, probably

letting his wife know

that he was on his

last shift and that

he´d be home soon.

I saw the couple flirt-

ing with each other

as the man drank the last sips of his Coke and

the woman ate the last of her cookie and

crunched up its wrapper.

Then I saw it. I experienced the lack of

love and interest Paraguay’s own people

have for her. I saw the man toss his Coke bot-

tle out the window and the woman follow his

example. After I saw this, I fell into a deep

meditation, wiping my mind from all distrac-

tions to think. I thought on the reasons they did

this; what need did they have to litter their

own city, their own country? I assumed they

were from Asuncion because they got off the

bus before I did and they got on the bus at

the stop in front of their university. I was so dis-

tracted; I almost forgot to warn Nelly that her

stop was near. I only remembered due to the

bus suddenly breaking, which emitted an an-

noying squeaking sound. Nelly got off the bus

and I kept thinking. I could not believe that

college students, educated Paraguayan citi-

zens, were harming their own nation, their own

home.

I thought about how this action is proof

of my people´s lack of love for their own

home. By following this accepted example

many—ranging from the elite to the extremely

poor—Paraguayans show how much they

care. This is why our country is in the deplora-

ble status it breathes to-

day. Not for littering our

own streets but for the lack

of love we have for our

own reality, our present,

and our future of our Para-

guay.

Last year, our gov-

ernors, teachers, parents,

friends—everybody—

babbled about the Bicen-

tenario, about how we are

the present and future of

our country, and it depends on us if our coun-

try will progress tomorrow. This will not happen

if we do not love our country, and behave as

true patriots, because a true patriot will never

litter their own nation. A true patriot will never

just babble about how we can change our

country. A true patriot will wake up everyday

and just do it, live for the good of their coun-

try.

I am Paraguayan and my nation has an

immeasurable capacity for growth. It has

abundant natural resources and citizens with

potential to make a difference. It seems to

lack nothing. But it is prevented from progress-

ing by its own people. I am a dreamer and I

believe that one day true patriots will run the

country and take it to the path that will bring progress and joy to Paraguayans.

Viewpoint


“I am Paraguayan and my nation has

an immeasurable capacity for

growth. It has abundant natural re-

sources and citizens with potential to

make a difference... I am a dreamer

and I believe that one day true patri-

ots will run the country and take it to

the path that will bring progress and

joy to Paraguayans.”

View from 10,378ft - Sandia Peak, Cibola National Forest, Albuquerque New Mexico. The mission of

Nikole Connor Biomedical Engineering ‘12, Master’s in Biomedical Engineering ’13,

IQP Sante Fe, New Mexico (D’11)

my team's project was to facilitate the accessibility and use of multi-use trails in Santa Fe while pro-

moting social interaction among trail users. Sandia Peak was just one of the many beautiful aspects

of New Mexico and every day presented itself with a new photo opportunity!

Inspiration


Namibia and Germany—A Lavender Marriage?

By Ulrike Brisson

Assistant Teaching Professor of German, Humanities and Arts, Namibia (D ‘11)

Visiting Namibia as a German can be a con-

flicting experience: fascinating and humiliat-

ing. From early March to early May 2011, my

colleague Ingrid Shockey and I spent eight

weeks as project advisors with twenty-eight

WPI students in Windhoek, the capital of Na-

mibia, and WPI’s project center. The students

were working on their IQPs in, for example, wa-

ter management, computer technology, or

tourism. Although I have lived as a German

citizen in the US for almost twenty years and

was representing a US educational institution,

in Namibia, my German background was sud-

denly brought to the foreground again.

Considering that Namibia used to be a

German colony for only a relatively short time

from 1883 to 1915, the continued presence of

Germans, German products and culture is

astonishing. My first accommodation was in

the B&B called Kleines Heim. Prof. Shockey

and I were later relocated to the Foundation

House belonging to the Polytechnic of Namib-

ia situated among the composer streets: Mo-

zartstraße, Brahmsstraße, Haydenstraße, etc.

Door handles and bathroom fixtures remind

one of close economic ties to Germany. It al-

most felt like living in Germany if it weren’t for

the palm trees, the people, and the lan-

guages spoken in Windhoek (English and vari-

ous ethnic languages).

The GIZ (Gesellschaft für Internationale

Zusammenarbeit), Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung and

Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung had their offices in

our neighborhood. Downtown newspaper

sellers urged me to buy the Windhoek

Allgemeine Zeitung, and the Goethe Center

became an important institution during my

stay. They were invaluable not only for their

friendly staff and library with interesting books

about Namibia, but also for their cultural

events such as film viewings and slide shows,

and not to forget, also for their home-baked

German cakes served at a lovely outdoor

café in their courtyard. A short walk up the hill

was the Christus Kirche, a site of worship for

the German-speaking community, and half a

mile further stood the Reiterdenkmal, a

reminder of the German Schutztruppe and a

memorial German-Namibians have insisted to

keep despite its problematic symbolic nature:

Under the brutal orders by Lothar von Trotha

and the gun fire of the Schutztruppe soldiers

about 50-70% of the Herero population and

about 50% of the Nama population lost their

lives during the Herero-Namaqua Wars from

1904-07. Some scholars claim it to be a trial run

for the Nazi Holocaust.

A different type of German is populat-

ing Namibia today – hoards of tourists, eager

to see Namibia’s wildlife on safaris – the big

five: lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo

– stream into Namibia every year. Often over-

looked, however, is the fascinating small ani-

mal world in Namibia with its lizards, butterflies,

squirrels, weaver-birds, and marmot-like das-

sies. Unfortunately, killing baby seals for fur is

still a legal enterprise in Namibia. Aside from

mining (especially uranium and diamonds),

Viewpoint


The German and Namibian flags

tourism is one of the most important sources of

income for Namibia. If you plan a trip, you

should rent an all-terrain vehicle because only

the major highways are paved. The rest of the

country’s roads are well-maintained gravel

roads, but unsuitable for long trips in sedans.

You pass the inspection check point about 20

km outside Windhoek and then the Wow!-

landscape stretches out in front of you: miles

and miles of seemingly uninhabited land. Ingrid

and I kept saying “Wow!” whenever we drove

over a hillcrest to gaze at a new stretch of land

with impressive rock formations or green hills

tainted yellow by thousands of tiny flowers. Sil-

very grass made the land appear like a bright

velvety carpet. Normally, the land, part of

which is the Namib Desert, is arid, but 2011 was

unusually wet so that the landscape looked a

lot like California in the spring. With a popula-

tion of 37 million, Californians have, however,

loved most of its nature to death, whereas in

Namibia with only 2 million people and twice

the size of California, much of its nature is still

intact. One of the highways takes you through

the desert to Swakopmund situated on the At-

lantic coast and next to enormous dunes. This

city with its pseudo-German architecture is al-

most entirely in the hands of Germans or Afri-

kaans-speaking whites, the service personnel is,

like in Windhoek, black. Its hotels, B&Bs, cafés,

restaurants, and amazing little museum cater

mostly to European tourists.

