Tuscany Field Workshop.

Students preparing dessert. Photo by Erika Skogg.
Blog written by Leah Curran Furyk.
Today we took a trolley up a steep mountain called Montecatini Alta. We split into our On Assignment groups to work on our separate projects; for the writers it was the personification of inanimate objects and writing as if we’d lost one or two of our five senses. We headed back down the mountain to Montecatini and visited the cleansing waters at Montecatini Terme.
Then we caught the train back to Florence and made our way to the GiglioCooking School. There, the chef, Marcella, taught us how to make homemade red tagliatelle and how to cut properly. We made a meal consisting of eggplant rolls with mozzarella and basil, red tagliatelle with zucchini and smoked cheese, beef stew in wine and balsamic vinegar, and a dessert of chocolate cake with peaches and apricot sauce decorated by just a hint of raspberry sauce. The meal was excellent and was enjoyed by all.


August 10, 2011 | Deb Harris | Tags: italian cooking | No Comments »
Final Days: Cusco (Peru)fashioninn4us.blogspot.com

The group at Qoriqancha.
Our last few days in Cusco have been a whirlwind!  On Monday, Peter Frost gave us a wonderful tour of the Qoriqancha, the ancient Inca Temple of the Sun, and the Cathedral.  The Qoriqancha was especially fascinating for our Archaeology On Assignment students, who got a chance to see how the Spanish built their religious sites right on top of the Inca walls!  Even more interesting was that only the Spanish portion of the structure was damaged during a severe earthquake–the Inca portion stayed intact.  The stone work was amazing, and all the students couldn’t believe that the Inca built such perfect walls without using a single drop of mortar.  At the Cathedral, we had the chance to see some incredible oil paintings from the famous “Cusco School,” a group of local artists who reinterpreted classic European religious imagery.  There was even a version of The Last Supper, where the participants dined on New World delicacies such as cuy(guinea pig) and tropical fruits!  Afterwards, we enjoyed a delicious lunch and enjoyed some time exploring the city.  Monday was also Josue’s birthday, and to celebrate, we had a special dinner at Macondo, complete with birthday cake!  They even made us balloon hats, which of course we all wore.  We continued the celebration after dinner with a salsa dancing class, where we all practiced all the right moves (well, most of the time!!).
On Tuesday we got a chance to walk around one of Cusco’s biggest covered markets, where we got to see all kinds of strange and wonderful things, from beautiful handicrafts, to butcher shops, to fruit stands.  In the afternoon, the Community Service On Assignment students had the opportunity to tour one of the local NGOs in Cusco–an organization called HoPe that works to promote education in rural highland communities.  All the students had a chance to ask about the various aspects of the organization, and ultimately left with a better understanding of how meaningful and positive changes can be achieved.  Meanwhile, the photographers finished selected their photos for their final presentation in Ollantaytambo, and the archaeologists worked with Peter to finalize their projects.  Nick returned to Sacsaywaman to do some additional research for his project!
Today was our last full day in Cusco.  Peter (along with his pups Nina and Sammy) took us on a lovely hike in the park behind the ruins of Sacsaywaman, where we visited a number of Inca sites and got a chance to experience the amazing landscape.  We kept finding rocks carved with step patterns, a symbol that was very important during Inca times.  We also learned about huacas, or Inca sacred spaces.  In the afternoon, we all continued working on our On Assignment projects until dinner time.  Gigi and Gabe even got the chance to interview a local private collector of artifacts for their project!  After dinner, we bid farewell to Peter, and returned to our hotel.
We will miss you Cusco, but we are so excited for our final project exposition in Ollantaytambo.

August 9, 2011 | Deb Harris | Tags: ruins | No Comments »
Creative Writing: A Tuscan Poem (Tuscany Field Workshop)

Photographing in Florence. Photo by Erika Skogg.
Poem written by Judy Dang.
Over hills,
mountains,
and skies,
Over pebbles,
rocks,
and boulders,
A bus goes
bumping along the road
with no song.
On top,
lies a hilltop gold,
a village,
a people.
We wind up tight,
snapping and flashing,
walking and moving,
completely lost in translation.

Rosie in the olive orchards of Strove.
The bus moves along,
going longer
than coming,
bumping harder
than ever.
In a flurry of legs
beneath a sea of
bad fashion,
loud noise,
cigarettes,
we emerge from the
tourists,
dignity intact,
and cameras strapped
tight,
going up up up,
to look
far far down.

Students with National Geographic Expert Massimo Bassano.
Bumping some more,
not walking far,
where a hundred suns
lay on the Earth,
our shutters sound
in volumes.
Relieved,
a castle awaits
after our perilous journey,
fulfilled with water duels,
and wondrous scenery,
we feast
’til the moon
calls us home.

