Q & A With Our Digital Storyteller

Q: So far what has been a highlight of your trip?

Two very different moments stand out:

After a week of "golden hours" thwarted by the rainy season downpours in Costa Rica, I hitched a ride with a local to the nearby beach in a desperate attempt to capture a rare sunset. Arriving at the beach, I was greeted by stunning, vibrant purple clouds illuminated by the setting sun. A week of torrential rains revealed a silver lining–the legendary beauty of one of the country's most remote beaches, Playa Coyote.

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A stunning Costa Rica sunset at Playa Coyote

While Vietnam presented countless memorable experiences, from hiking with the Dartmouth interns at a UNESCO-designated site to exploring Hanoi's Old Quarter, the highlight was an evening at home with Dickey Center intern Gaby Park's host family. Sitting around a table overflowing with homemade Vietnamese delicacies, Gaby's host mother thoughtfully explained each delicious dish to us. Between bites of sticky rice and boiled chicken feet, everyone warmly traded stories about their family life and favorite Vietnamese meals.

After dinner, Gaby's younger host brothers entertained us with chess and foosball. Joined by Dickey Center intern Andrew Pham's host siblings and family friends, we later migrated to a nearby park to continue the fun with games of tag. Although we were an eclectic group consisting of different generations and nationalities, I was amazed by how easily we found common ground in food and play.

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Ben Joel with the Dartmouth Hanoi Community

Q: What work by the Dickey Center interns has stood out to you?

Mursal Ehsan's internship at the United Nations and Maddie Shaw's internship with the Jahjaga Foundation stood out as particularly unique for their access to high-level officials and the impact of their work. Working for the Permanent Mission of Afghanistan (the diplomatic representation of Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover in August 2021), Mursal takes notes at Security Council meetings and regularly meets with high ranking foreign diplomats. As an Afghan woman impacted by the Taliban takeover, Mursal's work to protect fundamental human rights has personal, as well as professional, significance. 

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Mursal Ehsan '26 talking with a diplomat at the United Nations

Interning at the Jahjaga Foundation, Maddie not only contributes to empowering Kosovar women affected by the war, she benefits from President Jahjaga's personal mentorship. At the office, Maddie works on initiatives to cultivate inter-ethnic reconciliation and to support women, including survivors of wartime sexual violence. In her free time, Maddie goes hiking and shares meals with President Jahjaga, learning from first-hand accounts of her remarkable career.

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Lunch with Dickey Center interns Nicholas Booth '27 and Maddie Shaw '25, and former President of Kosovo Jahjaga and Egzona Bexheti, Director of the Jahjaga Foundation.

Q: What proved to be a challenge along the way, and how have you overcome it?

By far, the biggest challenge has been the weather. In Vietnam and Costa Rica, in particular, extreme weather–from days consistently approaching 100 degrees to monsoon rains–tested me to push through physical discomfort and overcome photographic challenges. Landing in Costa Rica, the three hour drive from the airport to the Guanacaste Province foreshadowed the extreme weather I would encounter throughout my trip. As we drove towards the rural town, the downpour caused the road to become a river, navigable only by those fortunate enough to have a four-wheel drive vehicle.

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A street corner in Hanoi during a downpour

At times, even if I successfully managed the sudden downpours and intense heat, the intense humidity would cause "camera condensation" and fog up my camera lens. Learning to adapt quickly with alternative plans and extra patience has enabled me to manage, if not completely overcome, these challenges.  

Ben will be back on campus this fall, when we look forward to presenting an exhibit of his work in the Russo Gallery. More to come. Learn more about the Dickey Center's international internship opportunities here, and more about Ben Joel and the digital storytelling internship here. 

The Going Global Digital Storytelling Internship is made possible in part through the generous support of the classes of 1957 and 1982 through their Great Issues Innovation Fund at the Dickey Center.