To ensure that each Dragons study abroad program is consistently rewarding, common themes are threaded through all Dragons programs: these are our “Program Components”. Because each country has its own unique cultural and physical landscape, the emphasis of each component varies program to program. To understand the core components of each Dragons experience, consider the descriptions and ratings represented on each program page.

Rugged Travel:
Dragons students travel in a style that enables them to genuinely know the people of the countries we visit. Most often Dragons students travel on local buses and trains. We may pile onto a tractor or horse-drawn cart. This often isn’t the fastest or most comfortable way to travel, but for adaptable participants it offers the most authentic experience and profound learning adventure.

• 5 star = extremely rugged, few showers, undeveloped roads
• 4 star = limited time in urban/developed areas, mostly remote
• 3 star = half time in urban areas
• 2 star = some remote, more than half the time in urban locales
• 1 star = limited remote travel

Home-stay:
Often the most challenging and fulfilling component of Dragons study abroad programs, home-stays take Dragons students to the core of their experience. Home-stays are carefully set up with each student’s individual personality in mind in order to provide the best experience in language immersion and education abroad.

• 5 star = 15 + days of home-stay
• 4 star = 10 + days of home-stay
• 3 star = 5 + days of home-stay
• 2 star = 3 + days of home-stay
• 1 star = possible one or two day home-stay

Trekking and Wilderness Exploration:
Though Dragons study abroad programs vary in their degree of physical challenge, exploration of the natural environment is integral to all Dragons student travel. Whether backpacking through pristine wilderness, rafting down jungle rivers or hiking to breathtaking mountain views, our Dragons programs discover remote and infrequently traveled places in order to offer the best in experiential education and learning adventures.

• 5 star trekking = 20 + days of wilderness hiking and camping
• 4 star trekking = 12 + days
• 3 star trekking = 7 + days
• 2 star trekking = 4 + days
• 1 star trekking = day hikes

Service Learning:
Making a long-term investment in the community, Dragons participants may volunteer as a whole group, in smaller sub-groups, or individually. Dragons students generally engage in a diverse range of volunteer projects that best suit their passions – from classroom teaching to healthcare outreach, volunteering in microeconomic development, or hands-on building projects.

• 5 star = 40 + hours
• 4 star = 20 + hours
• 3 star = 10 + hours
• 2 star = 5 + hours
• 1 star = limited community service

Survey of Development Issues:
Each Dragons study abroad course explores a range of development issues, from issues in health care, resource management and environmental impact, to children’s and women’s issues, to peace and conflict studies. Through meetings with development professionals, participants learn through hands-on experiential education how the efforts of community leaders and aid organizations both positively and negatively impact the region’s people, culture and environment.

• 5 star = focus of program
• 4 star = concentrated inspection
• 3 star = fairly strong survey
• 2 star = limited consideration
• 1 star = not relevant to program

Internships and Independent Study Projects:
For inspired Dragons study abroad students, internships are often arranged with renowned artists, musicians, yogis, monks, dancers, cultivators, development workers, and healers, and many other people who have spent much of their lives mastering a skill. Independent Study Projects enable Dragons students to engage intensively with a particular topic through experiential education. Facilitated by Dragons course instructors and area contacts, students may explore topics such as religious practice and meditation or yoga, political organizations and community activism, tourism and development, the role of women or children in society, or an interest of their own design.

• 5 star = major component of program
• 4 star = strongly emphasized
• 3 star = fairly integral to course design
• 2 star = part of program, not emphasized
• 1 star = limited opportunities for self-directed projects

Language Study:
Dragons absolutely does not expect participants to come with language skills, nor to master them. Dragons does expect that our student travelers will want to interact with locals as closely as they can, and few things do more to empower participants, and facilitate an ease of cultural understanding, than frequent language lessons with supportive instructors. Dragons students have the opportunity for both formal language study and learning through language immersion throughout their course.

• 5 star = major component of program, 40 + hours of instruction
• 4 star = strongly emphasized, 30 + hours
• 3 star = moderate amount, 15 + hours
• 2 star = limited language instruction, 10 + hours
• 1 star = little language instruction

Introduction to Philosophy/Comparative Religion:
Dragons participants are introduced to the commonly shared religious and political thinking that has helped to shape the country’s culture. Depending on the country, Dragons travelers explore the tenets of Theravada, Mahayana or Zen Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Shamanism, Confucianism and Neo-Confucianism, or Hinduism.

• 5 star = major component of program
• 4 star = strongly emphasized
• 3 star = fairly integral to course design
• 2 star = part of program, not emphasized
• 1 star = limited opportunities for study and exploration

Focus of Inquiry:
Each Dragons study abroad course lends itself differently to the introduction of particular academic themes. Dragons programs may be more heavily weighted towards an introduction to minority issues, land-use issues, expedition planning, or traditional art, music and performance.

• 5 star = major component of program
• 4 star = strongly emphasized
• 3 star = fairly integral to course design
• 2 star = part of program, not emphasized
• 1 star = influences program, only slight emphasis