We got our Visa and passports back yesterday at the mandatory meeting. After saw my Visa picture with my big smile, I admire at Ms. Pham, who is our program instructor, for great photographic skills. She was trying to save us money by taking Visa pictures for us. I'm really thankful for that. In order to help us understand the culture in Vietnam and Myanmar, the leading … [Read more...] about Visa and Culture Snapshot
Feeling the end of the semester stress building. I know I will miss my family when we are away on our trip, but I am ready to be in a more relaxed environment for a bit. The balance between home and school is doing me in this semester. Looking forward to wandering in places I know nothing about where my only baggage is actual luggage. … [Read more...] about End of the Semester
During our travels in Myanmar we will visit a few stunning Pagodas. The first of these is the Shwedagon Pagoda, it is said be the oldest and most spectacular in the world. The round-tiered tower structure is based on 3rd century Nepalese Stupas. Like Stupas these structures are said to house relics like the teeth and hair of Gautama Buddha. Pagodas are places of worship and … [Read more...] about Shwedagon Pagoda
Being a westerner and raised in baptist home it is difficult to comprehend a devotion to self pursuit of spiritual awareness but I would like to understand more. This week I read about Buddhism trying to understand the difference in Theravadins and Mahayana Buddhism. The contrast reminds me of Hasidic Jews and non-orthodox jews or Southern Baptist and non-denominational sects. … [Read more...] about Understanding Buddhist Sects
Who doesn’t like food? Myanmar has a wide variety of cultures and ethnicities, so they also have a wide variety of foods. Of course, rice makes up the vast majority of the diet for most Burmese people. Spicy soups are also common at meals. One of the foods that sounds the weirdest to me is fermented tea leaves which can be eaten by themselves for dessert or as a … [Read more...] about Food, Food, Food…