More Planning

They don't let just anyone hike the Inca Trail.  They only let a limited number of people on the trail and you must get a permit well in advance.  It is recommended that you get your permit as early as possible before they are all taken.  The problem is, I won't know if I get my grant until the end of March.  So, I'm hoping I might be able to find a tour group that will allow me to cancel if I don't get the grant.  Otherwise, I'll just have to either put the money down and gamble that I will get the grant or wait until I'm sure I have the grant and gamble that there will still be an available permit.

I guess I'd better get some answers to these questions.

A Good Prospect

Okay, it looks like I may have stuck out in my attempt  to find a previous funder willing to fund my trip to Peru but, the game isn't over yet.

The Institute of International Education administered both my Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund award and my Toyota International Teacher Award.  So, I'm thinking it might be a good idea to see what other travel grants they may have available.  It turns out they are administering a new grant funded by Hilton Worldwide and after reading all the details I've learned that I am eligible to apply and they will fund programs going to Peru.

It looks like I've found a good prospect.  Now it's time to go to work.  There's a knack to grant writing and I'm glad I've had a lot of experience.  So, there's another reason to work on your writing skills.  If you learn to become a good writer, it can literally take you around the world and/or make other things you never thought possible a reality.

Three Strikes

I spent too much money on my travels through Eastern Europe last summer so, unless I find some help, I won't be able to hike the Inca Trail or any other adventure in Peru this summer.

The good news is I've gotten help before and I have some good ideas where to go for people who might be interested in helping me out again. 

In the summer of 2010 I got a Fulbright-Hays scholarship to explore Senegal in West Africa.  Maybe they could help.  In 2009, Toyota awarded me their International Teacher scholarship to study environmental stewardship as I explored Costa Rica.  And, in 2007 the Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund selected me to go to Japan.  So, there are some options out there.  I just need to do some research and find an organization that might be willing to finance my Great Adventure in Peru.

Well obviously, the Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund would only be a viable option if I wanted to go back to Japan.  So, that's out.  The Toyota International Teacher program has shifted their interest from environmental stewardship to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) and they will not be offering any travel programs this year.  So, that's out.  Fulbright-Hays is only offering a travel program to China this year.  So, that's out.  That's three strikes.  So, am I out?

For Whom the Bell Tolls

Ed Sanders

There are, indeed, many adventures to be found in great literature and I can't think of many better tour guides than Ernest Hemingway.

I have been very lucky to have been on many adventures where I have been able to meet some amazing people.  One of my first adventures is an adventures for which many of you will soon embark; college.  You will quickly make new friends once you begin your college courses and move into your new housing.

I met my friend and fellow artist, Ed Sanders, during our freshman year at Herron and it was the beginning of a fifteen year-long adventure for us.  Like most college students, we socialized a lot outside of our classes and at one point we even considered moving into a house together.  But, it was our connection as fellow artists  that drove our relationship.

During the final year of my undergraduate studies, I founded an alternative exhibition space called 431 Gallery.  Ed was one of the founding board members and an exhibiting artist.  After three years as Director, I left 431Gallery; began my graduate studies and was hired by another gallery but, Ed remained active with 431 Gallery for the remaining seven years of its existence.  He was as committed to 431 as he was to his own studio.  I eventually opened In Vivo Gallery and Ed joined me their where he exhibited his work or a regular basis.  In 1996, I took a position as Director of Education at the art center in Portland, IN and I even exhibited his work there on a few occasions.

Our paths finally parted when I moved to Chicago in 2000.  Ed remained a prolific artist until August of 2005; when he died of cancer.  You may read a tribute to Ed at: http://www.nuvo.net/indianapolis/remembering-ed-sanders/Content?oid=1205949

On June 27th , the Herron Gallery will be presenting a retrospective of Ed's work.  I will be there.  Nothing could keep me away so, whatever other travel plans I may have will need to work around that date.

Where the Adventure Really Begins

With a lot of work and a little luck, I plan to spend the summer of 2014 in Peru.

I don't usually begin my travel blogs this early but, I thought it might be interesting for you to see everything that goes into my travel adventures.  The adventure actually begins long before I pack my bags.  The first thing I must ask myself is; how am I going to pay for this?

Sometimes I just save my money and pay for it myself but, traveling around the world is expensive and I can't always do that on a teacher's salary.  But, there are other resources out there if you are willing to do some work.

Many of you have enjoyed following my blogs from my previous adventures.  Those of you who have been in my classes have also experienced the many classroom projects related to my travels.  Both the blog and my classroom projects are a lot of fun but they also are an excellent way to learn about the many cultures, adventures and opportunities that are to be discovered in other parts of our world.

Hey!  That sounds like a great way to teach and broaden the horizons of young people.  Indeed, it is and there are other people and organizations out there who just might see the value in that and decide it's worth investing their money in such a great adventure.

That is, in fact, exactly how I traveled to Japan, Senegal and Costa Rica.  The Fulbright Memorial Fund paid for all my expenses to go the Japan, the U. S. Department of Education through the  Fulbright-Hays Seminar Abroad program paid for me to go the Senegal and the Toyota International Teachers program paid for me to go to Costa-Rica.

That was not the case when I traveled to Eastern Europe last summer.  That trip used all the money I had saved for travel and I simply don't have the money to travel this summer.  So, if I'm going to Peru this summer, I will need some help.