Namibians welcome tourists with mixed

feelings. Visitors bring in money, necessitate

jobs, and indirectly protect the wildlife in order

to guarantee a source of income for tourism. In

fact, Namibia included wildlife and natural re-

source conservation in its constitution. As the

tourists come primarily for the nature and not

for its people, they are often poorly informed

about its history, traditions, and values. Namibi-

ans, for example, tend to dress more formally;

shorts and tank tops are disapproved of, espe-

cially for anybody over 30, and white tourists in

shorts are an offensive sight to them. Pinkish

skin does not look all that great in a culture of

beautiful blackness, and skin color is still a politi-

cal and social issue. White tourists like to dress

in safari garb, which Namibians associate with

their colonial past and reject as clothing for

themselves. Despite the hot climate, Jeans, be-

low-the-knee skirts, and carefully ironed shirts

are part of the current dress code. Many Na-

mibian’s walk and act slowly – probably to

avoid sweating under the hot African sun –

and there is grace to it. For Westerners used to

a faster pace, it can be unnerving though.

Less obvious in the streets of Windhoek

are other groups of Germans: NGOs (non-

government organizations), gentleman farm-

ers, and entrepreneurs. Klein Windhoek is the

residential district where you would find most of

them and where you would hear German at

the Saturday open-air market or at its garden

center. Their presence is also felt through the

products of their companies. You can buy Ger-

man bread, excellent German pastry, and

German beer. The German VW Golf is one of

the most popular private cars; wealthy Namibi-

ans opt for a BMW or Mercedes. Interestingly,

about 80-90% of all the cars are white; the cli-

mate definitely plays a role in the choice of car


A German tourist swims past kids in

Swakopmund

color. German engineers are invested in envi-

ronmental technology. One of our student

teams organized a waterless toilet from a Ger-

man engineer for a farming community south

of Windhoek. A German high school carries

on a rather traditional form of German culture

– as a German NGO informed me whose two

children were attending the Deutsche Höhere

Privatschule in Windhoek. Once a year, a

huge parade blocks the traffic in Windhoek,

cheerful floats celebrate the Wika or Wind-

hoek Karnival celebrated since the 1950s by

Windhoek’s German population. Similar to the

Rose Monday parades in carnival in Köln, Düs-

seldorf or Mainz, they throw candies into the

crowds. Watching black children bending

their backs to pick up candies scattered by

whites made me feel uneasy. To me, Africa’s

colonial history challenged the innocence of

such a performance.

Germany’s involvement in Namibia’s

history is also embodied in the presence of the

so-called DDR Kinder (GDR Children). When

the Namibian resistance party SWAPO (South

West African People’s Organisation) was

fighting for independence from South African

rule from the 1960s-1980s, the GDR offered to

take about 400 Namibian children to educate

them as future freedom fighters. They were

sent back in 1990 no longer needed as gueril-

las, because Namibia had gained its inde-

pendence on March 21 of that year.

Some of them managed to carve out

a new life for themselves, but for oth-

ers the gap between their lifestyle at

Schloss Bellin in Mecklenburg and

that of their cattle farming families in

Namibia’s arid to semi-arid regions

was too wide for them to find a place

in independent Namibia. They have

become part of the over 50% unem-

ployed and poor of the country. On

your way to the Goethe Center in

Windhoek, they tend to pick out Ger-

mans, asking them in perfect German

for a donation for a DDR Kinder meet-

ing, which you find out at the Christus

Kirche is a sham, and you feel sorry

for their fate.

After 20 years of independence, Na-

mibia is one of the most politically stable Afri-

can countries, despite its high rate of unem-

ployment and a population of 13% (2009) af-

fected by HIV/AIDS. There is now a small but

growing black elite, who have taken on the

material values of the rich Whites whom they

have replaced in the government and are

increasingly replacing in the economic sector

as well. Nevertheless, most of the businesses

are still in the hands of white people. Sadly

enough, the black elites tend to be no better

in terms of how they treat the black poor than

the Whites did before them. It will be interest-

ing to see how long it will take before the poor

will rise up and challenge the privileges of this

new elite, especially with a growing educated

population. Namibians are in general aware

that education is the key to progress; the

number of students enrolled at the Polytech-

nic of Namibia has grown from about 3,000 to

14,000 students since is official foundation in

1995. The German government sponsors

scholarships and projects for the preservation

of the Namibian cultural heritage. There are

also four schools in Namibia with a regular ex-

change program, and the classes at the Goe-

the Center are always full. After my two-

month sojourn, I felt that despite its conflicted

history, Namibians and Germans have by-and

-large developed a viable symbiosis.


Wika or Windhoek Karneval

Morocco: Photo Series

By Molly Homchenko

Robotics Engineering ‘15, HUA Morocco (A’12)

ABOVE: The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, Morocco, is the country's largest mosque which sits on

the shore of the Atlantic Ocean. King Hassan II specifically chose the location because he said

'God's throne is on the water' and he wanted the faithful to be able to come pray on the soil and

'contemplate God's sky and ocean'.

Culture


ABOVE: Dying of leathers at the nine century old leather souq in Fez.

A sight I'll never forget? Maybe more like a smell I will never forget. The leather souq in Fez is an

amazing sight as long as you can get over the smell of the cow urine and pigeon poop that is used

to break down the fibers which helps with the absorption of dyes. The souq is filled with vats of dye

and men moving hides all over the place- the process is still the same as it was nine centuries ago.

LEFT: An artisan making a decorative metal border for a room in Fez.

One of the most interesting parts of the Fez medina was seeing all of the artisans making their goods

by hand. The amount of work that goes into a single piece, such as this metal border, is incredible.


The Hassan Tower in Rabat is the incomplete minaret of a mosque

which was designed to be the largest mosque in the world. However,

construction ceased when the Sultan Yacoub al-Mansour died.

Unlike other minarets, this one was designed with ramps instead of

steps so that the muezzin could travel up the tower on horseback.

Safari-ing Across Savannahs

By Manisha Krishnan

Biotechnology ‘16, Kenya (2007), from India

BAM!

I immediately thought that someone had

been shot, and I felt my heart jump into my

throat. But looking around, I realized that it was

just our car that had broken down in the wilder-

ness for what seemed to be the fifth time that

day. Weirdly enough, my heart settled back in

my chest: there was something about the wilder-

ness that made me feel at peace, instead of the

stereotypical terrifying feeling that most people

experienced. I watched as our driver, David, got

down from the heavy-duty jeep to change the

tires. As he went about doing what he had done

at least a hundred times in his life, I caught some-

thing moving out of the corner of my eye. And

then I saw the lion, about 20 feet away, rear its

head up from the grass and fix our little band of

tourists with a menacing stare. And I thought to

myself: I love this place!

It was true. I had been enraptured by Nai-

robi ever since I set foot on it. It was so different

from the places people usually go to for tourism.

