2012 is already off to a busy start for the institute!

With 17 new spring semester students arriving the first week of 2012 and 20 fall semester students continuing in January with internships and research projects, there is plenty to keep staff busy.

New and seasoned host families were excited to welcome their first or newest ISDSI student into their homes.

Spring semester students quickly learned what “experiential education” means here as they had a brief orientation before spending a weekend immersed in Thai language and culture with their new host families. Now in their second week in the country they are engaged in intensive Thai, cross fit and their first course of the semester, Foundations. The Foundations course provides a broad overview of Thai culture, society, and politics while allowing for field trips such as rock climbing, city orientation, markets studies, organic farming introduction, and hiking to the iconic temple on Doi Suthep.

Meanwhile, many  fall semester students still in the country are working in Chiang Mai and around Northern Thailand on a wide array of internships and research projects such as teaching English, working with Buremese refugees, surveying local restaurants, assisting at partner organizations like ECHO and UHDP, and much more.

While students got settled in with their internships and host families, instructors were busy prepping for the upcoming Rivers course. Staff traveled to the Yom River (in Phrae) and the Mekong River (in Issan) to scout the river, locations, and make contacts to make the course run as smoothly as possible.

ISDSI also hosted visitors from Azuza Pacific University (APU) in California when several Global Studies students and their professor visited Northern Thailand. Working with ISDSI staff, they learned about environmental and development issues in and around Chiang Mai as they consider initiating a program in the region.

Last, but not least, Ajaan Abram Bicskler and his wife Becca welcomed Benjamin Justus Bicksler to their family at 12:17pm on January 10th! Benjamin, weighing in at 8.02 pounds and measuring 20.5 inches, joins his older sister Ellie.

Pi Pu and Ajaan Wilasane go over ISDSI policies during the host family orientation.

Silas meets his new host mom and younger brother.

Cristin is greeted by her new host parents.

Jean making her way up a one of the routes at Crazy Horse Buttress.

Danielle enjoying the rappel.

Nicole Ludema, Josh, Lourdes, Danielle, Nicole Beetle, and Jean get ready for the rappel.

Staff go over the macro-invertebrate study to find the best location to conduct the study during the upcoming rivers course.

Benjamin Justus Bicksler, a few days old.

For the final field course of the semester, students spent several weeks in southern Thailand based in two very different settings. One group started in the Muslim fishing community of Baan Jao Mai in Trang province, while the other group started several hours further south in the Adang Archipelago.

While both locations provided valuable assessments of how local communities utilize marine resources, the two sites provided two very different histories and current circumstances. Students were able to compare the two sites as they became proficient at identifying a wide array of marine life as well as developed an understanding of the complex relationships between a wide array of stakeholders including locals, tourists, large scale fishing operations, and governmental agencies.

In the Adang Archipelago students camped, sea kayaked, and snorkeled in the coral reefs. By kayaking in the archipelago, students were able to gain a better understanding of the effects of currents, tides, and waves on coastal and island living and travel. Through snorkeling activities, they gained an appreciation for the diversity and fragility of coral reef ecosystems. Although this portion did not include home stays, students became acquainted with their local instructors, Pi Jaen and Pi Khan who were able to provide some insight into their native Urak Lawoi community.

Baan Jao Mai provided a very different setting as students stayed with host families and examined different ecosystems including mudflats, mangroves and seagrass. Spending a greater amount of time in the community, students were able to learn about how the community used coastal resources in the past and currently as well as how they plan to conserve and use them in the future. By spending significant time in the mangroves and mudflats near Baan Jao Mai, students observed the surprising diversity of these often ignored and neglected ecosystems.

For most students, this was their final field course followed either by a return to their home university or a January internship or research project.

Students use their activity field guides, dive slates, reef identification tablets, and the course library to complete their reef survey.

Abby dives down with her dive slate and reef guide in tow to get a closer look at the reef.

Students land their kayaks after a long kayak to Koh Adang.

Students discuss mangrove management with local instructor, Ma.

Rebecca and Mel take notes while trying not to smash the pnuematphores.

Students kayak through a mangrove channel outside of Baan Jao Mai.

