Ethiopia RPCV Bill Hoar shares pictures from world travels
Read and comment on this story from the Aberdeen News on Bill Hoar who joined the Peace Corps in 1966 and was stationed in a junior/senior high school setting in Ethiopia. Beginning in 1969, Hoar was a missionary in Taipei, Taiwan, for three years. Between his initial travel experience as a Peace Corps volunteer and now, Hoar has visited 22 foreign countries. Read the story at:
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NSU professor shares pictures from world travels Greece current focus of journeys
By Stephanie Liebel
American News Writer
Plans another trip to Greece
If frequent traveling is any indication of curiosity or the desire to learn, then Bill Hoar, camera in hand, is just the person to prove the fact.
But the camera the Northern State University art history professor always carries with him is not just a tourist's tool. It's a way of sharing knowledge about other countries with those back home.
Hoar had two goals in mind when he headed to Greece last summer. One was to return to Aberdeen with photos that would provide a new take on Greece for those who had never been there and even for those who had. The other was to add to his knowledge of Greek art and architecture, to aid himself in teaching his students.
During his two and half weeks in southern and central Greece with his wife, Karen, Hoar visited numerous ancient Greek sights, one being Delphi. It is famous for the Temple of Apollo and the Oracle, who nine times a year makes her prophesies from the temple. There, he recorded sculptures and architecture on black and white film.
The professor also toured Aigosthena, on the eastern shore of the Corinthian Gulf, and the Monastery of St. Luke of Stiris where some of the most well-preserved Byzantine mosaics from the 11th century are located.
Hoar returned home with roughly 800 professional level pictures, 42 of which were part of a display in March at Mt. Marty College in Yankton.
"(Now) they're on display in my home," Hoar said with a laugh.
Not only did Hoar come back with all of his rolls of film, but he returned with a greater appreciation of how "the Greeks of classical times behaved religiously, politically, economically and socially."
Hoar has been an avid traveler since he joined the Peace Corps in 1966 and was stationed in a junior/senior high school setting in Ethiopia.
Beginning in 1969, Hoar was a missionary in Taipei, Taiwan, for three years. In 1997, he returned to Taiwan as a visiting professor at National Taitung Teachers College for the spring semester. Between his initial travel experience as a Peace Corps volunteer and now, Hoar has visited 22 foreign countries.
"(Traveling) wonderfully opens minds to be tolerant with other people and where they come from," Hoar said.
Among his other hobbies, he's also an avid reader and has taken a new interest in Greek mythology since traveling through Greece. "One thing I'd love to do is go on an archaeological dig."
Hoar also recently celebrated his 25th year as a professor at NSU.
Last summer wasn't Hoar's last Greece-bound adventure, however. He's currently planning a three and a half week trip to study the country again this summer, this time to spend a little more time in Crete and to also check out such sites as Naxos and Rhodes.
Of course, his camera and plenty of rolls of film will be right in hand. Click on a link below for more stories on PCOL
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