The air was dusty and polluted, but under all that

pollution, I could sense the adventure beckoning

to everyone who dared to experience it. As we

peeled away from the city and drove towards

the savannahs, the roads became less congest-

ed and the people to animal ratio reversed.

These animals were nothing like the lifeless ones I

usually saw in the zoos back home; these animals

were free spirits.

We spent the whole time driving through

the rough terrain, marveling at this world that

was cut away from civilization. Elephants ambled

past us, sometimes brushing their trunks against

our jeep in a friendly manner. The little ones

twined their trunks around the tails of the elders,

seeking reassurance from them. Little warthogs

scurried around with their tails stuck high into the

air. Wildebeest milled around in large herds, lazily

eyeing us while our jeep chugged along the

dusty track.

In Kenya, there is always a harmonious

balance between traditional and modernity. I

could walk from the posh confines of our resort

into grassland within minutes. I would run into Ma-

sai people dressed in traditional garb and sport-

ing hunting gear, who spoke perfect English. One

example of this amalgamation between nature

and civilization occurred on the night we stayed

at Naivasha. I saw people nudging each other

and pointing to the window, next to where I was

watching TV in the lounge of the resort. When I

turned around, imagine my surprise when I saw

two rhinos walking around the garden inside the

hotel! According to the hotel manager, this was

a common occurrence in the resort, as the rhinos

had a strange affinity for the herbs that were

grown in the garden. Nowhere else in the world

would you be able to see rhinos walking past you

outside the window! I always felt like I was in lim-

bo between two different worlds when I was

there.

The most electrifying moment of our trip

occurred on the fourth day of our travels. We

had given up on seeing anything apart from the

banal zebras, wildebeest and warthogs. When

we were about to head back to our inn; David,

our driver, received an excited crackle on his

phone, telling him to hurry over east. When we

reached the designated spot, at first we couldn’t

see anything, except a few gazelle grazing

peacefully. But then our driver pointed out the

cheetah completely camouflaged in the yellow-

ing grass, ready to strike. The next two minutes

were easily the most exhilarating moments in my

life. I watched, out of breath, as the cheetah

pounced out from hiding and ran swiftly to its

evening meal. The poor gazelle didn’t stand a

chance. It probably didn’t even realize what hit

it before life fled from its eyes.

Though the whole scene was too gory for

me, I couldn’t help marveling at the way nature

worked. The death of one animal is vital for the

sustenance of the other.

Experience


My time in Nairobi was full of such life-

altering epiphanies. But I never really thought

deeply about what I experienced then, because

the experience in itself had me so involved physi-

cally. The days were long and strenuous, all I had

to eat everyday was raw vegetables and rice,

and I would be indistinguishable from a roadside

vagrant by the end of the day, as I would be

caked in a layer of dust. Yet, despite all this, I

had a strange sense of contentment as I climbed

into bed at night. I loved the adventure and the

humble genuineness of the people. I loved re-

turning to my primeval roots and just basking in

the glory of nature. Kenya is a wonderful place

for self-discovery, and a safari in the savannahs

of Africa is easily one of the best experiences you

can ever have.


ABOVE: Donal Boyd, Namibia D ‘12, “White Rhino” Okapuka Ranch is home to several white rhino, a

humbling experience to be so close to such an enormous, yet peaceful and docile animal

Gross National Happiness in the Thunder Dragon

By Saraj (Jetro) Pirasmepulkul

Robotics Engineering ‘16, Bhutan (2011), from Thailand

Bhutan, also referred to as The Kingdom of

the Thunder Dragon, is a country that has such a

proud culture that, even a year after my visit, it

has still left a profound impact on my view of this

so-called modernizing world that I have grown

up in.

In June 2011, I was fortunate enough to be

part of a summer community service experience

in Bhutan, organized by a fellow classmate,

Nathaya Darakananda, from International

School Bangkok. During this trip, I was able to talk

to Mr. Dorji Penjore, the spokesperson for Bhu-

tan’s Gross National Happiness (GNH), and from

him, I came to understand more of the country’s

beauty that lies beneath the beautiful architec-

ture or picturesque landscape.

Experience


ABOVE: A snow lion relief decorating the Buddhist Kopan Nunnery in Kathmandu, Nepal. Taken by

Colleen Callahan-Panday (2009).

When I first heard of GNH, I discredited it,

thinking that it is just an idealistic plan. But by the

end of the trip, my view of it has been totally

transformed. It is what left a profound impact on

me from my trip to Bhutan. Upon arrival, I made

several observations. First was the Tibetan-

Buddhist architecture that is common throughout

the town. Even the airport is built in this style. The

people still chew beetle nuts, and wear the tradi-

tional robes called Ghos walking around town.

There are also no big highways like I usually see in

other countries, such as my own- Thailand.

However, despite not having a great

amount of modernity and pop culture like Thai-

land or the United States of America, I never

viewed Bhutan as being poor at all. People have

pride in themselves, walking around town in their

Ghos and are happy with whatever they are do-

ing. There are no beggars or homeless people

lurking around on the streets.

That is what motivated me to further ex-

plore the concept of GNH. I talked to Dorji Pen-

jore and learnt that His Majesty, the King Jigme

Singye Wangchuck, the father of the present

king of Bhutan, created this concept. For them,

happiness does not come from the satisfying ma-

terialistic needs rather it comes from knowing

that they have found a balance.

The reason why I felt that H.M. King Jigme

Singye Wangchuck is a visionary for creating the

concept of GNH is in allowing his country to ap-

pear less “modernized” than a lot of other na-

tions; he is actually preparing Bhutan for a solid

foundation for development with sustainable fu-

ture. For example, he allows modernization and

globalization to assimilate in at a controllable

rate so that the country and people can grow

used to it.

This contrasts with many other countries,

such as my home Thailand, because although

we Thais were quick to grasp on to so-called

modernization, we were not able to manage it

responsibly. This creates an ever widening gap

between the rich and the poor, resulting in unruly

cities with lots of crime and poverty. The very rich,

with their wealth, try to chase on to the latest

fashion to an extent that they no longer think

and reflect about their rate of consumption. Yet,

at the same time, this leaves the country its “tail”

dragging far behind, too meager to ever catch

up.

In Bhutan, while playing soccer with a

group of kids, all of them could communicate

with us clearly in English. Yet, when I look back

upon my own country, I shockingly realize that

the majority of Thai kids cannot even communi-

cate in English. With its ginormous shopping malls,

skyscrapers and vibrant nightlife, we cannot

even fulfill the most basic requirement of prepar-

ing our kids for globalization. But the seemingly

humble Bhutan already has.

According to Dorji Penjore, they do not

block western influences. People see western

culture in the media all the time. For example,

when he was a teenager, he also wore jeans

and tried to follow western fashion. But as he

grew older, he felt that his Bhutanese heritage is

valuable and has greater importance to him.

