Traveling Teacher 2010

The Journey Begins - August 21, 2009

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(The polls are now closed, and the world has voted to send me to Turkey. A benefactor has graciously offered to donate the plane ticket, but I still need your help to make this dream a reality. Check out my April 26 post, "An Unexpected Gift," for more details).

--------------------TRIP DATES - JUNE 13-JULY 12 2010--------------------

"Could a person who had no money travel around the world relying on the generosity of strangers?"

This is the question that I posed to some of my students last spring at Southeast Whitfield High School in Dalton, Georgia, while we were discussing the topic of whether people are basically good or basically evil.

Personally, I believe almost all people are trustworthy and will often go to great lengths to help others, if given the chance, but the class never came to a consensus, which led me to the idea of trying to find out for myself if I could travel on nothing but benevolence. That is how this blog was born.

So where will I travel?

That's up to you. I want to have as much input and interaction as possible for my trip, especially from my students, so you get to vote.

On the right side of my blog, I've listed 12 countries that I've never visited and would like to learn more about. Five of the locations (China, Colombia, El Salvador, Micronesia and Vietnam) are the native countries of students I've taught over the years in my work as a teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL).

Please vote on which country you'd like me to visit. On April 1, 2010, I'll close the poll and travel to the top vote getter. If funds are available, I will also visit the second and third country on the list. I'll make the trip during my summer break in 2010.

(The polls are now closed. Please read my April 1 post for more information).

If I don't have enough funds by May 15 to buy an airline ticket, I will cancel the trip and donate the money to charity. I'm afraid if I wait any later than that a last-minute plane ticket would be too expensive.

So what will I do when I get there?

That's also up to you. Once the list has been narrowed to the top three countries, I will accept suggestions on my blog of what to visit. It could be a place. It could be a particular organization that is doing positive work in the country, such as a social service agency that normally doesn't get recognized. It could be a particular person that is making a difference in the country that you'd like the rest of the world to know about.

Wherever I visit, I will post the information on the blog to shed more light on the person, place, or organization, so that we can all learn something together. The purpose of my trip is to not lie on a beach but to delve into new cultures and write about what I see.

How are you going to pay for it all?

Once again, that’s up to you. This is an experiment that different people might call different things - relying on benevolence, divine providence or even trusting the universe.

With that in mind, I am starting the journey with no money and will travel as far as the universe takes me.

Any monetary donations, however large or small, would be greatly appreciated, or if you happen to be the president of an airline and would like to donate a ticket, that would also be wonderful. I have never lost my love of backpacking, so I tend to travel very cheaply and would use the money wisely.

If giving money doesn't seem appropriate, benevolence comes in many other forms. Once I know which countries I'll visit, I would welcome any private offers of meals or accommodations, however simple they might be. Some of my best travel experiences have been staying with families, rather than in hotels, and I would share all of these new experiences on my blog, as well.

If you would like to make a monetary donation, please use my PayPal account that I have set up. The donation button is on the right side of the blog. You DO NOT need to set up a PayPal account to make a donation.

What if you don’t raise enough money to travel, or you have money left over after the trip?

This blog is an experiment in benevolence, and I want to contribute something financially, as well.

If I can't raise enough money to take my trip in the summer of 2010, I will donate all of the collected money to charity. Also, if any money is left over after my trip, I will donate that money, too.

(Money was left over for charity. See "Final Breakdown of Expenses" on the right side of my blog, directly under "Images of Turkey.")

On the right side of the blog, I have listed ten charities that the American Institute of Philanthropy has given an “A” rating (as of 8/01/09). All of the charities have a worldwide focus. Please vote on your favorite charity. If any money is left from the trip, I will split the excess money evenly among the top three vote getters.

(The polls are now closed. Check out my April 1 post for the details).

How do I know this isn't a scam?

First of all, I have already given you the name of my school, Southeast Whitfield High School in Dalton, Georgia, and given you my own name. Feel free to look me up on my school’s web site, so you can see that I am who I claim to be.

As for the money, my friend Joanie Sompayrac, who is an accountant (CPA), has volunteered to post monthly financial statements to my blog. That way, you will know how much money has been donated. Also, when I take my trip, I will post how every cent is being spent.

Final Thoughts

I'm a big believer in the power of a single individual and the power of a single idea, which is why I decided to turn to individuals, not organizations or corporations, to help me in this quest. Also, I'm a big believer in the power of the internet, which is why I am using this forum for my experiment.

At the same time, I want to show my students how one small idea can spread like ripples in a lake, so I'm doing no other fund-raising or seeking any other forms of publicity, other than this blog.

Finally, I hope that through this blog my students will learn that anything is possible.

I have no idea where this experiment will lead. I'm just throwing my idea into the universe to see what happens. Can a person travel around the world relying on the generosity of strangers? Stay tuned, and we'll find out together!

(NOTE: I am leaving this initial post on top to explain my blog to new readers. Please look below this post, where you will find all subsequent posts arranged in descending order by date with the most recent date appearing just beneath this message.)

