Experiential learning and art

 To be able to explain experiential learning I would have to use the example of learning art.  Two years ago I started art lessons and I thought I would learn how to paint but in fact I learnt  more about myself and the way my brain works

 When you learn art you understand that an encounter with art involves a .trialogue or three way conversation between the art , the artist and the observer

First you need to take the work of art seriously by observing carefully what’s there and what’s not/ Then you have to look just as seriously at what’s going on  inside of you as you observe the art to see how you  are reaction, what repels you, what delights you. You have to peel back layers of awareness so that you can begin to ask what it means to you’”

The role of Dialogue

The fragmentation of conversation

 The world is in information glut. Information used to be an essential resource in helping us overcome technological and social problems, but our very technological cleverness has transformed data into garbage. While the information industry works overtime to build better computers that can store more information by the gigabyte the world is no more successful at extracting real wisdom from it for living our lives and solving real social, ecological, political or even economical problems. Education insists on pumping even more facts in the students heads with less and less connections between the bits., Most of us have an image of conversation like chating:the exchanges are quick, jerly and often without development of ideas. We are deleting the thought process, yet we are saying we have no time for reflection.

 Once a society loses the capacity for dialogue all that is left is a cacophony of voices battling it out to see who wins and who loses. There is no capacity to go deeper, to find the deeper meaning that transcedes individual views and self interests. It seems reasonable to ask whether many of our deeper problems in governing ourselves today and loss of mutual respect and caring … might not stem from the lost capacity to talk to one another , to think together as part of the larger community”  (Peter Senge- Reflections on Leadership).

Christmas for the Children of Camena – Pictures

On Dec 21st , with the support of everyone who bought our Ithaca Journey charity cards, the AIESEC Constanta NGO and our Ithaca team helped the children in the school of Camena feel that Christmas is there for them as well. Sixty bags of presents including food, small little toys and drawing books were handed to 60 children between the age of 5 and 10. Most of these children come from families with very limited sources of income and, this year, with a little help from everyone we were able make them feell special. Many thanks to all our donors and to the enthusiastic team of AIESEC Constanta.Pics from the event:

First Ithaca Journey in Romania

August 20th 2010 marked the start of the first Ithaca Journey workshop in Romania, Camena. Six participants started their rural adventure and at the end of 5 days they graduated as proud Ithaca Journey alumni. Read their testimonials below and have a peak at their pictures in the photo galery.