Which is why he chose to wear the Gho. During

my stay, I had comfortable access to technology

and conveniences, such as being able to watch

television in a nice resort with a hot shower.

There is just not an excessive amount. This is a

good thing, at least for me.

The more I learn about Bhutan, the more I

am able to relate to my conversations with Dorji

Penjore and fully appreciate H.M. the King’s vi-

sion that sometimes, in order to take a great leap

forward, he has to prepare his country and peo-

ple for enough time to handle the upcoming

change responsibly. From this, I believe that GNH

is a really practical concept. GNH is not an ideal

at all, but is a careful and holistic outlook on an

already practiced way of life that seeks to find

true identity. Since the people of Bhutan know

their true identity and are proud of it then that is

why their country can have gross national happi-

ness.

In Bhutan, I may have found the Shangri-

La I have heard people talk about. It seems al-

most like a legend or myth perhaps. For me, it is

beyond just the picturesque valleys or glacier

streams, the numerous Buddhist Dzongs, and a

country constructed entirely with Tibetan Bud-

dhist architecture. It is discovering how the Bhu-

tanese people can really follow the Gross Nation-

al Happiness way of life, which gave me the op-

portunity to reflect upon myself. Have I, a young

adult born in this materialistic 21st century, al-

lowed myself to discover what my real identity is?

One that I can be proud of and give me true

happiness, like the Bhutanese?


Apartheid and Togetherness in a Cemetery in Darling, South Africa

By Scott Jiusto

Associate Professor, Interdisciplinary and Global Studies Division, Cape Town (D’12)

Viewpoint


ABOVE: Buried, coloured and white, the dead are visited by the living, the living haunted and sustained by the dead, separate and

together, in cryptic intimacies, alienations, mysteries.

Apartheid and Togetherness in a Cemetery in Darling, South Africa

By Scott Jiusto

Associate Professor, Interdisciplinary and Global Studies Division, Cape Town (D’12)


ABOVE: Buried, coloured and white, the dead are visited by the living, the living haunted and sustained by the dead, separate and

together, in cryptic intimacies, alienations, mysteries.

Bond

By Monolina Binny

Biology and Biotechnology ‘14, from Bangladesh

A bond of fleeting to enduring, The limerence, love and liking,

Or that social loyalty,

On the context of family, friend and matrimony?

Connections to work, clubs or just acquaintance,

Or the assurance of confidence?

To me, it is that sparkle in the eye

When the mother first holds her baby

It is the loquacious little daughter,

Eminent for her chatter,

On her father’s knees,

Sharing her thoughts and feelings,

Rather influencing him to get candies;

The ambivalent relationship with your brother

With the war and love altogether,

Dyadic friendships of unconditional acceptance

Laughter on silly affairs.

My bonds are my song:

“The love is in the air,

The passion rages.

The energy of purity…

Sparks flood…

Rauthaz of spectral stars

Paint the roses”

It is the balance of hope and uncertainty,

Binding Contract and all that formality,

The bliss of proximity

And the bereavement of being away;

It is the strong secure

With my root,

The vivid colors of my culture:

You see, my saree is not

Subdued hues of grey and white,

It is vibrant,

Taking the form of a rainbow;

It is the wind which blow

The fragrance of the rye fields,

It is the melody of the flutes

Beyond the woods,

Beyond the mountains

Of that shepherd boy

Playing in his joy.

It is ties with painting,

It is my ties with singing,

It is my ties with dancing,

It is my eternal love for chocolates,

It is not just some hand shakes

And some hello’s and hi’s,

It is my ties with myself.

Experience


I captured this moment after watching the Red Bull "Art of Motion" event taking place just by the

Michael O’Brien

Civil Engineering ‘12, IQP London (D’11)

River Thames with a few friends. We were walking across the bridge on our way to the nearest Tube

station and the lighting for the photo looked perfect. I stood back from the group for a few minutes

to snap a few night shots. With the London Eye in the background, one of the biggest must see

attractions, I think this captured the atmosphere of the night well.

Culture


A Snapshot of Namibian Culture

By Patrick Ford

Environmental Engineering ‘13, Namibia (D ‘12)

What defines a culture and a nation? Is it

the infrastructure, the language, the food,

the landscapes, the history? For me, a cul-

ture and a nation can be defined largely by

one thing, and that’s the people who live

there and represent its ideals. This is be-

cause culture, which is held within every one

of us in a unique way, is a manifestation of

all of the experiences and encounters that

we have had in our lifetimes.

I would like now to describe my expe-

rience in Namibia, and specifically the peo-

ple that I was fortunate enough to interact

with during my stay in the country during

March and April of 2012.

Our Group with Community Members.

Experience


Namibia has an extremely diverse popula-

tion due to its history, and there seems to be

an underlying value of pride that drives the

actions of each of its citizens.

The first experience that I can recall

was our group’s trip to the rural farming vil-

lages of Gründorn South and Nico Noord.

The citizens of these southern communities

primarily spoke the Damara language. De-

spite the fact that we could not speak any

of the language outside of hello and thank

you, they still managed to make us smile

and laugh with their stories and their never

ending work ethic. As we interviewed each

of the families and worked with them to

construct a waste sorting center in their

community, men, women, and children

went out of their way to

be hospitable and to

help us, even though

they often had so little in

terms of material posses-

sions.

Secondly, our trip

to Etosha National Park

was filled with great

memories, both due to the people and the

natural landscape. While there, we saw

countless zebra, lion, giraffes, and ele-

phants, and even got a rare look at three

black rhinos at the watering hole at night. In

addition, we could hear the roar of the lions

in the distance as we fell asleep each night

in our tents. While in the park, we enjoyed

an Easter meal consisting of several differ-

ent types of meat as well as some local fa-

vorites for desert.

Another memorable trip was our jour-

ney to Sossusvlei. This was one of our best

trips, because nearly our entire group trav-

eled there, and we did so on a tour with

Winslow. Winslow became a good friend

and showed us many different parts of Na-

mibia throughout our seven weeks in the

country, from well known areas such as Sos-

susvlei, to outlooks where we could watch

the sun set over the entire city and the ad-

jacent mountain range. While in Sossusvlei,

we camped out in the dessert, and enjoyed

a typical braai dinner accompanied by a

concert from Shishani, an upcoming artist in

Namibia who traveled with us. We spent the

nights staring at the stars and spent the

mornings wondering how it got so cold in

the dessert that was nearly 100o the day be-

fore.

Another smaller encounter that I will

never forget was with a local crafts vendor.

Every weekend, the streets surrounding a

local park would be filled with people sell-

ing arts and crafts. Each weekend in which

we did not travel, we would typically spend

a couple of hours looking

at all of the goods for sou-

venirs with which to re-

member our trip. One day,

Donal Boyd and myself

were shopping as usual

and met a woman who

was selling dyed tapestries

that we could not find an-

ywhere else. We returned to her several

times throughout our trip, and ended up

purchasing way more from her than we ev-

er planned to, in part due to the quality of

the goods, but also because of the friendli-

ness and pride in her work that she showed

to us. On our last trip to her area, we took a

picture with her, and she gave each of us a

small gift. I have kept it, a small wooden

carving of a cheetah, on my desk at home,

as a constant reminder of what true happi-

ness really is, and just how much of an im-

pact such a small act of kindness can have.

