
Program Components
Comparative Religion
Learn and practice meditation daily, building core competencies in several techniques leading up to a formal 3+ day Buddhist meditation retreat with the potential for a longer (10 day) retreat at the end of the program. Witness unique Animist beliefs and practices when living with ethnic groups.
Development Studies
Comprehensive examination of international development issues, complexities of globalization, effects of modernization on traditional livelihoods, minority status and cultural preservation, and creative grassroots solutions to global problems.
Focus Of Inquiry
Community-based development, social justice, conservation, and human rights.
Homestay
Stay with several ethnic groups in rural areas in northwest Thailand and central Myanmar who have been hosting Dragons students for many years.
Independent Study Project (ISP)
Interviews and research on a myriad of topics in rural and urban areas, especially during homestay and temple-stays.
Language Study
Basic Thai and Burmese language classes with instructors and and language immersion opportunities throughout the course, especially in homestay.
Learning Service
Approximately 20 hours of service credit earned through a combination of education (monastic school), rural development, and environmental awareness/conservation activities and curriculum. Learning service activities may include: building adobe houses, harvesting bamboo and other seasonal crops, participating in language exchange and assisting tree planting projects.
Rugged Travel
Buses, trains, bicycles, tri-shaws, tuk-tuks, minivans, trucks, and boats. Expect older vehicles on pothole roads, wooden benches on daylong trains in Myanmar and higher quality roads and vehicles in Thailand.
Trekking
Easy to moderate grade hikes including 3-4 day village to village treks in northwest Thailand and western Myanmar (weather depending). Day hikes in mountainous jungle and forest areas and floodplain lowlands through rice paddy fields explore sacred sites, waterfalls and hot springs.