It has been a personal struggle for me in India to decide when to be or not to be an American. There was obviously no way for me to hide my pale skin and five foot nine frame, but the challenge I encountered was when to assimilate into the culture and when to press my feminist values upon those I met. I had a 'Rosa Parks' moment the first day in Delhi. I hopped into the front seat of the van on the way to the Red Fort only to be met with a glare from the driver and a finger pointed in my face as he said, "You lady, back. Him (pointing at Zander) sit in front. You in back."  Read More

Thinking Beyond Borders' Gap Year program is really expensive.  Sure, it's more affordable than a year at most private colleges in the US, but few can afford that without the help of financial aid.  From the very beginning, we have recognized this as the primary challenge in making this incredible learning and growth opportunity available to the rising generation's greatest leaders.  I wanted to offer an update on our efforts to make TBB accessible to all highly qualified applicants, regardless of financial need (a goal we have not yet met).   Read More

TBB 2008-09 Student Liz Kuenstner created this scrapbook (first on paper, then digitized) to put a human face to the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The photos and stories are of people she met while shadowing home-based caregivers in the townships surrounding Plettenberg Bay, South Africa.  We've just learned that it is now part of a university's nursing curriculum in Cape Town!  TBB's current students are just beginning their stay in Plettenberg Bay.  View Scrapbook