The Journey Continues in 2011 - January 1, 2011

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It is hard to believe it’s been almost two years since my experiment in benevolence began with a classroom discussion of whether people are basically good or evil. That conversation in the spring of 2009 led to this blog and, a year later, to my month-long journey through Turkey. It’s an experience I’ll never forget.

I wanted to take this opportunity to again thank all of my generous benefactors for making the trip possible.

Although the traveling has ended, I hope to continue my Turkish journey in 2011 by getting a book published about the trip. This week, I finished the third draft and plan on contacting publishers by the end of the month. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

I’ve never tried to get a book published, and I’m not sure what to expect, but I’ll approach the endeavor, keeping in mind one of the main lessons I learned in Turkey – anything is possible. As I go through the process, I’ll share details on the blog.

I appreciate everyone who’s visited my site, and I wish you all a happy new year.

The Book is Taking Shape - October 8, 2010

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I'm making significant progress on my book about my trip to Turkey.

Last month, I finished a first draft. I ended up with more than 43,000 words, which is about 173 pages. Afterward, I sent it to my brother Robert to proofread. Now, I'm taking his suggestions and incorporating them into a rewrite.

My hope is to have a manuscript ready to send out to publishers after the first of the year.

In the mean time, I am beginning to think about a possible trip this summer. I would appreciate any ideas for another online endeavor.

I'll keep you posted. As always, thanks for reading my blog.

It's Going to Get Better - October 2, 2010

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Although economists say the recession is officially over in the United States, it's hard to believe with the national unemployment rate hovering near 10 percent and with the pervasive sense of fear and pessimism lingering in the culture.

I think it's safe to say that we all know someone who has lost his or her job. I'm grateful to still be working, but thousands of teachers across the country have been let go due to reduced tax revenues. Many of us also know someone who has lost a home or is underwater on a mortgage.

In such a sluggish economy, laid- off workers with job experience and education are having a hard enough time finding work, which is why as a teacher, I sometimes worry about the job prospects for those who will be graduating in the next year or two.

It's easy to become overwhelmed, and I admit I've spent more than one sleepless night wondering about my fate if the economy doesn't pick up.

Lately, though, I've been thinking about the words of Albert Einstein, who once said, "The most important decision we make is whether we believe we live in a friendly or a hostile universe." In essence, Einstein was saying a person chooses to either be optimistic or pessimistic. A person is either trusting or fearful.

When I was traveling in Turkey having to rely on the assistance of others for everything, I lived in a constant state of optimism and expectation, and wonderful things kept happening to me, but over the last few months, I've lost some of my optimism. Last week, I decided it's time to get back to my Turkish mindset.

The reason for the sudden switch was that I was invited to speak to a group of college students about my trip to Turkey. While I was preparing for the talk, I thought about what I had experienced in Turkey and felt I needed to readopt a positive outlook.

I realize that being optimistic isn't going to create jobs or fix the economy, but pessimism, especially from those who have no reason to be pessimistic, makes things worse.

During my talk, I took the opportunity to try to reassure the college students. No one knows what's awaiting us in the future, but we can all take consolation in the fact that eventually things are going to get better. The economy will get back on track. Employment will pick up, and the pessimism will fade.

Right now, that might be difficult to visualize, but back in August 2009 as I launched my blog, I wasn't sure if anyone would ever read a word I wrote, let alone donate enough money for me to get overseas. Since then, I've had almost 4,000 hits on my site from more than 40 countries, and I received enough money to survive for a month in Turkey and still had money left over for charity.

Dreams do come true, and brighter days are ahead.

MEDIA UPDATE

On Friday, the local Dalton newspaper ran a follow-up story on my trip. Here's the link.

What's Next?- September 19, 2010

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Over the last few weeks, several people have asked me if I'm planning on trying another internet journey this summer.

A few thoughts have crossed my mind, but I never envisioned last summer's trip to Turkey evolving into an annual event. However, I'm always open to new experiences and to new challenges. If anyone has any ideas, I'd love to hear them.

If I do take another journey, I'd like volunteering to be a major component of the trip, and I'd like to raise money for that volunteer organization.

In the mean time, I'm continuing to work on my book. I've already written one draft and am now having someone read it to give me feedback. I'll keep you posted on the progress.

As always, thanks for reading my blog.

Calling All Publishers - September 5, 2010

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It's been a week since the article about my trip to Turkey appeared in the nearby paper, The Chattanooga Times Free Press. I was extremely impressed and humbled by the job that the reporter, Barry Courter, did and by the layout of the feature, which even had color photos.

Since then, I've gotten a lot of positive feedback, and I'm scheduled to speak about my experience at a local college. The ripples keep spreading.

Also, I continue to work on my book. The popular perception is that authors sit down once a week and write 40 or 50 pages, but actually, I've read that authors might just write 400-500 words a day, and over time, the pages add up. The secret, though, is to write every day. That's the hard part.

For over a month, my daily routine has been to get to work two hours before school begins to take care of lesson plans for my classes and then spend each evening writing after work. I've gained newfound respect for the work of authors. It isn't easy writing each day, especially when a person is tired or would rather watch mindless television.

I've made a lot of progress and hope to have my first draft done by the end of the month.

