Transitions Abroad Magazine January/February 2008 Vol. XXXI, NO.4

From the Editor

The End of a Journey

The past year was marked by many changes at Transitions Abroad. As you know, Transitions Abroad founder Dr. Clay Hubbs passed away on March 29, 2007. Clay bravely and resolutely set out in 1977 to pioneer “a new kind of travel magazine” dedicated to all who travel to learn. He introduced educational and responsible travel into Transitions Abroad long before these concepts were fashionable.

But Clay was never concerned with fashion; rather, he prided himself on not publishing a glossy magazine and, instead, one that cut to the heart of the matter.

Thanks to you — Transitions Abroad’s staff, contributing editors and columnists, writers, readers, and advertisers — Clay’s magazine thrived for more than 30 years, even without flashy graphics. Your international experiences, knowledge, and advice helped establish Transitions Abroad as a trusted source for independent-minded travelers to plan mind-enriching, purposeful travel year after year. Rick Steves recently called Transitions Abroad “the tough little hero of travel publishing…the Nation magazine of travel.”

Like all great journeys, though, Transitions Abroad’s is coming to an end. This January/February 2008 issue is our final magazine.

It has been a pleasure and privilege to work with a community — or, a “tribe,” as Rob Sangster says in his article — of passionate travelers who not only care about exploring new places and meeting diverse people but who also care about their wellbeing. We are grateful you selected our magazine as the place to share your stories and learn from others in our tribe.

While I am sad to be the last editor and publisher of one of the oldest and most respected special-interest travel magazines out there, I also look forward to Transitions Abroad’s flourishing future online.

TransitionsAbroad.com is an outstanding resource that has been called “a golden needle in the [internet] haystack.” Clay wrote, in 2002, “Thanks to the superhuman efforts of my son Gregory the website was reorganized and rebuilt from the ground up.” It now has the majority of information compiled from the past ten years of its 30-year existence.

Gregory and Clay’s wife, Dr. Joanna Hubbs, will continue offering a wealth of travel editorial, commentary, and resources online. The Hubbs are excited about expanding TransitionsAbroad.com and upholding the same editorial integrity that the magazine has maintained. They will be taking TransitionsAbroad.com to a new level by offering a greater breadth of content than ever before. The goal is to encourage and inspire new audiences, as well as to remain a tried and true practical resource for Transitions Abroad’s loyal readers. The coming expansion of the website this spring will offer ever greater flexibility for featuring the voices of Transitions Abroad’s columnists and contributing editors while seeking to expand the voice of the community. In addition, the resource section of the website will be extended yet further beyond that of any other travel website even as the information will be organized with international visitors worldwide in mind.

As I move on to continue my work as director of The Abroad View Foundation, a non-profit organization that promotes global education and cross-cultural understanding, I join the community of travelers who will always stand with the ideals upon which Transitions Abroad was founded.

I wish you all many more transformative international experiences, which I hope to read about on TransitionsAbroad.com. Most of all, thank you again for making Transitions Abroad magazine possible and for being part of its journey.

— Sherry Schwarz

Transitions Abroad Magazine

Publisher and Editor
Sherry Schwarz
Founding Editor and Publisher
Dr. Clay A. Hubbs
Web Content Editor
Gregory Hubbs
Design
Jeffrey Boyce
Advertising Manager
Kate McGrail

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

On The Cover
Vietnamese women prepare a rice paddy for planting in Maichau, a small village in the hills northwest of Hanoi.

Photo by Ewen Bell (ewenbell.com). Bell is an Australian travel photographer who specializes in Asia and adventure. He co-leads a small number of photographic tours each year to share his knowledge on Thailand, India, and China. Bell was awarded Australia’s 2007 Travel Photographer of the Year (ASTW).

Mission Statement
Founded in 1977 by Clayton Allen Hubbs, Ph.D., Transitions Abroad is the only publication dedicated to work, study, living, volunteering, 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.

Submissions to TransitionsAbroad.com from published and freelance writers with a portfolio are welcome. See the travel writers’ guidelines for more information.