Steve in Prague: A Holiday Trip

Lookin' good, Steve!

This is Steve the Dragon on the banks of the Vltava River, with a view of the Charles Bridge and Prague Castle in the background. With his human friends Dr. Krive, Dr. Grieve, and Grey, Steve enjoyed a city saturated in Art Deco and fragrant with the scent of Christmas trees and trdlo, a round pastry cooked over an open fire and doused in cinnamon and hazelnuts.

Welcome to There Be Dragons

Our old pal Ddraig

Welcome to There Be Dragons, the Lloyd International Honors College blog designed to take the LIHC community on adventures with students who are currently studying abroad.

Departing students received small red dragons as gifts at the Bon Voyage party held on Reading Day of the Fall 2013 semester.  The red dragons are tiny imitations of the Welsh Dragon, Y Ddraig Goch, the mascot of the Lloyd International Honors College, seen on the left.  Students chose a date during their time abroad to snap a photo of their dragon buddy and send a brief post of his or her adventure back to LIHC.

That ship might not make it

The name There Be Dragons refers to the Latin phrase HC SUNT DRACONES (here are dragons), used on maps in the medieval period to indicate dangerous or uncharted waters or territories.  Mapmakers of the medieval and Renaissance eras included fantastical illustrations of dragons, sea serpents, and other monsters to thoroughly drive home the danger of an area to the viewer.  At the right is an example from Olaus Magnus' Carta Marina (1539).  Rather than shy away from uncharted waters, LIHC students embrace the unknown and set out on international adventures, seeking out new faces and new experiences.  We don't want our dragons to stay "here" -- we want them to go "there" and tell tales about what they discover.

For once, no hammocks were obscuring the view

Draco here (Dr. Muich's friend), is a dragon who will be staying "here" for now, acting as the point dragon for his traveling buddies.  He's pictured in two of his favorite campus spots: the tree outside Jackson Library's main entrance, and visiting his friend Minerva.  Dozens of his friends are all over the world this semester, from Great Britain to South Korea, from New Zealand to Spain.  For a comprehensive look at where Draco's friends (and their human companions) are this semester, click on the Google map to the right for locations and programs.  If you want to know a little more about a location, you can click on the link to the IPC homepage, which is full of resources for LIHC students planning their international experience.

 

Dragon or apple?

Perhaps you are just getting to know UNCG and the Lloyd International Honors College.  We are pleased to welcome you, and encourage you to take a look at the LIHC homepage and facebook page, linked to the right for your convenience.  If you want to know more about LIHC, contact us!

Please visit There Be Dragons again soon.  You can expect a post from a different dragon about once a week, sometimes more.  Coming soon: University of Oulu in Finland!