Transitions Abroad Magazine September/October 2006 Vol. XXX, NO.2

From The Editor

Our regional focus in this issue is typically on the Balkans, Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East, but notably absent from the current lineup are articles about traveling to the Middle East (with the exception of an excellent piece on joining an archaeological dig in Jordan). Sadly, this is not surprising, as the region was already a tinderbox before the summer’s tragic flare-up of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The peace President Clinton worked toward in the Middle East now seems as remote as ever. Yet, from the content of this issue I see rays of hope. Articles on the post-war resurgence of countries such as Bosnia and Herzegovina remind me that even in the wake of the most cruel ethnic cleansings humanity has the ability to restore itself.

The volunteer experiences throughout this issue also illustrate the tremendous power of individuals to make a difference: You need no better example than Matt Bolton and Emily Welty’s article on the tireless dedication, resilience, and optimism of aid workers to help improve the world’s most desperate situations. Other articles, such as Steve Cook’s account of starting a small community-based nonprofit to help improve children’s lives in Albania, illustrate anthropologist Margaret Mead’s famous quote: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

To empower us with the information we need on our paths to making the world a better place, contributing editor Volker Poelzl has added "Resources for a Global Consciousness" to his living abroad guide. In the introduction to the guide, he writes, “Taking time to learn about other cultures and seeking common ground amid all the differences are among the best steps we can take in building … a more peaceful future.”

For further useful information on how to make your international transition successful, I recommend you visit the recently expanded Living Abroad section of TransitionsAbroad.com. You’ll find a comprehensive offering of country-specific content, resources, and links.

If you are planning to uproot anytime soon to join the approximately 8 million Americans currently living and working abroad (according to The New American Expat by William Russell Melton, Intercultural Press, and excluding military personnel), you’ll find no better preparatory resources than those compiled and annotated by work abroad editor William Nolting. In this resource section, and in the articles throughout this issue, you’ll also find information on long-term volunteering (a month or more) as an alternative to work or as a stepping-stone along your career path. In the next issue, Transitions Abroad November/December, we’ll turn our attention to short-term volunteer vacations and in Transitions Abroad January/February to short-term jobs.

— Sherry Schwarz

Transitions Abroad

Publisher and Editor
Sherry Schwarz
Founding Editor and Publisher
Dr. Clay A. Hubbs
Web Content Editor
Gregory Hubbs
Design
Nashima Gokani
Advertising Manager
Kate McGrail
Office Manager
Patricia Bolognani
Editorial Assistant
Jessica Hayden
Intern
Victoria Churchill

Contributing Editors
William Nolting (International Education and Work)
Susan Griffith (Work Abroad )
Jean-Marc Hachey (International Careers )
Zahara Heckscher (Volunteering Abroad)
Volker Poelzl (Living Abroad)
Rick Steves (Budget Travel)
Rob Sangster (Independent Travel)
Ron Mader (Ecotourism and Latin America)
Deborah McLaren (Responsible Travel )
Alison Gardner (Senior Travel)
Edward Trimnell (Language Immersion)
David Clemmons (Voluntourism)
J. Mara DelliPriscoli (Lifelong Learning)
Karl Haigler and Rae Nelson (Gap Year)
Cynthia Harriman (Family Travel)
Bill Mohan (Teen Travel)
Kathy Widing (Travel Books)
Michele Scheib (Disability Travel)

On The Cover
A woman at a vineyard in Armenia’s fertile Ararat Valley displays the grapes she is harvesting and preparing for market.
Most of these grapes are cut and boxed at the vineyard and shipped to Yerevan for sale.
Photo by Robert Kurkjian © 2006
Robert co-authored the article Volunteer in Armenia. You can view more of his photos at www.armenianphotography.com.

Mission Statement
Transitions Abroad is the only publication dedicated to work, study, living, and immersion travel abroad. Its purpose is the dissemination of practical information leading to a greater understanding of other cultures through direct participation in the daily life of the host community.