International Travel
Throughout my four years at High Tech High International I truly seized my opportunities. Each year of my high school career, I have traveled to a new continent and had thousands of incredible experiences. Below are pictures and descriptions of the trips I have gone on that changed my life.
Gulu, Uganda 2011
I am Ugandan. Not because of my ethnicity but because of the culture I have come to love as my own. This summer, I traveled to Uganda as an intern for the non-profit organization U-TOUCH. I worked in Gulu at a Digital Library Center. There, people of all ages take classes on technology, education, business development, and much more. I created informational materials for business and savings enrichment programs. Then, I traveled to small villages, several districts, and the capitol Kampala to teach the courses I created. During my month in Uganda, I worked harder than I ever have before; however it never felt like work at all. I spent my time working with people who had gone through much more than anyone should endure. Yet they had nothing but love to give. Not a minute went by when I wasn’t amazed at the happiness that fills the people of Northern Uganda. This is the same happiness that has come to fill me. As I lived in Gulu, I participated in every day activities of the locals: attended dance competitions, ate the regional food and got to know members of the town. Experiences like these have helped me gain an understanding of their culture and come to accept it as my own. I appreciate the differences between the customs of the United States and Uganda. However, as many differences as there are, the similarities are also prevalent. Northern Ugandans love sports, dancing and communicating with their friends, which is no different from the students of the United States. My month long experience in Uganda has taught me to accept the cultures of others as my own. But most importantly, it taught me that however different we may appear to be, similarities between cultures are easy to find if you take the time to look.
East Australia 2011
In the spring of 2011, I traveled to East Australia with my school on an immersion trip. We traveled to Carins first and spent some time around the city. While staying there for a day or two we helped rebuild a local forrest from the destruction of a hurricane that had recently passed through by planting new seedlings. From there we traveled down the coast to visit Aborigine tribes and stay in the Daintree forest. While in the Daintree, we participated in hikes, swam in rives and learned about different species of animals native to Australia.
Ko Pan Noi, Thailand
In progress...
Tuscany, Italy 2009
In my freshman year, I was admitted onto the Italy immersion trip. Originally, it wasn't one of my top three choices but they offered me a spot and who could refuse a trip to Italy. Unsure of exactly what I was getting into, we began to train for our trip. 20 mile bike rides each day seemed absolutely impossible but I have never been one to give up. During our practice rides in San Diego, I had no clue how I was going to survive in the hilly landscape of Tuscany. Once we got there and began to ride, it all seemed so easy. I learned that things are easier and much more fun when you are surrounded by beautiful scenery and people you are close too. The bike riding became easy, and the real fun came from our adventures around the small towns of Tuscany. We rode or bikes from one town to the next, each time staying the night to experience the real culture of Italy. The small bakeries, the incredible gelato shops, little boutiques and houses tucked into corners all made from cinderblocks and stain glass. The experience was one you can't ever replace. It was my first time out of the country and something great that I never expected. Below are some pictures I took along the way.