One of the things I learned in Turkey is that anything is possible. With that in mind, I am sending out a call into the universe to all publishers – I think I've got the makings of a good book that you'd like to publish.

I'm hoping that six degrees of separation comes through for me. Six degrees of separation is the theory that any person in the world is connected to any other person in the world through at most five acquaintances. If that's true, then someone reading my blog is either a publisher or connected through a friend of a friend of a friend to a publisher.

Let's see what happens. Life's short. Why not be bold.

The Journey Continues - August 27, 2010

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I've been amazed and humbled by everything that's happened since I launched my blog over a year ago.

A few weeks ago, a reporter from the nearby newspaper interviewed me for a follow-up story about my trip.

It's always a thrill to talk about my trip to Turkey because it gives me a chance to brag about the country, and it gives me another opportunity to remind people that anything is possible.

The story is scheduled to run this Sunday, August 29th. You can find the on-line edition here.

Since I've been back in the classroom, I've already used my trip as a teaching tool on several occasions.

"Mr. Dickinson, that's too hard. I can't do it."

I now relish these opportunities.

"Yes, it is hard, but anything is possible. This summer, I traveled through Turkey for a month....."

Teachers use anything at their disposal to try to capture the attention of their students. Hopefully, I'll be able to utilize the details of my trip for the rest of my career.

As I mentioned earlier, I would like to publish a book one day about my journey. I continue to plug away on a daily basis. I'll let you know how that journey unfolds, as well.

This week, I looked at the statistics for my blog. I've now had more than 3,700 hits from 39 U.S. states, as well as 42 foreign countries. Yesterday, someone from Albania read my site. When I grew up, the internet didn't exist, so I'm still blown away by how widely ideas can spread in cyberspace.

I want to thank all of you who occasionally glance at my site. It's been a real labor of love since the beginning. I'll try to keep you informed of any developments.

My Harshest Critic Speaks - August 21, 2010

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When I returned to teaching this week, I couldn't wait to hear the reactions from my harshest critic, regarding my summer trip.

Last spring, one of my students continuously told me that there was no way that I would ever get to Turkey, let alone last a month there. I didn't mind because I enjoyed her good-humored ribbing

Before school let out for the summer, I showed her the ticket, and she said, "Wow!" That was enough for me, but I still wanted to hear what was on her mind.

Unfortunately, I found out that she transferred to another school, but this week she dropped by my room to see me. She caught me up on her summer, and after several minutes, I couldn't help but ask.

"So what did you think about my trip?"

For a minute or two, she seemed to be going through some kind of internal struggle about whether she would actually say something positive. Finally, she said, "It was pretty cool." That's a lot for a teenager.

The whole point of my journey was to show my students that people are good and that anything is possible. Last spring, this particular student was firmly in the camp that believed that people were evil.

Before she left my room last week, I had to ask her one final question,"Do you think now that most people might be good?" Again, she seemed hesitant to say anything but replied, "Maybe. I'll think about it."

That, alone, made me feel that the trip was a success.

Back to School - August 13, 2010

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On Friday, I got through my annual August rite of passage - the first day of school.

When I was a child, I couldn't imagine that there was anyone on the face of the earth who had a harder time going back to school than a student. That is, until I became a teacher. I love my job, but it's difficult for teachers, too, to immediately get up to speed, especially when the teacher in this case had such a wonderful, life-changing summer experience in Turkey.

One of the things I enjoy most about the first week of school is having ex-students return to my classroom to say "hello." I laugh when a child, who might have thought I was an ogre the previous year when he/she was enrolled in my class, suddenly acts like I am his/her best friend.

I guess it works both ways. Some of the students who made me want to pull my hair out are some of the students I look back on with the most fondness.

This year's first day was especially meaningful to me because I had three students at different times in the day stop by to ask me about my trip to Turkey. Smiles broke out on all of their faces when they heard how well it went.

Since the students were no longer in my class and were now my "best friends," I asked them each what they thought. The answers ranged from "Wow!" to "cool" to "I never thought you'd make it."

Last year, one of my Friday visitors told me that he didn't think he could afford college. It was the moment I had been waiting for. "If Mr. Dickinson can survive in Turkey, you can go to college. Anything is possible." The boy laughed and said, "You're right." If anything, I will be able to draw upon my experiences in Turkey as a motivator for the rest of my teaching career.

I can see it now ... "You say you can't make the soccer team. Ten years ago, I survived in Turkey for a month with no money. If Mr. Dickinson can do it, you can do it."

I've also enjoyed the reactions of some of my fellow teachers. My favorite is from a teacher who said, "Dickinson. I still can't believe you actually tried that in the first place."

As I see more students, I'll let you know what they said.

Also, after careful consideration, I have decided to go ahead and write a book about my trip. I realize it will be a lot of work, but I think I have an unusual story to tell that might motivate someone else to do something that he or she is on the fence about right now.

Once again, I want to thank everyone who helped me this summer, either financially or through words of encouragement. It meant so much to me.

I'll keep you posted.

The Ripples Continue to Spread - August 1, 2010

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Several people have asked me what my students had to say about my trip this summer to Turkey. In a couple of weeks, I head back to school. Once I have a chance to settle in and talk with them, I'll let you know about their reactions.