August 6, 2011 | Deb Harris | No Comments »
Sacsayhuaman and 500 Years of History (Peru)

Julien takes a turn down the rock slide at Sacsayhuaman.
This morning we headed out for Sacsaywaman ruins with our guide and National Geographic legend, Peter Frost. He led us around the ruins, narrating and explaining the different aspects of the site. The rocks which were used to construct the ruins are the largest rocks we had ever seen used in construction; some of the rocks weighed 70 tons!  The Incas sure were skilled builders!  We made our way around the ruins through the cave and to the rock slides, where we spent half an hour sliding down.  We left the Sacsaywaman and made our way to Qenqo. Peter showed us the burial chambers and explained the ceremonial procedures which took place at the site.  After visiting all of the ruin sites, we hiked along the ancient Inca highway into Cusco and towards the restaurant.  The restaurant, Pachapapa, was able to seat all 19 of us with ease, and the food was delicious.  With our stomachs full, and our spirits lifted, we walked back to the hotel, and there we had our On Assignment meetings.  Later in the evening, we reunited for Peter’s presentation on the last 500 years of Peruvian history.  He managed to give us a synopsis of Peru’s history in an hour and half! After dinner and some card playing, we all went back to our rooms and fell asleep.

Peter talks to the group at Sacsayhuaman.


August 5, 2011 | Deb Harris | Tags: national geographic experts, ruins | No Comments »
Pisa (Tuscany)

Group photo in front of the leaning tower of Pisa (Torre Pendente). Photo by Erika Skogg.
Blog written by Ines Nefzi.
After a mad rush to make the train, we zipped past the blurry cornfields and brick villas. Arriving in the city of Pisa, the towering architecture blocked out the sky with the tightly lined façades curving down to an unseen vanishing point. Countless little alleyways were lined with leaning bicycles. After a stop in a café we ended our walk with a small and delicious lunch. We continued trekking to the Piazza dei Miracoli. We learned how the piazza’s buildings each represented a part in a Christian’s life. The Battistero, where the converted are baptized, is constantly silent for the bi-hourly singing that fills the rounded building entirely with echoes. The Cattedrale, where Christians marry and attend regular mass, neighbors the world-famous bell tower. The last, Campesanto, was filled with numerous beautiful frescoes unfortunately destroyed in WWII. This is where many faithful Christians were buried hundreds of years ago. We were able to climb to the very top of The Leaning Tower of Pisa for a dramatic, though askew, view of the Tuscan landscape. To end our busy day, we made another mad rush to our train and made it back to our villa in time for dinner.

Ines, Sydney, and Sarah indulging in Italian coffee in Pisa. Photo by Erika Skogg.

August 3, 2011 | Deb Harris | No Comments »
Machu Picchu! (Peru)

Gigi and Natasha at Machu Picchu.
Blog written by Danielle Huerta and Natasha Shebalina.
On the tenth day of our trip we woke up, packed, and said goodbye to Ollantaytambo. The time line ran as planned, which made Abby quite pleased. We all eagerly boarded a train to one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, Machu Picchu. After two hours of reading, playing card games, and peacefully sleeping on the train we arrived to a little town below Machu Picchu, Aguas Calientes. There we met our guide who first taught us how to count off in Quechua and then gave us one of the best tours of one of the most breathtaking places on earth. Following our informative tour we set out to explore Machu Picchu on our own. We contemplated our surroundings, wrote in our journals, took photography lessons from Chris, and had some in-depth archeological lessons from Abby. Later, in the evening a few of us went back to rest at the hostel while the other hand full of us went to experience the healing powers of the famous hot springs.
After a night of invigorating sleep we all woke up in the early hours of the morning to catch the sunrise at Machu Picchu. Most of the “macho men” went hiking up Machu Picchu mountain – an unforgettable adrenaline-pumping experience – while the rest of us relaxed on one of the many terraces, taking in our surroundings and falling asleep under the Peruvian sun. Eventually, we all reunited so that Peter Frost, world-renowned National Geographic Incan culture guru, could join us and give us an insightful lecture on the history of Machu Picchu. With our new companion at our side, we boarded the train once again and headed back to Ollantaytambo where we caught a bus to Cusco, the heart of the Incan Empire. A perfect end to the most amazing two days.

Atop Machu Picchu mountain.

Peter Frost gives a talk at Machu Picchu.

| Deb Harris | Tags: hiking, Machu Picchu, national geographic experts | No Comments »
Exploring Hofn (Iceland)
Blog written by Reya, Izzy, and Annie.
In Hofn, Climate and Photography students went their separate ways to learn more about the town and its nearby glaciers. The Climate cats went on an adventurous hike in the rocky cliffs overlooking the galcier lagoon. It was an exhilirating and inspiring experience. Meanwhile, in Hofn, the Photography On Assignment students dispersed in groups of three or four to explore the town and its inner workings. This included interviewing townspeople and building upon relationships formed during the previous days. Both groups picked up Icelandic hot dogs on the way back to hostel.  After some On Assignment work, we had a Hofn specialty for dinner – lobster tails with garlic butter. We ate our fill and then a group went to the local pool to enjoy the waterslides.
Early the next morning, a group of photographers got an exclusive tour of the local fish packing plant that supports 1/10th of the town. With hair nets and water proof boots securely on, the photographers toured the plant, snapping pictures of the lobsters just like those we had eaten the night before. Just as the tour ended, the photographers were allowed into the freezers (around -40 degrees) and saw snow indoors in the middle of July! They returned in time for breakfast with the rest of the group.

