Pre-Departure Tutorial

Friends and Family,

Starting June 13, I will be abroad for the rest of 2009 save one month from August 19-September 18. Due to the extensive nature of my travels, I figured a Blog would be a good way to mark my travels, so that you can keep up with me when you want to and, of course, ignore me when necessary. I hope to update this Blog at least once a week; but don’t hold me to it. To those of you (Read: Taylor Williams) who have read any of my other Blog attempts, don’t be afraid, this one should be a little bit better. For those of you who can’t see this Blog as it’s posted (Read: people in China) I hope you get a chance to read it one day!

First things first, the title of this Blog has come from a couple of places. “Spontaneous Diversions” came from the Lonely Planet guidebook about the Western Balkans (I’m attempting to prepare myself). The sentence reads, “We suggest you aim to experience the best of the region but allow for some spontaneous diversions.” The Western Balkans is an area that is rich with history, much of it very recent. I hope to explore as much of it as possible during my three weeks in the area. The next part of the title actually came from Transportation Security Authorities. When one goes through airport security there are three options, one of which is “Casual Traveler.” This I like because it sounds so nonchalant about the adventures that take place after the initial travel. I also like it since I will take ten airplane flights this summer alone.

My itinerary for the rest of the summer will take me throughout the Western Balkans for the remainder of June and the very beginning of July. I will spend most of July (including my twentieth birthday) in Vienna, Austria. August will take me to Greece to spend some time with my extended family. I’m not exactly sure what will happen between Vienna and Athens, but it currently looks like I’m heading to France (the other mother land) for a week.

 

My exact dates are as follows:

            June 14 – June 27, various cities in Bosnia-Herzegovina           

June 27 – June 29, a weekend in Montenegro

June 29 – July 5, Pristina, Kosovo (and other cities)

July 5 – July 25, Vienna, Austria

July 26 – August 4, Paris, France

August 4 – August 19, Seriphos, Greece

The first six weeks of my summer trip are a part of a research study abroad program hosted by UNC that includes fifteen students, a faculty advisor and a TA. Everyone will be researching different ways that international organizations interact with the Western Balkans. I will be researching the influence of international organizations in the restructuring of the education system in Bosnia-Herzegovina to promote tolerance. After the wars of the 1990s, Bosnia-Herzegovina was divided into ten cantons based on ethnicity. Today, each canton makes its own rules for education, including curriculum. Being the nerd that I am, I am really looking forward to new research and new experiences!

September 18 I will head off to London to spend a semester studying American Studies at King’s College in London. I will return from those adventures just in time to celebrate Christmas Eve 2009 with my extended family (read: Shorentals). As far as details, there aren’t many yet, I have nine weeks of diversions to get

Anyways, that’s as far as my adventures go so far! I wish you all a very happy summer and hope to hear from all of you with frequency.

 

With love, Lauren