In the mean time, I wanted to share a message that I received last week. Before I left Turkey, I had the equivalent of $16 left in Turkish Lira, so I asked my host to give the money to the next Couch Surfer as a gift from the Traveling Teacher 2010 project. It seemed fitting, since I was showered with so much generosity during my journey.

It turned out that the recipient of that gift was a traveler from Tunisia, a country in North Africa. In his e-mail, Mohamed thanked me for the donation. "Actually, I couldn't believe it at first, and I said to myself this is another example of how great all Americans are."

I'm passing on the thanks to all of my donors because it was your money that made the gift possible.

I think this message is yet another example of the benefit of traveling overseas. Over the years, governments have often done a poor job of uniting the people of different cultures, but I believe a few personal contacts can go a long way toward changing the world.

I Need Your Feedback - July 28, 2010

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It's hard to believe that I wrote my first post on Traveling Teacher 2010 almost a year ago. It has been a real joy to share my thoughts on life, travel, and my experiences in Turkey.

I'm not one for exaggeration, but I can say without a doubt that the trip has forever changed my outlook on life.

Over the last two weeks, after a couple of friends suggested the idea, I have been pondering writing a book about my blog and my adventures in Turkey. I am trying to get an idea if it might be a story that people would enjoy reading, so I've set up a simple poll with the question - "Should I Write a Book About Traveling Through Turkey?"

I've lived with this project for so long that it's hard for me to ascertain if the general population would find the topic interesting or if it is time for me to let it all go.

Any feedback, especially from writers or publishers, would be appreciated.

The poll is on the right-hand side of the blog below "Final Breakdown of Expenses."

Back Home - July 26, 2010

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No adventures in Panama City.

I planned on traveling to Panama City for another couple of days at the beach, but I decided to return to Dalton for several reasons, including my father's 77th birthday and a bad sunburn on my back.

All summer, I've had such adventures and such high expectations that good things were waiting around each corner. Now it's time to get back to reality, or is it?

One of my friends in Turkey, Umit, believes that we create our own realities. She says if we think positively and act positively, then we tend to draw positive people and positive experiences into our lives. If we think negatively and act negatively, then we attract negativity into our lives. Birds of a feather....

My location is now different, but my mindset doesn't have to change. In Turkey, I expected wonderful things to happen, and they did. I began to believe anything was possible, and I realized that my dreams were too small and needed to be replaced with much larger ones.

I don't want my new viewpoint to disappear. According to Oliver Wendell Holmes, it won't. "A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions."

From now on, my goal is to try to get beyond just minimal expectations of life and, instead, shoot for the stars. Turkey and Florida are over, but the adventures don't have to be, as long as I maintain my Turkish outlook.

I believe all of us can lead happier, more fulfilling lives if we will begin to truly expect more from life and from the universe.

As Mahatma Gandhi put it, "A man is but the product of his thoughts. What he thinks, he becomes."

Hospitality American Style - July 25, 2010

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It's been a great five days in Destin with Trevor, who is a super host. I swam every day; went bike riding; ate in some terrific restaurants; saw Le Grand Cirque, which I highly recommend; visited Seaside, Florida, the filming location for the movie The Truman Show starring Jim Carrey, which I would also recommend because the city was built as a model community; and experienced some incredible hospitality.

Yesterday, Trevor invited me to a cookout. The host had a delicious spread of food, and we spent the day swimming, playing horseshoes and other games, and sharing travel stories. Since Trevor is in the military, many of his friends have traveled to locations all over the globe, and his friends all touted the benefit of spending time in other cultures.

Before I left, I had a chance to talk with the host. I thanked him for inviting me to the cookout, and I said how impressed I was with the extent of his hospitality. He said something in reply that is a good philosophy for living, in general. "It is no fun having it, if you don't share it."

When I was traveling in Turkey, many of my friends said they wanted to journey through the United States, but they weren't sure what kind of reception they would get. If my week in Florida is any indication, I would tell them wholeheartedly to come. Goodness is not limited by national boundaries.

Today, I am leaving Destin and headed to Panama City, where new adventures await. I'll keep you posted.

Florida Magic - July 24, 2010

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When I was traveling in Turkey, I frequently found myself thinking, "This is great. How did I get here?" That thought was often followed by another thought, "What a tragedy it would have been if I had said 'no' to my impulse to set up my blog because then the chain of events that took me to Turkey would never have happened."

Life presents us with countless opportunities to meet new people and to try new experiences, but sometimes we sidestep the opportunities because we're lazy, we don't want to be inconvenienced, or we are scared.

I speak from experience. I look back at my life and wonder what adventures and opportunities for growth that I missed out on because I said "no."

During my trip to Florida, I've also found myself thinking, "How did I get here?"

Over the past four days, I've seen a side of Florida, through Couch Surfing, that I've never seen before. I've eaten at off-the-beaten-path restaurants that I would never have found on my own. I've had a chance to interact with residents and get a local perspective on life in Florida, aside from just the perspective of tourists. I've had a chance to get beyond only beaches and seafood, although there's a lot to be said for both.