Celebrating Rebecca's birthday in the field, the host moms of Baan Jao Mai made sure that there was plenty of kanome for the celebration.

Students study the seagrass near Baan Jao Mai, identifying the types of seagrass and small critters as well as searching for Dugong trails.

A school of fish near the entrance of Tam Morrakot (Emerald Cave).

By traveling on foot,backpacking through the forests between villages, students engaged with their environment, observing forest types, structure, and ecology. Local instructors accompanied students on the hikes acting as guides as well as explaining various uses of different plants.

In addition to guiding students during hikes, local instructors took many forms during this course by discussing village issues in community meetings, sharing cultural practices, hosting students in their homes, taking students to their rice fields and paddies, and teaching students about their traditional way of life as well as current position within Thai society.

Having thrived in the mountains of Northern Thailand, students are switching gears to head to the islands and coasts of Southern Thailand for the final EFC of the semester.

Rebecca admires some of the finished weaving products while more are being created.

A local instructor shows off her naturally dyed material that she will use for weaving.

Birthday celebration in the field: Hish presents Nikki with her birthday cake.

Mark practices the blacksmithing techniques he learned from the villagers in Huay Tong Kaw.

Students talk with their local guide and check their forest guide books to identify plants.

Students utilize their library materials to discuss the forest type during a break.

Students meet with local instructor, Pati Sa Ju outside of Huay Hee village.

Students conduct a biodiversity study of the rai (rice field) with the help of their local instructors.

Group photo on the top of Doi Pui during mid-course seminar.

Students just returned from three weeks in the mountains of Mae Hong Son province studying Political Ecology of Forests.

As the semester continues, students are learning just how varied their classroom settings can be.

Following a week of seminar classes in a formal classroom setting, students could find themselves in a wide range of settings for the remainder of the course.

Although “classrooms” in the field often take the form of host families, sustainable construction projects, watershed hikes, and community meetings, there are times that we also turn an available space into a classroom for the day. During their Sustainable Food Systems mid-course seminar last month, we made use of an open air space to accommodate the activities, lectures, and video included in the seminar. During the Forests mid-course seminar, however, students found themselves in a very different setting, atop the highest point in Mae Hong Son, Doi Pui (photos of Forests mid-course coming soon). We allow the setting to determine the classroom rather than having the classroom determining the setting.

Another aspect of ISDSI courses is the ability to encompass all types of learning. The traditional classroom settings of seminar week are well-suited to students accustomed to an auditory learning style.  Learning in the  field, on the other hand, often forces students to learn visually and kinesthetically by observing and participating in hands-on activities. Projects in seminar and out in the field require students to lead discussions, create visual representations, write papers, meet with local community leaders and members, become an active part of their host families, develop technical skills, and consistently practice communicating in Thai. All of these things make for a rigorous and comprehensive program that allows students to develop a deep understanding for the topics they are studying.

Zane and Dan used a humor in their poster representing the inputs and outputs of UHDP.

Hannah and Isabel showed off their artistic skills with their poster.

Caroline and Erin describe their detailed diagram to the group.

Ajaan Abram utilizes the seminar space for a power point presentation.

Ajaan Abram lectures on the main themes of the course during the Sustainable Food Systems mid-course seminar.

After finishing with their mid-course seminar, students traveled to Maeta, where they spent time learning about organic rice farming in paddies such as this one.

Students participated in a community meeting with Pa Pat, a community leader in Maeta, with Pi Ming assisting with translation.

Before heading out to the field for their Forests course, students took a trip to the nearby Doi Suthep National Park office for a meeting with park officials about policies regarding groups living within national park boundaries.

Alicia looks on as Meredith asks a question during the meeting.

Students enjoy a laugh with the park officials as they wrap up the meeting.

Ajaan Daniel, Pi Tik, and Pi Toto pose with the park officials and their large poster outlining forest types (a diagram that students would become familiar with in the field).

