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The following editorial was written by ResLife Advisor Monique Lefebvre upon her return from THINK Global School's visit to Iguazú National Park. Additional reflections on the state of Iguazú National Park by the students and faculty of TGS, can be found in our video, "Should we be at Iguazú Falls?" Iguazú National Park, straddling the borders between Brazil and Argentina, is an awe-inspiring location centered around Iguazú Falls, one of...

SPRINGTIME IN ARGENTINA proves the saying that "birds fly south for the winter." This time of year not only sees warmer temperatures and afternoon showers refilling countryside waterholes, but also the return of hundreds of various avian species from across the Americas. It is prime time for local bird fanatics to get outside and seek out these magnificent species. Luckily for TGS, we have made an excellent friend, David Thompson....

TRAVELING AROUND THE WORLD requires the ability to, well, travel. However, I am not speaking to packing a suitcase carefully and leaving home. I am speaking to having access to modes of transportation. Our usage of some forms more than others is rather country-dependent, but here is a list of our more frequently used means. They have allowed us to immerse ourselves further in our various temporary homes, bringing us...

THE 2012-2013 ACADEMIC YEAR has brought a multitude of positive changes to TGS. An obvious change worth noting is the beginning of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme for our grade 11 students. The program includes CAS projects, requiring students to obtain hours in the areas of Creativity, Action, and Service. Our Student Council Chair, Gijs, has taken action to the fullest extent with his decision to develop a TGS soccer...

As part of the recently implemented house system, two leadership positions have been created to further promote student ownership of the house to which they belong. The house prefect, which was open to Grade 11 students, and the house captain, which was open to both Grade 9 and Grade 10 students. These positions are integral to the operation and will provide valuable learning opportunities for both those in the position...

WHAT DOES IT TAKE to feed not one but 36 growing teenagers in a mobile environment without access to a cafeteria? Allow me to answer in detail. Breakfast Held every weekday morning from 6:45-7:15 am, breakfast in the common lounge is mandatory for the sleepy grade 9s and 10s. Various cereals, eggs, yogurts, toast, peanut butter, jams, milk, and orange juice are always at hand to feed the masses. Mornings...

AT THE BEGINNING OF LAST WEEK, ResLIFE staff implemented a new idea for boarding: the creation of a house system. Inspired by and modeled after of the traditional British boarding house system seen in prestigious schools such as Eton, Winchester, or Harrow, a great deal of boarding schools across the globe have adopted the approach. Contrary to current belief, the house system came around before Harry Potter! Houses help to...

1. There's no pity for the wee-dance. Much to the dismay of everyone who needed a toilet during pitstops, the privilege of relieving oneself costs .70 Euro in addition to the cost of time waiting in a queue. It's a bit like adding insult to injury because on top of the inevitable queue for the loo, you may have to run back to the bus to find change for your...

BOTH TEA AND OPIUM have been produced in Thailand's northern Chiang Rai province for thousands of years, just as elephants have been a constant. This past week, TGS took advantage of the opportunity for place-based learning on these subjects, venturing three hours north to the Chiang Rai province. In Mae Salong, the area's largest producer of tea, students walked through tea plantations before taste testing several different types of tea....

THE ELEPHANT NATURE PARK (ENP) is responsible for the care of 36 elephants: 32 females and 4 males. Every elephant that lives at the park has been rescued from a dire situation. These elephants are often taken away from their mothers at too young of an age and 'broken' during a brutal ritual known as Phajaan. These rituals last anywhere from three to seven days, depending on the willpower of...