Just last week, a friend and I were talking about Mali. On Wednesday, my host, Trevor, got a Couch Surfing message from a woman visiting her brother in Destin. It turns out that she just returned from a two-year stint in the Peace Corps in Mali.

Her brother is involved with the show Le Grand Cirque, which is similar to Cirque du Soleil. Last night, he gave us tickets to the show, and so I found myself on the third row again asking myself, "How did I get here?"

I didn't expect much out of the show ahead of time, but it was one of the best productions I've ever seen. The troup of Chinese acrobats twisted, tumbled and balanced in ways that I thought were impossible. If you ever have a chance to see the show, do it.

I'm staying one more night in Destin, and tomorrow, I think I'm headed to Panama City for a day or two, where I hope to stay with another Couch Surfer.

What will happen there? I have no idea, but I know it will be good. If I've learned one thing this summer, it is that we need to raise our expectations in life and quit settling for the minimum and mediocrity.

I'll close with a quote from A.A. Milne, who wrote Winnie-the-Pooh. "Time is swift, it races by; Opportunities are born and die...Still you wait and will not try - A bird with wings who dares not rise and fly."

WEATHER UPDATE: I'm sure you've heard about the storm in the Gulf of Mexico. It isn't expected to come anywhere near Destin, but if conditions change, I'll leave.

Americans are Pretty Amazing Too- July 22, 2010

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After one of the best months of my life, I am having trouble leaving Turkey behind and reacclimating to a daily routine in the United States.

I miss my Turkish friends. I miss the thrill of waking up each morning and wondering what adventure awaits. I miss my kebabs.

I needed a few days to relax, unwind, and contemplate life, so I decided to head to the beach, Destin, Florida, to be exact.

Even though Destin is on the Gulf of Mexico, there's no oil here, just a little bit of seaweed, but yesterday that didn't stop anyone, including me, from swimming and enjoying the waves.

Since I've been back from Turkey, I've been sharing my stories about the tremendous generosity of the Turks, and I've been raving about Couch Surfing.

Some people have been trying to dismiss my positive experiences with Couch Surfing, saying things along the lines of, "You were a novelty in Turkey, since you were from the United States, but I'll bet a Turkish person wouldn't get the same treatment in Turkey or an American traveling in the United States."

I disagree because I believe benevolence is benevolence. It doesn't matter if it is Turkey, Taiwan, or the United States. People are people, and most people are good.

Normally, when I decide to take a trip, I jump on the internet to find a hotel, but I wanted to prove to my skeptics that Americans can be just as hospitable as anyone else, so I sent out three requests on Couch Surfing for hosts in Florida, and all three said, "yes."

My latest host is Trevor, a military pilot. Last month, I had to make an initial leap of faith in Turkey, since I had never used Couch Surfing before. This week, Trevor had to do the same because I am the first person he has ever hosted.

Trevor said he decided to join Couch Surfing because his ex-girlfriend had great experiences overseas with the program, and he, too, believes most people are inherently good.

Florida is 5,000 miles away from Turkey, but Trevor gave me a similar warm welcome, and like my hosts in Turkey, even though we had just met, Trevor handed me a key to his house, since he had to leave for a few hours last night because of a previous engagement. "Make your self at home," he said, as he left.

America is full of unwarranted fear. Part of the problem is the media. I say this from the perspective of an ex-newspaper and television reporter who left on good terms and who doesn't have any axes to grind.

Media outlets, especially television stations, tend to focus on the aberrations in society and present them as if they were the norm, but home invasions and drive-by shootings and swindlers are not the norm. Most people are kind, hard working, and are not trying to take advantage of their neighbors.

I also blame the business world because fear sells. Fear sells guns. Fear sells burglar alarms. Fear sells gated communities.

Likewise, I blame governments around the globe. Fear is used to keep populations distracted and under control and to pursue political objectives.

As author Marianne Williamson puts it, "Love is what we were born with. Fear is what we learn."

Couch Surfing might not be for everyone, but it is yet another reminder that the universe isn't an evil place. As I learned in Turkey, wonderful things often happen when we are willing to dream more, to trust each other more, and to begin to live with higher expectations.

The Ripples Continue Spreading - July 19,2010

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This morning, I was talking with one of my neighbors about my trip to Turkey and said one of the things that I found most amazing about the experience was how the word spread about my project over the internet, even though, until May, I told only six people about my blog.

Yet, to date, I have had 3,205 visits to my site from 39 U.S. states, 37 foreign countries and two territories.

I chose a blog for my project because I wanted to show my kids that with the internet a person doesn't need a lot of money, a lot of power, or a lot of connections to get noticed. All a person needs is a dream.

During my trip, both a newspaper and a television station in Turkey's third largest city, Izmir, did stories on my trip. A couple of hours ago, I received word that an internet news service today in Izmir also did a story. Here's the link, although it is in Turkish.

I continue to be humbled by the reaction to my trip, and I'll leave you with this thought. If an unknown, public school teacher from a small city of 27,000 people can use the internet to get noticed in 38 countries and to find people willing to finance a month-long trip in Turkey, what can you achieve over the internet?

