A Brief History of
Transitions Abroad Publishing
Our Mission
"Travelers and
tourists, the distinction is simple: Tourists
are those who bring their homes with them wherever
they go, and apply them to whatever they see.
They are closed to experiences outside of the
superficial. Travelers, however, leave home
at home, bringing only themselves and a desire
to learn." |
Those words were written in 1977
by Gary Langer, a 21-year-old budget traveler, in the
first issue of Transitions Abroad magazine. In a few
lines, he presciently summed up how the magazine/webzine,
and travel, would evolve in the next 40+ years. Transitions
Abroad was created as the antidote to superficial
forms of commercial mass tourism, a magazine with the
specific goal of providing information that would enable
empathetic travelers to actually meet
the people of other countries, to learn about their culture,
to speak their language, and to "transition" to
a new level of understanding and appreciation for our
fascinating world. The title was also meant to suggest
the changes in our perspective that
result from such cultural immersion travel.
Note: We believe that an absolute tourist/traveler
distinction is unnecessary. Or,
as Dr. Clay Hubbs wrote after 30 years of
editing and publishing Transitions Abroad:
"Since that time (1977)
the traveler/tourist distinction has become
something of a cliché, one that taken
literally makes no sense. Outside our own country
we are all seen as tourists; even we use the
word tourist to describe the 'other guy.' What
distinguishes one tourist from another is how
we travel,
not where or even why. What distinguishes Transitions
Abroad readers from the other guy is
a desire to learn from our hosts and openness
to change." |
Transitions Abroad was founded by Dr.
Clay Hubbs, editor and publisher of the magazine
and former literature professor and study abroad advisor at Hampshire
College, Amherst, Massachusetts. Clay was driven by endless
curiosity, a desire to share, a strong social conscience, and an emphasis on integrity.
Dr. Hubbs was particularly knowledgeable about the many
study abroad/educational travel options. He felt that all forms of long- and short-term travel, work, volunteer, and
living abroad should be explored where possible. Clay was knowledgeable about both organized
programs and individual custom paths selected by students and travelers of all ages. Clay's many ideas about the
future direction of travel, based on over 50 years
of experience of all kinds, friendship with thought leaders in travel to study abroad, contact with thousands of
travel writing contributors and editing of their works,
a lifetime of reading (travel) literature, and many extended
travels and residencies overseas, led to an emphasis
on the "golden
rule" in
travel, living, work, study, or volunteering abroad.
As a result of the visionary
foundation Dr. Clay Hubbs carefully devised and actually lived,
our wide-ranging editorial can be labeled as "educational travel," "responsible
travel," "(slow)
immersion travel," "cultural travel," "conscious
travel," "experiential travel," "transformational travel" and many current terms that are variations on the same themes we have explored in depth since 1977. All involve
a combination of travel advocacy and actions that seek
to benefit locals in their home countries at
least as much as the visitor. In fact, Dr. Hubbs as been credited as one of the first to develop and promote the notion of responsible travel. Note: We see responsibility
in relativistic terms and not as absolute purists, as we know of few, if any, human cultures
who historically have lived and acted as some incarnation of
perfection. We seek to advocate and do the best we possibly can, implicitly and explicitly, to work towards a more enlightened mode of travel for a better world.
Transitions Abroad has always seen work,
study, living, volunteering as other modes of the type of
extended travel we have long espoused—more often than
not likely to change your life and perspectives forever.
We also firmly believe that the shorter-term
travel options available to individuals of all ages can
be life-changing in their own way and are part of a continuum
of educational experience.
Ultimately, educational and respectful
travel generally leads to both mutual benefit and
often fun for both visitors and locals.
Now into its well into its fourth decade,
Transitions Abroad Publishing has spawned not only the influential
magazine, but also a selection of other essential resources
for the person who wants to travel, really travel,
without being a participant in mass tourism. Transitions
Abroad Publishing has also created critically acclaimed
books on Work
Abroad and Alternative
Travel.
For over 40 years, Transitions Abroad
magazine was the only publication dedicated to work, study,
living, volunteering, and cultural immersion travel abroad.
Its purpose was the dissemination of practical information
leading to a greater understanding of other cultures through
direct participation in the daily life of the host community.
The thematic webzines—which
can be read for free on our award-winning
website—continue and expand upon the editorial of
the print magazine which ceased print publication with the
January, 2008 issue. In parallel, we constantly make available
new content from experts in the field and participants alike
in keeping with the prevalent desire for a constant flow
of thoughtful information sharing.
TransitionsAbroad.com is being perpetually
enhanced by Gregory Hubbs and its many fine contributors to
reflect the depth and quality of the articles, program listings,
best resources and links gathered and updated over the past
40+ years, even as we work to extend the scope exponentially
with future versions which will include the latest technologies
for database technology and social networking to extend
the community. We are committed to expanding upon our trailblazing
publications and editorial—a prototype for those who
have followed and imitated us in so many ways—while
remaining the most comprehensive, no-nonsense web guide
for work, study, travel, living, and volunteering
abroad. |