Category Archives: Blog

New Huff-Po: Buddhist Cave Art in China…

Posted on July 18, 2016 by admin

Library Cave in China (Photo: Emily O'Dell)

I’m happy to share with you my new Huffington Post article, “Buddhist Cave Art in China,” which features photos from my recent trip to China and the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Many thanks for sharing these desert treasures on the Silk Road with anyone who might enjoy them!

Buddhist cave art (Photo: Emily O'Dell)

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Sovietology in Mongolia…

Posted on July 18, 2016 by admin

Zaisan Memorial (Photo: Emily O'Dell)

I always enjoy visiting Zaisan Memorial in Mongolia which commemorates Soviet soldiers who served in World War II…

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Vogue in Mongolia…

Posted on July 17, 2016 by admin

Bogd Khan Palace (Photo: Emily O'Dell)

The photo in this Vogue article on skatebaording in Mongolia is similar to the one I took this summer while being interviewed in Ulaanbaatar at the Bogd Khan Palace for Mongolian television (was going for a Where’s Waldo effect)…

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Adopting Each Other…

Posted on July 16, 2016 by admin

My steppe baby (Photo: Emily O'Dell)

I felt very attached to this baby goat orphan near my yurt whose parents died in a rain stampede — too precious!

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Milking Time…

Posted on July 15, 2016 by admin

Exploring Mongolia (Photo: Emily O'Dell)

I went to milk the horses in Mongolia with my yurtmates & nomadic friends — and totally failed! It’s very hard…

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홍익인간

Posted on July 11, 2016 by admin

Thank you, Korea (Photo: Emily O'Dell)

I’m so grateful for all of the kindness and warmth I’ve received this week in South Korea — happy to be here…

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Yurt Life…

Posted on July 10, 2016 by admin

Yurt Life (Photo: Emily O'Dell)

I’ve been on the road this summer, living as a nomad in Mongolia in a series of yurts (without wifi access), so I will be updating my blog with some photos while I have wifi during my brief stay here in Korea…

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In Deo Speramus…

Posted on July 9, 2016 by admin

Receiving my Phd from Dr. Martha Sharp Joukowsky (Photo: Emily O'Dell)

I’m happy to see that Brown University, my alma mater (four times over!), is in the top ten of Forbes’ top universities. Having taught at Harvard, Brown, Columbia, and universities in the Middle East, I believe that Brown’s open curriculum and spirit of intellectual exploration is as good as it gets in terms of creating a dynamic learning environment that fosters experimentation, inspiration, and collaboration.

Brown University (Photo: Emily O'Dell)

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호텔 리츠칼튼 서울

Posted on July 9, 2016 by admin

Room with a view (Photo: Emily O'Dell)

I had to make an unexpected trip to Korea this week from Mongolia, and I’m so glad that I decided to book a room at the Ritz-Carlton in Seoul when I landed. In my globe-trotting ventures, I’ve been very lucky to stay at a number of luxury properties around the world, but the Ritz in Seoul has definitely raised the bar and provided the highest level of service that I’ve ever received. I’m incredibly grateful for the hotel’s helpful, kind, and attentive staff — they’ve gone above and beyond to assist me. If you travel to Korea, definitely book a room at the Ritz — they’ll make your stay as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.

Ritz Carlton in Seoul (Photo: Emily O'Dell)

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Чингис хаан…

Posted on July 1, 2016 by admin

Exploring history in Mongolia (Photo: Emily O'Dell)

I celebrated my birthday a few days ago in Mongolia with Genghis Khan and friends on the steppe — atop the biggest horse statue in the world!

Coming face-to-face with Genghis Khan (Photo: Emily O'Dell)

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Treehugger…

Posted on July 1, 2016 by admin

Today in Mongolia (Photo: Emily O'Dell)

What’s wrong with being a treehugger? I made a new friend today after setting out from my yurt for a morning hike…

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Монгол хэл

Posted on July 1, 2016 by admin

Exploring Mongolia (Photo: Emily O'Dell)

It’s been such a pleasure to explore nomadic life in Mongolia with my Mongolian language teachers from the National University of Mongolia — a total joy to learn so much each day!

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Graffiti in Mongolia…

Posted on June 24, 2016 by admin

Exploring Mongolia (Photo: Emily O'Dell)

I passed by this graffiti yesterday while on my way to meet with Mongolian and American colleagues in the center of Ulaanbaatar. It’s been interesting this summer to see what graffiti has appeared and disappeared since I wrote about and photographed Mongolian graffiti last year…

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Humanities in the Gulf…

Posted on June 24, 2016 by admin

Sharing Oman (Photo: Emily O'Dell)

Though the Sultanate of Oman is known for its desert sands, I’m grateful every day for the opportunity to teach at an oasis of knowledge — Sultan Qaboos University — in Muscat. Here’s a link to my new Huffington Post contribution, “Celebrating the Humanities in Oman” — which features an essay by one of my Omani students on the importance of studying literature and the humanities.

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