A Brief History of Transitions Abroad Publishing

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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:

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.