The world is hungry for new ideas and new dreams. It's time to share them with the rest of us. I'm living proof that even the strangest of dreams can come true.

Now It's Your Turn - July 18, 2010

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My trip is over. I've unpacked my backpack. The jet lag is dissipating. I'm beginning to look toward school resuming in August.

I've put my passport away, but there are still six weeks left in summer, so why not consider a trip overseas.

Domestic travel is great, but international trips include the added thrill and benefit of exposing visitors to new cultures, new ideas, and new ways of seeing reality, all of which help break down some of the barriers that exist among nations and differing political, philosophical and theological ideologies.

Or to put it another way, it is hard to hate members of another culture if a visitor has a chance to interact personally with members of that culture.

Even though I've often encouraged friends and acquaintances to go abroad, people frequently tell me, "I can't go to _________because I don't know the language."

In an ideal situation, a traveler to a foreign country knows the language ahead of time. I speak Spanish, and this has enabled me to have many enriching experiences journeying south of the United States because I knew what was happening around me, and I could share ideas.

However, not knowing a language shouldn't keep one from leaving one's own borders.

For my trip this summer, I learned about ten Turkish phrases, which helped me immeasurably and which generated laughter throughout Turkey when I butchered the pronunciation.

I can't emphasize enough the power of a simple "merhaba" (hello). It tells Turks that a traveler cares enough to at least attempt the language. Also, I can't emphasize enough how much it can irritate a person in a foreign land if a traveler just walks up and begins speaking in his own language, assuming the other person understands. Unfortunately, Americans are very guilty of this one.

I've found that the secret to successful international travel is the ability to reawaken some of the skills mastered during kindergarten and the willingness to risk appearing foolish.

Gesturing is a wonderful tool for communication. Here are some of my favorites.

- The Pointer - Pointing is useful for ordering food, shopping, and choosing from items on lists, especially when the traveler in question sometimes has trouble in bus terminals pronouncing the names of certain Turkish cities.

- The Stomach Rub - This is an excellent way to indicate to a host that one is full or to demonstrate one's appreciation for the meal. One night, I applauded for the chef who cooked my kababs. He laughed and shook his head but seemed to appreciate my enjoyment of the dinner.

- The Thumb Raised Upward - I've used this gesture repeatedly over the years to communicate approval, understanding, and good will. Hey, it worked in Ancient Rome, worked for Fonzie, and still works for hitchhikers.

In addition, a sheet of paper performs wonders. I've written down addresses, telephone numbers, departure cities, and just handed it over for assistance. A blank sheet of paper also enables helpers to write down bus schedules, prices, and other valuable information.

It isn't always easy to communicate with gestures, but somehow the messages always get through.

I'm hoping that my summer trip through Turkey will give me more credibility in my classroom next year. I constantly tell my students to take chances with English, even if they might look silly.

The next time a student hesitates in class, I'm going to tell him or her that I made some pretty foolish gestures in Turkey to communicate, including my gesture for locating the bathroom. I'll leave that one to your imagination, but I got my point across, and students and adult travelers can too.

I would highly recommend Turkey, but if Turkey isn't to your liking, there are almost two hundred other foreign countries to visit. Life's short. Why not?

I hope you've seen repeatedly over the last month, through my experiences in Turkey, that another reason not knowing a language shouldn't be a deterrent to international travel is because the world is full of benevolent people who want to help you with your journey. The universe is a good place. It's O.K. to get out and explore.

Earlier this week, one of my Couch Surfing friends, Grace, sent me a quote that I can't get out of mind. The author was Anne Frank, the Jewish girl who wrote a famous diary about the two years that she and her family spent hiding from the Nazis during World War II.

Even with the horror that surrounded her, Anne wrote this, "It's really a wonder that I haven't dropped all my ideals, because they seem so absurd and impossible to carry out. Yet I keep them, because in spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart."

Thank You! - July 14, 2010

2010-07-14T08:39:00.022-04:00

If I had to sum up my experience in Turkey, I would do it with this picture that I took near Ephesus.

For two miles, I strolled under the beautiful canopy, which shielded me from the hot afternoon sun and which filled me with excitement of what lay ahead. I felt like I was in some kind of Garden of Eden and that anything was possible. That's how I felt throughout my trip in Turkey.

I've traveled to more than 20 countries in my life and have often been treated with kindness, but nothing in the past compared to what I encountered in Turkey.

Strangers allowed me into their homes and within hours were treating me like members of the family. People that I met on the street offered me assistance with everything from letting me borrow cell-phones, to dinner invitations, to walking a mile out of the way to help me find an address.

At first, it surprised me. Then, I came to expect that good things were waiting for me at every turn. I was never disappointed.

I can say without a doubt that Turks are the friendliest, warmest, most generous people that I have ever met.

To give you an idea of the level of generosity, during the month that I was in Turkey, I spent just four nights in a hotel. The rest of the time I stayed with families. Repeatedly, my hosts wouldn't let me pay for anything, and many of my hosts gave me keys to their homes, even though we might have met only hours before.

If you are even slightly considering visiting Turkey, go!

