Hello world!

It has been a long standing tradition of mine to start new blogs with a 'Hello world!' post which introduces readers to the blog and outlines the topics which will be covered. This is just such a post.

The purpose of this blog is to serve as an online journal before, during, and after my trip to Bolivia from March 2nd through the 12th as part of a service learning project at UNCA. I have just begun to set it up and will be asking the other members of the group if they would like to write on the blog as well.  There are about 15 students and 2 faculty members that will be going on this trip as part of the UNCA Mountains to the World grant program.  We will be gone from March 2 - 12 and we will be volunteering in with a local organization, Highlands Bolivian Mission, that does work in Bolivia.  The format for the blog is the same as others I have done before; weekly posts leading up to the trip and for one month after the trip with daily posts during the trip (providing internet access is available).  I will include news and information about Bolivia and our preparations for the journey during the weeks leading up to our departure.  Then the blog will be filled with photos and stories about the daily events of our visit to Bolivia.  After we return, the posts will become mostly reflective about the experience; what was learned while there, what we are doing after returning from Bolivia, and how this experience can be applied to future goals.

You too can vicariously visit Bolivia this spring by checking this blog often and staying tuned for updates and future posts.