In the end, we were able to meet a

lot of amazing people throughout our time

in Namibia, but if there is one thing that I will

always remember about this trip, it is that

everyone has a story to tell, and chances

are they want to share theirs and hear

yours.


“…. If there is one thing that I will

always remember about this trip, it is

that everyone has a story to tell, and

chances are they want to share

theirs and hear yours.”

La Vaca Enamorada

By Aarti S. Madan

Assistant Professor of Spanish, Humanities and Arts, Argentina (E ‘12)

I’m the Project Center Director for WPI’s Buenos Aires Language and Culture Immersion in

Argentina, which takes place every summer dur-

ing E-Term. For 2011’s trip I’d scheduled Iguazú

Falls as the proverbial grand finale, the icing on

our Argentine torta, my way of ending on a high

note. Instead, we ended on the lowest of low as

an ash cloud from Puyehue (a Chilean volcano

dormant for precisely 50 years and 1 week be-

fore our scheduled trip) blanketed the skies of

the Southern Cone and brought air travel to a

screeching halt.

This year was different. I could continue

with any number of clichés to describe our idyllic

escape to the Cataratas de Iguazú, which I

scheduled early in the trip for fear of yet another

natural disaster impinging upon our plans. Yet it

couldn’t have more beautiful or perfect or easy.

Or quirky.

Culture


Iguazú Falls, Argentina

I knew, at least on the surface, exactly

what I was getting us into. But what happened

with our June 23, 2012 post-Iguazú-no-volcanoes-

this-year-celebration dinner simply took my plan-

ning to new heights. Some background: I’ve

learned that eating out is often better if you read

reviews, be it in Worcester or Timbuktu. So prior to

embarking for Iguazú I looked up about ten or so

restaurants that we might hit.

One of them in particular stood out. Ac-

cording to Trip Advisor, the #1 restaurant in Puerto

Iguazú was then and is currently La Vaca En-

amorada, loosely translated as The Enamored

Cow. Beyond the name itself, I was astonished by

the number of reviews from patrons in addition to

responses from the owner. The first reviews and

responses were in Spanish, most dating from the

weeks preceding our visit. The owner’s writing hint-

ed at a garrulous man, indeed quite the charac-

ter. I kept reading. Upon arriving to the English re-

views, I realized that the dear proprietor was using

Google Translator. Some gems immediately drew

me in. What follows is an excerpt from my favorite:

In LA VACA ENAMORA we are extremely

grateful for his criticism which truly exceeds our

expectations to meet your harmonious and deli-

cate taste. Now is the time to find and decode

the letters ... the game ... indeed, in this response I

am relieving some of the secrets of our mission.

• For us the meeting of two diametrically

opposed cultures, gastronomically and idiomati-

cally is extremely seductive and power at stake,

leaving only the human factor reduced to the es-

sential and interact without language assistance

is wonderful, and I reiterate that avails the human

where both parties leave the best referee the final

word .... Who is your palate as it was.

• While the lasagna tasted a Trumpeter

Malbec, deliberately put them very gently Andrea

Bocelli Vivo Per Lei, as you know this issue cele-

brates the music and in our case the flavors.

• To watch them play freely as we discov-

ered the details of the decoration of our house,

taking pictures and watching them as they were

fascinated by capturing images, we are already

paying more than they should for their care.

• Being at 50 meters from the Gastronomic

traditionally is not a penalizing factor, rather moti-

vating, where differences are enhanced.

• No doubt for us your critique is very im-

portant as all others, in particular the anti distin-

guishes valence and makes it quite unique and

genuine is to have left things to make themselves

naturally and achievement is on both sides. In this

recognition will undoubtedly TRIAPAVISOR team

as well you will trust in the impartial arbitrator

choose to attend LA VACA ENAMORA.

• While we share this moment so sweet, PA-

CO DE LUCIA accompanies me with his virtuosity ..

and better .... and I am revealing my noble origins

ANDALUCES. To close I trust the translator for a

computer that has the sensitivity appealing lan-

guage to translate my note, just as we use it at

the end of the evening and it was as a courtesy to

say goodbye warmly of you. Thank you very much

and happy here in LA VACA ENAMORA known if

any.

Vaca Enamorada? How about Profesora

Enamorada? So much so that I conducted a dra-

matic reading for the lovely ladies participating in

the immersion. I hoped that they too would feel

the need to meet this character at once. After all,

he so very much desired communication—their

ultimate goal for this trip—that he appealed to

new media in ways I’d never before seen.

It’s not that he’s just using Google Transla-

tor to reply to TripAdvisor reviews; rather, he ex-

plains in the above response that he uses it in


La Vaca Enamorada—the Enamored Cow—

logo from Juan Alberto’s website

person. Can you imagine your waiter setting his

computer down on your table as you finish your

last sips of espresso? And having an insanely po-

etic conversation with him as you both type

away? I had to meet this guy.

Much to my delight, they were in. And

that’s when our adventure really started.

A bright green decoupage cow in the res-

taurant’s window greeted us upon our arrival.

The mustached owner/waiter Juan Alberto gave

us a hearty welcome, and we chose a table in

the back corner. Here’s the highlight reel:

1) One member of our party ordered the ñoquis,

handcrafted in house by Lili, Juan Alberto’s

wife. Juan Alberto beamed with delight,

flapped his wings and fluttered around while

exclaiming that the consumer of said gnocchi

was sure to fly like a dove after eating them

(rather than feeling dead weights in his belly).

2) Juan Alberto pulled up a chair as we ordered.

While complimenting our Spanish, he com-

mented that he couldn’t speak English very

well. He did, however, speak French fluently.

He’d spent 60 days in jail in Zaire, where he

was working for an NGO as some sort of trac-

tor repairman. The government unfortunately

believed he was disseminating Communist

propaganda like any other sixties-era Latin

American (read: sarcasm) and promptly ar-

rested him. But he learned French in jail. So all

good.

3) Somewhere through the middle of our long

foodless night—everything is cooked fresh and

therefore s l o w l y—Juan Alberto requested

that I translate “Gracias por jugar” for a British

couple dining at the front of the restaurant. I

then remembered reading the phrase on his

TripAdvisor profile: “thanks for playing,” his sig-

nature adieu. And play we did: a parrillada

and fries for the girls, gnocchi for the boy, and

a great deal of bread for everyone.

4) Finally, what a businessman. With his steadfast

banter and commentary on life, it was easy to

disregard Juan Alberto’s constant deal-

making. First he reduced the price for the par-

rillada that he insisted we order, then he re-

duced my bottle of wine to a scant $35 AR

(about $8 USD), and he closed by serving us

two delicious desserts on the house (a

panqueque de dulce de leche along with a

poached pear topped with coulis).