Because I received such generosity, I didn't have to spend much money during my month-long trip in Turkey. My donations totaled $553.95. I spent only $395 (See final expenses listed on the right side of my blog under "Images of Turkey").

Keep in mind that Turkey isn't cheap. The guide books I read said I should have expected to spend at least $30 USD a day. I averaged around $13 a day, but I was far from roughing it.

My major expense was bus travel, which makes sense because I covered more than 3,440 km (2,150 miles) in my 15-city tour of Turkey.

The only city I planned on visiting was Istanbul, where I flew into from the United States. Every other city I visited was at the suggestion of my Turkish hosts. If someone said visit a place, I felt that was the universe telling me to go, so I went. All of the suggestions were great.

So what am I going to do with the $159 this is left? As promised, I am going to give the money to the three charities that the world voted on, but I already made a decision to give some of the money to a recipient in Turkey.

Before I left for the airport, I had the equivalent of $16 left in Turkish Lira.

Rather than exchange the money, I decided to ask my host to give the money to the next Couch Surfer as a gift from the Traveling Teacher 2010 project. It seemed fitting for me to end my trip in Turkey with a small token of generosity, since I received so much kindness throughout the month. I hope none of my benefactors objects.

That means that I am donating $143 dollars to the three charities - Doctors Without Borders, Catholic Relief Services, and Save the Children.

My friend Umit was right. I asked the universe for two things - benevolence in Turkey for a month and money left over for charity. She said I was very clear about what I wanted, and the universe responded.

One of my major beliefs about benevolence is that kindness leads to more kindness, just as evil leads to more evil. I will never be able to adequately express my gratitude to my donors for making my trip possible or to the Turks who showered me with love.

I am truly touched, and all of you have inspired me to give back a little something, as well.

In addition to the $143 left over for charity, I have decided to match the $554 in donations to Traveling Teacher with a donation of my own. This morning, I mailed the following checks - $234 to Doctors Without Borders; $233 to Catholic Relief Services; and $233 to Save the Children.

This trip was never about money. It was about benevolence. Both my donors and the Turks have taught me a great deal about generosity. Thanks for your example.

So, without knowing it ahead of time, each cent that people donated to Traveling Teacher 2010 achieved two purposes - it gave me an adventure of a lifetime, and hopefully, the money will also make life better for the people who will receive services from the three charitable organizations.

One of the lessons that I have learned from my trip is the power of kindness. I don't think I will ever be able to forget the man who walked a mile out of his way to help me find an address or the numerous bus drivers who made it their mission to make sure that I arrived at my destinations safely.

Another lesson that has sunk even deeper into my soul is that anything is possible. Before the trip, I believed it, but even I had to shake my head when I realized that half-way through my trip I had more money than what I had started with in America.

For years to come, I hope to draw upon this travel experience with my students, so that the next time someone tells me he can't go to college, I can share stories from my time in Turkey. Dreams do come true. I just finished a 30-day dream.

Finally, I've learned that we all need to raise our level of expectations. Far too often, we expect the minimal out of life and get it. This trip has shown me that there are limitless possibilities awaiting, if only we believe.

Back in August 2009, I launched my blog and told only six people because I wanted to see if the site would spread. I had no idea if anyone would ever read the blog. Yet, as of today, I've had more than 3,000 visits to the site from 39 U.S. states; 36 foreign countries; and two territories.

Back in August, I had no idea if anyone would ever donate a cent to my site. Less than a year later, I was flying into Istanbul with $350 in my pocket, an amount which eventually grew to $554.

Back in August, I had no idea how I would be treated if I ever made it overseas. Less than a year later, I found myself in the midst of the kindest group of people I have ever met.

Expectations, expectations, expectations. We all need to expect more.

As I'm writing this post, my now completed trip still seems like a dream. It's a dream that might never have happened.

In the past, I've sometimes shied away from new experiences and new opportunities due to fear, inconvenience, confusion, or any of a number of other reasons.

The day after I thought of the idea for Traveling Teacher 2010, I began to immediately question it. "It will never work.....People will think it's crazy...." We've all done it.

Fortunately, I spoke to a couple of people who encouraged me from the beginning. Otherwise, I might have spent the summer in Dalton, Georgia.

I've learned it is important who we share our dreams with because those people can either spur us on to new heights or crush our dreams.

I had my share of naysayers for this project. The week before I left for Turkey, I went to a party, where someone asked me what I planned to do during the summer.

That person had traveled extensively, including to Turkey, so I was surprised by his reaction to my planned trip.

"You won't survive more than two days," he said. He then added, "In the eyes of the Turks, you will be a walking dollar," and people will take advantage of you.

How far from the truth those statements were, but if I had listened to him early on in my decision-making process, I might never have launched the blog. Then, I never would have had the thrill of finding myself aboard a floating restaurant speaking at a Rotary Club meeting in Turkey.

Before I wrap this up, I want to thank several people. First, I would like to thank all of my benefactors. For whatever reason, you decided to open your wallets and send me money. You believed in this project and made my dream possible. I am humbled by your kindness and will forever be grateful.

