Announcing our 2012-2013 locations

My name is Ashley Silver, and I am responsible for setting up each host city as well as running the school headquarters in New York City. It is with great joy and enthusiasm that I make a few well-awaited announcements. First, I thought you might like to know where our students are heading come September 1st, 2012. After a successful 2011 trimester in Cuenca, Ecuador, we are pleased to make our way back down to South America. We have informed our faculty and students to get ready for the land of empanadas, alfajores and the home of Tango, as we make our way to Buenos Aires! Many more updates will come your way regarding this first host city as we approach the new school year.

Our travels wouldn’t be complete without a trip to the Middle East. After reviewing all of our available options, we’ve determined that Jordan and Egypt are the perfect locations for our two-week intersession experience. In Jordan, the students will visit the ancient ruins of Jerash, journey through the archaeological city Petra, float in the Dead Sea, and sleep under the stars with the Bedouin at Wadi Rum. In Egypt, they will witness the pyramids of Cairo, the temples of Luxor, the catacombs of Alexandria, and much more! There are endless learning opportunities in this region, encompassing history, religion, and politics. Please know that the safety and security of our students is our top priority, and if any perceived threat becomes apparent the intersession will occur in a different region.

Finally, we end the year in a diverse and charming city renowned for its top tier universities. With the U.S. presidential election around the corner, we felt it was only right to experience the inauguration on American soil. The energy of this event will be felt in the vibrant city of Boston, which we will make our home for the second semester of 2013. Boston is not only an old New England town recognized for being at the forefront of American history, but it lends itself to fascinating trips from Washington, D.C. to New York City to Philadelphia. Almost every block in these quintessential American cities has a story to tell, making the learning opportunities endless.

We hope you find this information as useful and exciting as we do. We believe that 2012-13 has the potential to be our most academically challenging and culturally diverse school year yet, and we look forward to providing you with a wide assortment of colorful photos, lively videos, and thoughtful blog posts over the coming year.

UPDATED: AUGUST 17, 2012

When this blog was published, it was mentioned that TGS may in fact make a change to our intersession location. Well the change has come, given the phenomenal opportunity to visit Bhutan! Bhutan is a country with a rich history and culture so unique to the rest of the world. It is known as simply magnificent from the stunningly verdant landscapes to the warmth and openness of its people. We happen to arrive the year the first democratically elected government will complete its first term. The goal of the trip is to introduce TGS students to Bhutan’s unique and innovative approach to planning the next stages of global development, using the four pillars of Gross National Happiness as organizing principles.

The principle of planning national development around the concept of GNH includes detailed focus on:

• Environmental Conservation
• Religion and Cultural Heritage and National Identity
• Good Governance and new democratic structures of Civic Life
• Sustainable Economic Development

Instead of relying on classroom learning and lecturing by experts, our tour operator plans a more immersive and interactive experience for our students as they tour Bhutan. There is even talk of disconnecting and giving up computers, iPads, and iPhones for this time while we focus on learning with our five senses.