The first EFC of the semester, Sustainable Food Systems, is well underway with students getting their fist taste of “class time” in the field. While one group started with home stays in the organic farming community of Maeta, the other started at the Upland Holistic Development Project (UHDP) in Fang. One of the projects at UHDP allowed students to give back to their hosts at UHDP while also learning about seed-saving techniques and simple earthen home construction.

Students began the construction of an Earthbag house for UHDP and their partner, ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization). The structure, which will be made using recycled and Earthen materials, will act as a seed storage bank for ECHO’s ongoing work with seed saving to preserve biodiversity. The Earthbag house will create an ideal environment for seed storage by keeping out unwanted pests as well as maintaining a consistent, cool temperature.

Students put in labor leveling (with a little help from the bulldozer) and clearing  the plot before building the foundation and a french drain irrigation system. Overall, students found it to be one of the most enjoyable and rewarding activities at UHDP. The other group will continue the construction when they take their turn at UHDP this week.

Students work on clearing the site before leveling.

The bulldozer finishes off the leveling work.

Casey, Mel, Margaux, Hannah, and Evan join UHDP staff in prepping the plot for construction.

Mark and Erin measure out some piping for the irrigation system.

Evan carts off some gravel to be used french drain.

Mel, Dan, and Margaux work together to even out the surface of the plot.

Erin, Alicia, and Mark prep bags that will be used in the construction.

Students take a well-deserved break after clearing and prepping the plot and constructing both the foundation and french drain system.

All of the students (and UHDP/ECHO staff James) pose for the camera after completing the project.

Earlier this week, students left for the first of their three expedition field courses (EFC) of the semester, Sustainable Food Systems. The first week of EFCs is always a little hectic for staff and students, particularly so for the first of the semester. A lot is expected of the students as they continue their intensive Thai classes with lessons focused on vocabulary that will be particularly useful in the field and engage in extensive reading, discussions, and writing assignments during their seminar sessions. The week, spent with Ajaan Abram Bixler and the field instructor team of Pi Ming, Pi Jack, Pi Jonas, Pi Am, and Pi Pui, provided an overview and strong academic base for the topics that will be covered more in-depth in the field over the next few weeks.

Seminar week culminated on Friday with a writing assignment to help students synthesize the mass amount of material they covered in the first week and a factory field trip. Students visited the Limsakdakul Factory which primarily processes and stores grain. The factory is an example of large-scale agricultural operation in a semi-urban setting, which they’ll be able to compare and contrast with agricultural practices they see in the field.

Ajaan Abram Bixler lectures on the challenges Thai farmers currently face.

Pi Jonas teaches an ecology lesson during seminar.

Students arrive at Limsakdakul Factory.

Students investigate the mountains of grain during their factory tour.

Students learn about the factory during a meeting with the management.

Elain smiles for the camera as she climbs up to check out one of the silos.

We’ve had the privilege of working with a professional photographer, Josh Dick, over the last few months.  (See http://www.joshdickphoto.net/ for more of his work.)

His photo essay is on the home page of ISDSI, and we’ve worked with him to produce a series of 10 posters.  Great photos that give a good sense of way the program is like.  Good for printing or for desktop wallpapers!

The posters are high resolution, and the larger ones are suitable for either high resolution printing or large banners (e.g. vinyl for a study abroad fair, etc.)

Click on the “Large” to download the large version (about 53 MB .tif file), and “Small” to download the smaller version (about 8-18 MB .jpg file).

