The photos from new students continue to roll in.  Thank you all and rest assured if you have sent photos, they eventually will be posted.  And for those new students still interested in submitting new photos, please do so!

The first two photos come from incoming MPA student Sarah Wilson.

Nechung Monastery, Lhasa, Tibet.  I love this photo because it embodies my vision of Tibetan beauty.  The stark landscape contrasts with the rich colors associated with Tibetan Buddhism,  plus you can almost hear the low bellow of their horns.  The mountain behind us is covered with fluttering Prayer Flags.

This photo was taken in Yangon (Rangoon), Myanmar (Burma) during the Burmese Water Festival, Thingyan.  Traveling through Burma can make any amature photographer feel like you belong in National Geographic, so it was tough to pick one photo.  This is definitely not the best, but I liked it because it gives you a different impression of Burma than what you read about.  A Buddhist holiday, Thingyan was traditionally a time when scented water would be sprinkled over the head of a worshiper to wash away their sins. These days, its morphed into a no-holds-barred splash fest, with throngs of children, armed with buckets and water guns, waiting next to the side of the road to douse drunken revelers as they pass by on foot, bicycle, motorbike or open-air jeeps.  This photo is very tame as a protective measure for my poor camera, but the festival also included full-out burmese rock bands, punk rockers, and drag queens.

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The next three photos are from incoming MIA student, Ioannis Vasileiou.

Agra, India. At the “back side” of Taj Mahal, a young farmer is taking a refreshing break in the waters of river Yamuna.

Orcha, India. While the children in my home country are usually overwhelmed by the latest gadgets, these little Indian girls have to work to survive, but in an amazing ancient background.

Khajuraho, India. Waiting for the next bus, a goat is seeking for some grass under one of them.

The first three photos come from incoming MIA student, Kelsey Campbell.

Songtan, Republic of Korea

I flew from Alaska to Korea to visit friends posted in the Pyongtaek area.

Not having a car, my friend and I went on an exploratory walk around the town. Here a man rests in a residential area. I like the stillness of this photo.

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia View of Circular Quay and the Opera House from atop the Taronga Zoo.
Sydney is one of the most beautiful and my favorite cities in the world.

Camps Bay, Cape Town, South Africa We were walking along the beach at Camps Bay as we came upon these two locals running down the beach, racing each other. This photo is when they were taking a break on the rocks. This moment was also quite memorable as we were experiencing the ‘Cape Doctor,’
the strong wind that pummels the Cape peninsula.

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The next three photos were take by Megan Rapp, an incoming MIA student.

•    Where the photo was taken: A Bedouin home a few feet below the peak of Mt. Sinai, Sinai Peninsula, Egypt
•    A brief description of the photo: After a grueling five hour hike to the top of Mt. Sinai, we rented blankets to sleep on from the Bedouin man and son seen here. We left from the base of the mountain at 9:00pm, arrived at the peak at 2am, and slept for a few hours on a bed of Bedouin blankets. Around 4:30am, we awoke to the song of the Muslim call to prayer and watched the peaceful sunrise around 5:30am. We then hiked back to the base while being led by a kind and generous Bedouin man.

•    Where the photo was taken: Musee Auguste Rodin in Paris, France
•    A brief description of the photo: This picture is of the Rodin Museum from the viewpoint of a light pink rose. While living in Paris, I became fascinated with capturing pictures of monuments and museums through close-up images of flowers. It can be easy to miss the simplicity of nature when visiting monuments, and I wanted to make sure I took time to see the details around me.

•    Where the photo was taken: Destra, Haiti
•    A brief description of the photo: When I was a teacher in Haiti, I got to visit a lot of the families of my students. This is one of the mothers. I love this photo  because the look on her face exemplifies the pride and love she has towards her children. She works hard so that all of her kids can have opportunities to go to school in a nearby town.

The first two pictures were taken by Leona Verdadero, incoming MIA student.

Where: Blue Lagoon, Coron Island, Philippines
One of the most beautiful islands in the Philippines, Coron is located at the northern tip of the Palawan province. It is a well-known diving destination, with abundant Japanese shipwreck sites from  World War II . The contrast between the towering gray limestone cliffs and the clear aquamarine sea is simply stunning!

Where: Banol Beach, Coron Island, Philippines
Two little boys from the Tagbanua tribe docking at Banol Beach.
The Tagbanua tribe is one of the oldest tribes in the Philippines and the first settlers on Coron Island.  To preserve their culture, they obtained land rights under the Philippine government’s ancestral domain program. The tribe has set guidelines in protecting the environment for visitors, promoting sustainable tourism in the country.

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These photos come from Emily Ingram, incoming MIA student.

This photo was taken in Beijing during July 2005. I was struck by the contrast between the chaos of Chinese tourists walking through Tiananmen Square (including the guy in the foreground who is taking a photo of his family while unknowingly squatting right next to the policeman) and the policeman, who happens to be standing so that his head obscures the famous portrait of Mao that hangs at the entrance to the Forbidden City. In what most western tourists can only interpret as a constant reminder of the 1989 massacre, Tiananmen Square still has a very strong police presence and the guards frequently march around in groups, occasionally stopping only to tell people not to photograph them.

This one was taken in Paris on Bastille Day 2008. Around lunchtime, there was a small but raucous crowd around what seemed to be impromptu Brazilian Capoeria. Nearby, picnickers arranged bread and fruit on blankets and sunbathers spread out on towels to reserve a space for that evening’s concert and fireworks. It was unusual and exciting to see so many people participating and enjoying the music, acrobatics and excitement of this Brazilian sport on a French national holiday, in front of THE French architectural icon.