In the Arctic Ocean north of Husavik where we saw lots of puffins and sea gulls (but no whales!)

August 2, 2011 | Deb Harris | No Comments »
Service Project in Chincero (Peru)

A weaver demonstrates technique to the students.
Blog written by trip leaders Chris and Abby.
We spent the last two days with our amazing host families in Chinchero, which gave all of us a unique and special opportunity to experience daily life from a local´s perspective.  Our generous host mothers greeted us with much love and open arms and filled our bellies with some incredible highland cuisine.  Over the last two days, we worked to build a roof for the Centro de Textiles Tradicionales de Cusco.  The work was hard, but rewarding.
On the first day, after breakfast with our families, we arrived at the Centro, where we were greeted with a massive pile of bamboo.  Most of us spent the next several hours shucking the bamboo, which would be laid as the foundation for the roof.  The local workers were extremely helpful, providing guidance and instructions.  Some of the boys also worked to excavate the dirt (later used as mud to lay the roof tiles), while others had the important job of passing heavy wooden posts up to the workers on the roof.  In the afternoon, we took a work break, and Carolina, one of the weavers, gave us a weaving lesson, in which we all had the opportunity to make our very own bracelets.  Carolina made it seem easy, but  it is A LOT harder than it looks.  A few students were able to perform even the more complicated weaving designs, and ended up with some great finished products!  Afterwards, the Archaeology and Community Service students toured the ruins of Chinchero, which were beautiful in the afternoon sunlight.  Meanwhile, the Photography students broke out for some photo critique and continued to work on their final portfolios.
The second day was even busier than the first!  Having finished shucking and laying all the bamboo, we were now ready to install the ceramic tiles.  This involved placing a layer of mud on top of the bamboo, then carefully laying the tiles out in perfectly straight rows.  While the boys were busy helping the workers with this important task, the girls helped the weavers prepare for a huge feast, which we would enjoy when the work was completed.  The highlight of this process was catching and preparing the cuy (guinea pigs), a traditional delicacy in the Andes.  Also on the menu was chicken, stuffed peppers, tortillas, and potatoes.  By the late afternoon, the roof was finally finished!  The group elected Nick to bless and name the house after our group–The Llama Family.  Afterwards, everyone–the students, the workers, and the weavers and their families–joined in the main room for our delicious feast.  We ended the night with some lively beat circles in the Centro main room, and called it an early night.
We are so grateful to our host families and for the amazing relationships we were able to develop in such a short time.  We will definitely miss them and will surely keep in good touch.

August 1, 2011 | Deb Harris | Tags: community service, textile weaving | No Comments »
A Gallery Opening in Ollantaytambo (Peru)
Our Peru A group completed their On Assignment projects this summer with a gallery opening in the Andean town of Ollantaytambo. Hundreds of people came out to the opening  on the night of July 13th to see the students’ work. The show was a huge success! For those who couldn’t be there, the group created this video showcasing the impressive photographs and archaeological essays that were exhibited in the gallery.
A note from the group: Special thanks go out to our friends and contacts in Ollantaytambo who helped us to create an unforgettable evening, and to the communities we visited during our travels who welcomed us with open arms, fed and supported us, and shared with us their culture, history, and traditions. ¡Mil gracias!



July 31, 2011 | Deb Harris | Tags: gallery opening, on assignment archaeology, on assignment photography | No Comments »
Puffin Island and a dip in the Arctic Ocean (Iceland)
Blog written by Austin.
Let’s see. What didn’t we do today? After our second night of camping at Skaftafell, we woke up and headed out for an early morning hike to a nearby waterfall. We took a ton of pictures and sampled the creek water. Next, we packed up our tents and headed for Puffin Island. We took a hay wagon pulled by a tractor across one of the world’s largest black sand beaches and after a hour, we reached the island.  Puffins, sheep, and plenty of other birds covered the island.
From there, we went to a large glacial lagoon filled with floating icebergs. We took a short walk down to the lagoon shore, followed by a forty minute boat ride through the icebergs. The highlight of the day, however, was a spontaneous dip in the Arctic Ocean connected to the glacier lagoon! Many of us jumped into the water among the icebergs. Swimming with glaciers floating alongside us was one of the most invigorating, and coldest, experiences of our lives. At first we were hesitant, but once we were back on the bus we were glad to have taken a leap of faith- a polar bear swim! A quick bus ride to Hofn, our current location, concluded our day.  All is well!

Watching for puffins on Puffins Island on the southern coast.