I joked at some point that he was going to re-

quest a TripAdvisor review. AND HE DID! Brilliant,

right? He’s ranked #1 out of 39 Puerto Iguazú res-

taurants, and he’s only been open since March

2012. Yes, the food is good, quite good in fact,

but it’s his personality, his business acumen, and

his will to communicate that ultimately convince

patrons to write a review.

As with his TripAdvisor responses, Juan Al-

berto’s respect for communication is clear in the

above examples. In the first he flaps his wings

and flutters around, acting out his words with ges-

tures. Any language teacher will telling you such

skills are absolutely essential to maintaining an

English-free classroom. In the second he express-

es satisfaction regarding his stint in jail; at least he

walked away communicating in French. In the

third scenario he finds a way to communicate

with the Brits—in other words, through me, the

resident translator. And finally, in the fourth exam-

ple he communicates by means of that ageless

and borderless custom: the giving of gifts.

I always encourage my Argentina students

to bring a little something for their homestay par-

ents, a token of goodwill and gratitude that they

can share either at the beginning or the end of

their trip. I realize now that what I’m suggesting is

a willingness to relate. To communicate is, in ef-

fect, the most shared element of the human con-

dition; it creates community. One student’s

homestay father, Hugo, often posed discussion

topics for their meals, such as “What would a

world without borders be like?” or “What will hap-

pen to language in 400 years?” Whether we’re

all living on Mother Earth as resident humans ra-

ther than resident Argentines or resident Ameri-

cans or what have you, whether we’re all speak-

ing one common language: we’ll still need to

find ways to communicate, to share our ideas, to

get them out of our heads through acting,

speaking, doing, writing.

That’s what I took away from Juan Alberto

and La Vaca Enamorada. Since that strange

night in which we literally walked through a cloud

on our return to the Jasy Hotel, I’ve found myself

wondering: did my girls go along for the ride be-

cause I give them a grade or because they gen-

uinely wanted to go? I’ll probably never know

the answer, but whatever the case, I’m happy—

and truthfully surprised—that the waterfalls had a

competitor for a once-in-a-lifetime experience in

Puerto Iguazú.


Thailand: Photo Series

By Abby Albright

Chemical Engineering ‘12, Thailand (C ‘11)

Culture


Costa Rica: Education for Sustainable Living

By Caitlin Swalec

Biochemistry ‘16, Costa Rica (2010)

From the ocean a dark shape slowly

emerges, silhouetted by bursts of lightning.

Shrieks of capuchins and toucans echo

each clap of thunder as the mysterious fig-

ure drags itself up the beach. Flap-thump,

flap-thump, flap-thump. Recognizing the dis-

tinctive sound of flippers on wet sand, I

squirm with excitement, ruffling the pages of

my data collection notebook. The turtle

trudges forth, approaching the rainforest,

which sprouts from the sand like an over-

grown garden. When she detects a safe

nesting location, the ritual begins. I squint

through the darkness, fascinated; typical

Maine grown girls do not witness events like

this. The turtle uses her flippers like shovels to

Project


Baby sea turtles making their way from their nest to the ocean...

dig a deep pit, carelessly flinging sand

through the air. With exhausted grunts, she

heaves her body into position. Glassy, white

eggs, like enormous marbles, appear be-

tween her back flippers and drop into the

nest, one by one.

Last summer I travelled to the Pacuare

Reserve in Costa Rica for a research trip. I

traded sleepless nights for the opportunity to

collect field data on nesting leatherback sea

turtles. Conducting my own research project

gave me invaluable experience as a scien-

tist. As I collaborated with biologists, conser-

vationists, and researchers who had travelled

to Pacuare from all over the world, I em-

braced the chance to explore other cultures,

trading pictures of my family and recipes

from home with my new companions.

In hindsight, sharing my research pro-

ject with local students was the most extraor-

dinary part of the trip. The schools that I visit-

ed had few resources compared to my own

school. Basic necessities such as paper,

desks, and textbooks were scarce. Neverthe-

less, students listened attentively to my

presentation and requested every detail of

my project. I was surprised to learn that many

of the students’ parents previously had

poached turtle eggs. The volunteers ex-

plained that for generations the lack of edu-

cation in these remote areas had left adults

unprepared for any careers outside of manu-

al labor. As a supplement to their paltry in-

comes, many men resorted to poaching and

other illegal activities. Accordingly, a primary

initiative of the Pacuare researchers, one

that I have adopted for myself, is to share

education. They pursue this goal by present-

ing research projects and teaching lessons

on science, mathematics, language, and his-

tory in local schools.

By sharing my own research, I contrib-

uted in my own way to the education of

these underprivileged students. Their educa-

tion will empower them as adults to find bet-

ter, more rewarding, more sustainable jobs.

Many of the parents who formerly worked as

poachers have been recruited by volunteers

at the Pacuare Reserve to save the endan-

gered leatherback turtle by training and

working as researchers and as guards

against other poachers. Community involve-

ment has fostered a positive relationship be-

tween the local inhabitants of Pacuare and

the researchers at the Reserve. The reformed

poachers’ zeal for involvement in our project

provides all the reassurance that we, the vol-

unteers, need in order to trust that our efforts

to educate will significantly impact individu-

als’ futures.


My Trip to Thailand

By Sean Gile

Environmental Engineering ‘13, Thailand (C ‘12)

During my lifetime, I have been on several

trips around the world. I have seen areas

such as the Caribbean, Switzerland, France,

Italy, and over 30 states in our own country.

Having travelled to all of these different sec-

tions of the world, it is difficult to compare

them to the experiences I had during my

time in Thailand.

The opportunity presented itself to me

in 2010 when I was faced with the applica-

tion to study abroad for my IQP. After visiting

all of the potential sites and locations where I

could study, Thailand stuck out as a place

with all different opportunities to explore a

culture that is so different from our own.

Once I received the notice in the mail that I

had been selected for the Bangkok site in Thai-

land, I immediately began preparing for an ad-

venture with many uncertainties.

Looking back on my time in Thailand, the

only regret I have from the site is not having

more time to explore the less seen parts of the

country. It is difficult to know where to begin in

describing another country as diverse as Thai-

land. Each aspect of life is different, whether it

is the food, the religion, or even something as

simple as the general demeanor of the people.

The easiest way to explain my trip is to go

through the highlights of my experiences. Food

Do you like seafood? Have you ever eat-

en a fish that looks at you? Perhaps you have

eaten shrimp with the legs and head still at-

tached? No? Well, not only is this the type of

food eaten by Thai people, it is consumed for

three meals a day, every day. At first, I found it

difficult just to look at, never mind actually eat

it. After about three weeks of attempting to

avoid eating the food, one of my group part-

ners blindfolded me and fed me the food I had

been dreading to allow anywhere near my

mouth.

