Greetings from Jackie Dennis, Program Director
Dear students:
On behalf of everyone at Global LAB, welcome to the adventure of a lifetime.
Sifting through piles of articles and requesting books on Development Issues in Ladakh from my local library on a balmy August morning, I breathlessly anticipate the advent of our upcoming semester abroad together. My tremendous excitement about our semester stems from my intimate association with and deep love for the multiple destinations on our itinerary. As an undergraduate, I spent a year living, studying and bicycling through Nepal and India with the University of Wisconsin, and since then I have returned seven times to this beautiful region for graduate study, work and play.
In 2001, I received my BA in Comparative Religion and Asian Studies from the University of Vermont, and in 2007, my MA in Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies from Naropa University. I have trained as a Tibetan language translator and interpreter for the past nine years, which has allowed me a unique entrance into the Tibetan Himalayas – and which I have taken advantage of every step of the way. As a global citizen, I find that language learning is the single most important aspect of integrating into a new culture. In addition to Tibetan, I have studied Hebrew, Sanskrit, Hindi, French and Spanish – and I try to use them all whenever and wherever possible.
My academic background, language ability and passion for travel led naturally to directing study abroad programs throughout the Himalayan region. I have been leading programs in Asia since 2007, and I learn just as much about myself and the regions we travel as each student with whom I travel. It is the exceptional vision of Global LAB to integrate into each of our programs the core values of global citizenship, self-exploration, leadership and skill building. Meaning? Prepare to reorient your compasses, open your hearts, learn new languages, expand your worldview, rethink your personal identity, eat with your hands, sleep under the stars, question privilege, stalk Himalayan peaks and experience new cultures from the inside out.
We will all get to know each other very well in the upcoming months. As you finalize your preparations for the trip, I would like to encourage all of you to read as much as possible about the Himalayan region, the cultures and religious traditions. Start thinking of potential ISP's, of what intrigues and interests you.
I will be contacting each of you in the upcoming weeks to check in. Between now and then, please feel free to contact me with any questions, greetings, concerns, packing advice. And congratulations again to each of you for making this life-changing decision.
Tashi Delek,
Jackie Dennis
Program Director
mobile: 917 921 7778
email: jackie@global-lab.org