Large:  http://www.isdsi.org/docs/MekongPaddle.tif

Small: http://www.isdsi.org/docs/MekongPaddle.jpeg

Large: http://www.isdsi.org/docs/Karst.tif

Small: http://www.isdsi.org/docs/Karst.jpeg

Large:  http://www.isdsi.org/docs/ReefCheck.tif

Small: http://www.isdsi.org/docs/ReefCheck.jpeg

Large: http://www.isdsi.org/docs/KohLipe_Kayak.tif

Small: http://www.isdsi.org/docs/KohLipe_Kayak.jpeg

Large:  http://www.isdsi.org/docs/Snorkel_Boat.tif

Small: http://www.isdsi.org/docs/Snorkel_Boat.jpeg

Large:  http://www.isdsi.org/docs/LaosRice.tif

Small: http://www.isdsi.org/docs/LaosRice.jpeg

Large: http://www.isdsi.org/docs/KohAdang_Kayak.tif

Small: http://www.isdsi.org/docs/KohAdang_Kayak.jpeg

Large:  http://www.isdsi.org/docs/SeaGrass.tif

Small: http://www.isdsi.org/docs/SeaGrass.jpeg

Large:  http://www.isdsi.org/docs/MekongPaddle_Group.tif

Small: http://www.isdsi.org/docs/MekongPaddle_Group.jpeg

Large: http://www.isdsi.org/docs/KohRawi_Boat.tif

Small: http://www.isdsi.org/docs/KohRawi_Boat.jpeg

After another busy week of classes and activities, students and staff headed to Mok Fah Waterfall, part of the Doi Suthep-Pui National Park for a weekend retreat.

There was plenty of time for students to get to know each other and staff in a laid-back setting, but the weekend also provided ample learning time in a setting outside of the classroom–something students will become accustomed to during their time as students at ISDSI.

We kicked off the weekend with a swim assessment at the Huay Tong Tao Reservoir on the edge of the city. After the swim and a delicious lunch, it was off to Mok Fah. The students were excited to arrive and have a little rest time before delving into activities. With a mixture of  group discussions and hands on activities, students covered everything from leadership and working styles to risk management and decision-making to basic first aid and healthcare in Thailand and out in the field.

After learning or re-learning some basic first-aid, students had the opportunity to “rescue” one of their fellow classmates, who acted as the patient (including some very convincing actors). Don’t worry, no students were harmed in the creation of the scenario!

Throughout the “rescue,” students had the opportunity to learn what it feels like to work with a group in a stressful situation and were impressively composed and communicative. Not only did they have to work with a group in challenging circumstances, but also realized first-hand the challenges and exhausting nature of a wilderness rescue and evacuation.

Instuctors, Pi Pui and Pi Rashauna, wait in the kayaks for the first group of swimmers.

Mark is excited to start his swim assessment.

Monika prepared to conquer the swim assessment.

Pi Am goes over the Mok Fah policies with all of the students before they settle into their cabins.

A veiw of the Mok Fah Waterfall.

Pi Pui leads the students in some morning yoga.

Pi Toto, Pi Am, Pi Tik, and Pi Bo prepare some delicious Thai food for more than 40 people.

The result of the hard work in the kitchen. It tasted as delicious as it looks!

A group of students works on their "patient" during the rescue scenario.

Peter displays his beautiful self-portrait for the final activity of the weekend.

Students write comments about each other for the final, wrap-up activity of the weekend.

ISDSI students have been busy! In addition to continuing intensive Thai classes and settling in with their host families, students officially started their “Foundations” course.  Over the next four weeks, they’ll receive a broad overview of Thai history, religion, and politics. Keeping in line with the experiential education philosophy of ISDSI, an integral part of the Foundations course has been field trips, most recently to the Chiang Mai Art and Cultural Center and to Wat Ou Mong, a unique forest wat (temple) on the edge of Chiang Mai. With a topical background to support them, students were free to explore and engage on their own in each of these locations to see their seminar topics in a different light. There is still time for recreation, though, as students ventured out of the city for a day of rock climbing at Crazy Horse Buttress with our friends at Chiang Mai Rock Climbing Adventures (CMRCA). The day provided everyone with  chance to get acquainted with one another in a different setting,  see some beautiful cliffs, and chance to climb with the professionals of CMRCA. To see more of how the students are getting and staying physically active and fit, check out the Chiang Mai Crossfit page (http://www.cfcnx.com/).

Students play team building games before heading out to climb

More games gets everyone laughing.

Cassie makes her way up to the base of a climbing route.

Brendan works his way up the rock wall.

Group shot before rappelling into the cave: Andrew, Zane, Dan, Nicki, Cassie, Mel, Casey, Rebecca, Janelle, and Hish.

Casey, Zane, Dan, Nicki, Rebecca, Andrew, and Hish hike up to the cave entrance in preparation for the rappel.

Group shot with Crazy Horse Buttress in the background.