As soon as I tasted the deep-fried river

prawn, I instantly regretted not trying the food

earlier. The seafood in Thailand is fresher than

any seafood I have ever tried. Each area in

Thailand has their own twist on food and differ-

ent spices that they put in the food. To anyone

who reads this, my advice is to try whatever is

put in front of you and close your eyes if you

have to. I promise that the fish and shrimp

served in the United States are incomparable

to the fish and shrimp found in Thailand. It was

worth every bite and I encourage anyone who

reads this to not judge what you see by the

looks and try whatever is put in front of you. Buddhism

Buddhism accounts for 95% of the popu-

lation found in Thailand and it produces some

of the most beautiful architecture in the world.

If you were to drive across Thailand, you would

see thousands of Buddhist temples. On every

temple, whether it is the King’s temple in Bang-

kok, or the local temple found in a small village

in Kanchanaburi, there are beautiful depictions

of Buddha and amazingly intricate designs wo-

ven inside and out on each temple. If you ever

find yourself in Thailand, these are sites that

cannot be missed.

Lunch in Kanchanaburi

Experience


Geography

For a country that is roughly the size of

Texas, the geography of Thailand is incredibly

diverse. Everything from tropical rain forests

with beautiful waterfalls and roaming ele-

phants, to the plains north of Bangkok where

much of the worlds rice is grown, can be

found. The beaches found in the eastern and

southern parts of the country are picturesque

and stunning beyond imagination. During our

time in one of these tropical locations, we

were able to ride elephants through the jungle

and interact with the local people, whose fam-

ilies have been inhabiting the area for more

than a thousand years. Because I was studying

abroad, I did not get to spend all of my time in

these types of locations, but we were able to

take some weekend trips when we found time.

If you are given the opportunity, turning it

down would be a huge mistake.

In writing this, I tried to present as much

of a picture as I could about Thailand. My per-

sonal experiences are extensive and 1000

words is not enough to describe my entire time

there. I hope this helps you understand Thai-

land a little better, and if you ever find yourself

there one day, my advice is never say “no” to

anything.

Buddhist statues, Wat Po Temple, Bangkok


Take Every Opportunity That You Can!

By Jessica Colon

Management Engineering ‘13, Argentina (E ‘12)

Buenos Aires has so much to offer in terms

of history, natural beauty, culture and the

people, it would be a shame not to see it all.

However, I knew we wouldn’t be able to in

the few weeks we had for our summer study,

but we tried as best we could. In order to ex-

perience as much as possible, I decided

that I couldn’t go to the same place twice, I

needed to take as many pictures as possi-

ble, and I couldn’t say no to any opportuni-

ties that arose.

During my first week in Argentina, one

of my favorite experiences was the Estancia

la Candelaria, a ranch named after Don

Orestes Piñeiro’s wife, located in what

seemed to be the middle of nowhere. The

pampas, or the plains, was like a desert of

green taking over your view. The change

from the city atmosphere to a gorgeous

view was overwhelming to say

the least. It truly gave the

sense of what it was like to be

a gaucho, or cowboy, in the

1800s. With all the men and

women from the ranch

dressed in the clothing from

way back when, touring the

castle furnished with one of a

kind pieces, observing the dif-

ferent dance steps during the

gaucho show, riding horses

through trails in the mini forest,

tasting and even making the

food, and watching all the

games, you couldn’t help but

become absorbed in all that

history had to offer—it was the

best of history lessons.

My favorite part of the

day was during a demonstra-

tion of popular games the

gauchos used to play on horseback. The first

one they showed us was a race between

two men discovering who had the most ac-

curacy and speed. They each held a pencil

sized stick while riding their horse, going as

fast as they could. As they would approach

a metal bar with two strings holding a small

half dollar-sized ring, they would stand up

while still riding and try to get the stick

through the ring, thus retrieving the rings. The

first person to do this or the person to get a

ring at all would win.

The gauchos would then give a ring to

a woman in the crowd of people watching

in exchange for a kiss on the cheek. One

asked if there was any woman in particular

that wanted a ring and my hand immedi-

ately shot up! I mean, who doesn’t want a

nice little souvenir?

The Gaucho Games

Experience


Another highlight of my first week was

attending a soccer game. Not just any soc-

cer game because the popular team in the

area, Boca Juniors, was playing. It was a

pretty pricey deal to go to this game but this

is where I could not say no. Soccer around

the world is more popular than any other

sport. How could I give up the chance to ex-

perience a soccer game in another country?

The enthusiasm that spread through the

crowd to support the eleven people on the

field was unlike any support I had ever seen.

The constant singing throughout the entire

game, the people getting louder when they

wanted something to happen, the profanity

flying out of peoples’ mouths when some-

thing went wrong, was the most interesting

display of pride. After the unfortunate loss of

the Boca Juniors to Arsenal, the fans weren’t

even upset. As we walked down the steps of

the stadium to exit, they ALL continued to

sing once again until leaving the stadium.

Each and every person knew the chants and

it was obvious that they were passionate

about expressing their love

for the Boca Juniors. I was a

little sad I wasn’t able to see

the reaction of the crowd

when a ‘GOL!’ was made

but it was still definitely

worth it. I think that just

means I will have to attend

another soccer game!

La Bomba de Tiempo,

or the Time Bomb, was an-

other interesting show we

attended. We arrived a little

late but just in time to see

these men slowly control the

mood of the crowd. Gradu-

ally picking up the pace

then eventually creating

fast moving and amazing

sounding beats with more

than 10 drums and other in-

struments, they made the crowd go crazy.

The mix of foreigners and natives made the

show even better. There were no words but

just everyone in the crowd clapping and

moving to the beat. Many of the people that

had suggested this show to us said it was so

great that they had to go more than once.

I’m not sure if I will return but I am so glad I

did go!

In addition to seeing incredible places,

we also came to Argentina to learn more

Spanish. Even with both my parents speaking

Spanish growing up, I have never been flu-

ent. I can understand it, read it and write it,

but when it comes to speaking, that’s a dif-

ferent story. Coming to a country where I

need to rely on the Spanish that I do know

but not necessarily be able to articulate eve-

rything I want to say has been quite chal-

lenging and even frustrating at times. From

the support of others I have learned that

having some patience, practicing when I

can, and learning how to just let go of what

others think will be the only way I will be able

to eventually become fluent. I guess if a lan-

guage was so easy to learn more people

would take the time to do it, right?

La Bombonera: La Boca vs Arsenal


Building Cultural Understanding One Meal at a Time

By Rick Vaz

Dean, Interdisciplinary and Global Studies Division

Each year WPI becomes a more multicultur-

al community as we welcome new students,

staff, and faculty from around the world to

Worcester while expanding student and facul-

ty opportunities at our global network of Pro-

ject Centers. One of the ways that the WPI

community can embrace

multiculturalism in its own

backyard is by taking ad-

vantage of Worcester’s res-

taurants, many of which re-

flect the ethnic heritage of

the city’s residents.

In the late 19th and early 20th century,

Italian families migrated to Worcester seeking

opportunity. Nowhere is this more evident

than Shrewsbury Street, which is lined with res-

taurants reflecting Italian heritage. At the top

end, Via (89 Shrewsbury Street) is a stylish spot

featuring a wide-ranging menu and a variety

of dining spaces including a heated patio.

While the menu at Via reflects American dining

habits, the tastes are genuinely Italian thanks to

well-sourced ingredients and a tightly-run kitch-

en. Their pizzas are exceptional, as are the

pork and seafood dishes. Another solid up-

scale choice is Piccolo’s, set in a former bank

at 157 Shrewsbury Street. With its subdued

lighting and slightly cheesy soundtrack, Picco-

lo’s makes you think you’ve stumbled on the

mob’s favorite spot. The kitchen, however, is

very creative and talented, turning out memo-

rable homemade pasta dishes.

Shrewsbury Street is also home to a num-

ber of more casual and inexpensive spots fea-

turing Italian-American food. Many Worcester-

ites hold that the venerable Wonder Bar (121

Shrewsbury Street) serves the best pizza in

town, and they also turn out all the standards

such as veal and eggplant parmigiana, sau-

sage, and meatballs. Down the road, Mac’s

Diner (185 Shrewsbury Street) has been serving

up good-value pasta meals in a laid-back but

friendly BYOB setting for over 30 years. Try the

Paul Mac Special, a sauté of pasta, broccoli,

chicken, and mozzarella in a garlicky sauce.

Worcester’s restaurant scene also re-

flects the influence of more recent immigrants.

Worcester sports no less than nine Vietnamese

restaurants thanks to the influx of Vietnamese

residents in the last forty years.

Dalat (425 Park Avenue) is one

of the oldest and most reliable,

offering great value and a wide

variety. For starters, try the

crispy spring rolls or fresh garden rolls, and fol-

low up with a steaming bowl of pho, Vietnam’s

signature noodle soup. Redolent with herbs

and adorned with duck, chicken, or beef, a

bowl of pho is a satisfying and inexpensive

feast. Another good choice is the more up-

scale Pho Dakao (593 Park Avenue), which

places an emphasis on atmosphere, service,

and presentation. Try some goi (salads) or bun

(vermicelli topped with grilled meats and

herbs).

Since the early 20th century, Worcester

has been home to immigrants from Armenia,

Lebanon, and other countries in the Middle

East. As a result, Middle Eastern dining options

abound. If you enjoy the food at WPI’s neigh-

bor Sahara (143 Highland Street), you might

branch out with a visit to Shiraz (259 Park Ave-

nue) to try Armenian specialties such as ba-

baganoush (eggplant and tahini spread),

lehmajun (a disc of dough topped with spiced

meat), yalanchi (vegetarian stuffed

grapeleaves), or lamb kebabs. Across the

street you’ll find a branch of the popular El Ba-

sha (256 Park Avenue), serving up Lebanese

versions of these dishes in a more upscale at-

mosphere.

For a taste of Japan, you cannot beat

a trip to Baba (309 Park Avenue), an award-

winning restaurant serving exceptionally fresh

and inventive variations on sushi and sashimi.

Culture


“Sometimes, better under-

standing is just a meal away.”

Owner Wilson Wang may be Chinese, but he

knows his sushi. Try his famous oyster shooter,

some yellowtail sashimi, and the chef’s salad

sampler, or dig into any of the dozens of

maki rolls. More sushi awaits you just down

the road at Haiku (258 Park Avenue) , offer-

ing good value sushi and sashimi plus a wide

range of cooked items.

Craving a taste of India? Surya (299

Shrewsbury Street) serves up authentically

fiery curries, fresh breads, and other northern

Indian treats. Just across Lake Quinsigamond

into Shrewsbury on Route 9, India Cafe (84

Boston Turnpike) offers a generous luncheon

buffet plus all the appetizers, main courses,

and tandoor-cooked meats you’d expect.

Most of WPI’s Chinese students and

employees probably already know that they

need to leave town (or cook at home) to get

reasonably authentic Chinese food. In

Framingham, about 20 minutes to the east,

you can find both Red Pepper (17 Edgell

Road) and Sichuan Gourmet (271 Worcester

Road). Sichuan Gourmet is a bit more up-

scale, and Red Pepper’s menu a bit more

adventurous, but both locations serve up

fiery versions of food from Sichuan province,

balancing the sharp heat of fresh and dried

chilis with the numbing tingle of Sichuan pep-

percorns. Most of the clientele in both spots

are Chinese, which is an excellent sign of

good things to come.

For a cultural experience out of the or-

dinary, head to One Love (800 Main Street)

to sample Venice Fouchard’s homemade

Jamaican food, served in a homey and wel-

coming atmosphere. Her jerk chicken and

curried goat are famous, and not for the

faint of heart. One Love features lots of veg-

etarian options, and their BYOB policy helps

keep the cost down. It’s the kind of place

you might fall in love with.

Worcester has a sizable contingent of

Brazilian residents, and you can get a taste

of Brazil at Pampas Churrascaria (145 East

Central Street). Like most churrascarias, they

offer a wide variety of freshly fire-roasted

meats accompanied by a copious bar or sal-

ads and side dishes. You pay for your meat

by the ounce, and again, BYOB.

Finally, Pomir Grill at 119 Shrewsbury

Street is one of Worcester’s newest and most

intriguing restaurants, featuring Afghani cui-

sine in a stylish setting. The flatbread and

dips are an addictive start, and entrees fea-

ture lamb, pumpkin, eggplant, and chicken,

distinctively spiced and attractively served.

Afghanistan is rarely in the news for happy

reasons these days, but at Pomir Grill you can

learn a little about Afghani culture through its

cuisine and warm hospitality. Sometimes,

better understanding is just a meal away.



This issue of unpacked includes authors, stories, and photos from the below marked locations:

Do you have something to submit for unpacked Spring 2013?

Submissions, questions and comments/letters-to-the-editor can be sent to

[email protected]

For more information visit: wpi.edu/offices/ih/unpacked.html


Interested in joining

the unpacked editori-al and design team?

Contact

[email protected]


This issue of unpacked includes authors, stories, and photos from the below marked locations:

Do you have something to submit for unpacked Spring 2013?

Submissions, questions and comments/letters-to-the-editor can be sent to

[email protected]

For more information visit: wpi.edu/offices/ih/unpacked.html


ABOVE: Student painting of the legendary Him-

alayan Yeti on the door to the library of the

Khumjung Secondary School in Sargarmatha

(Everest) National Park, Nepal. The school was

founded by the first man to summit Mt. Everest,

Edmund Hillary, in 1961. Taken by Colleen Cal-

lahan-Panday (2009)

unpacked 1st issue

Documents

international students

global community

new people

undergraduate students

new cultures

community members

unpacked hopes

unpacked spring