Second, I would like to thank all of you who gave me emotional support both during the planning stages of my trip and the trip itself. I would especially like to thank my friend Joanie, who also bought my plane ticket, and my parents, who have given me nothing but encouragement for my endeavors over the years, no matter how unusual they might seem. I love you both.

Finally, I want to thank the amazing people of Turkey. In particular, I want to acknowledge my numerous hosts, including Aziz, Büşra, Deniz, Dicle, Gökhan, Jim, Mehmet, Onur, Özgür, Patricia, Recai, Reyhan, Serdar, Tuğça, Umit, and Yeşim.

Your kindness overwhelms me. I hope to live up to your examples in the future.

When I started this project, I wanted to demonstrate to my students and to my readers that people are basically good. After my month in Turkey, I am more convinced than ever that this is true. Perhaps, some of you after reading about the kindness of the Turks might have now arrived at the same conclusion.

In August, my students return to the classroom. This fall, I hope to share some of their reactions to my trip on my blog, but for now, I'm left with the same question that I asked my kids more than a year ago - "Could a person who had no money travel around the world relying on the generosity of strangers?"

I can wholeheartedly, and filled with gratitude, say that the answer to that question is an overwhelming- YES!

Back in America - July 13, 2010

2010-07-13T02:37:00.002-04:00

It took me 25 hours of travel to get here, but as I write this post, I am back in America.

I will have much more to say tomorrow, but I wanted to leave you with my last incident of kindness from Turkey.

Anger doesn't work in airports. Still, I've seen many travelers try to get what they want with force.

This morning when I arrived to check in for my flight, I was hit by the prospect of a two-hour plus line to get my boarding pass. Hoping to find a kiosk, since I had no bags to check, I went to an information desk.

The man in front of me was playing the role of the "ugly American." For several minutes, he berated the woman at the desk. Eventually, she shut down and began to react negatively. I couldn't blame her.

When I approached the window, I was determined to create a different impression of Americans. I greeted the woman in Turkish. I asked her if she spoke English, using Turkish.

I explained that I had no baggage, but she apologized and told me I would still have to go through the line. I smiled, thanked her in Turkish and began to walk away.

Before I could take ten steps, a supervisor stopped me and sent me to a desk at the front of the line. Five minutes later, I was on my way to the gate.

As my friend Umit repeatedly told me, when we send kindness into the universe people often respond with kindness.

I'm not suggesting to use insincere displays to try to get things in life. That's odious and normally transparent. What I am suggesting is that the "ugly American" role is just that, ugly, and it creates an ugly impression of Americans.

Kindness is a lot more affective and makes life a lot more pleasant.

Sleep awaits. I will share more tomorrow.

Back in Asia - July 11, 2010

2010-07-11T06:43:00.002-04:00

Yesterday, I spent the day on the European side of Istanbul. Today, after a 15-minute ferry ride, I am back in Asia staying with my friend Gökhan.

It seems fitting that I spend the last day with Gökhan. He was my first host in Turkey and after experiencing his hospitality, I left his home full of confidence that great things lay ahead over the next month. Even I underestimated just how much kindness would be awaiting me.

Today is a special day in Turkey and around the world. Later tonight, we will learn who is this year's World Cup champion in football (soccer). I will be camped out around the television like everyone else.

Tomorrow, I'll head back to the United States. I might not have time to write tomorrow, but I will have much more to say when I get back.

However, I will say this right now. I can't express how much I appreciate all of my benefactors for making this trip possible. Even after a month, sometimes it still feels like a dream. It never would have happened without your help.

I'll close now because some of Gökhan's friends will be coming over soon.

By the way, I think that the people of Spain will be dancing in the streets tonight after a win over the Netherlands. You heard it here first.

Farewell Bursa - July 10, 2010

2010-07-10T07:44:00.009-04:00

After a second wonderful day in Bursa, I had to, with great sadness, return to Istanbul.

Bursa has a lot to offer - historical sites, numerous bazaars, Turkish baths, and fine restaurants, but the highlight of my visit to Bursa was meeting Mehmet, Yeşim, and their daughter Deniz.

Last night, the family took me to dinner with their friends. It was an evening of great food, laughter, and spirited discussions on a number of topics.

I cannot say enough about Mehmet's generosity. He wouldn't let me pay for anything in Bursa, and he even bought me a ticket on the highspeed ferry to Istanbul, so that I wouldn't have to take a much longer bus ride. I felt like I was a member of the family.

I am even more impressed by Mehmet and Yeşim's commitment to strengthening international understandings and international benevolence.

They both are actively involved in the Bursa-ULUDAG Rotary Club, as well CISV, which sets up cultural exchanges among children from all over the world.

Mehmet and Yeşim are already passing on this legacy to their daughter, who just returned from a trip to the Congo. As Mehmet put it, "Deniz was born into travel." I can think of no greater gift to give to one's children than a worldwide perspective of life.

Thanks, Mehmet for everything. I hope the next Rotary Club meeting we attend together will be in the United States.

Now, I'm back in Istanbul. My 30-day, 15-city, counterclockwise tour of Turkey is quickly drawing to an end.

Today, I decided to just check into a cheap hotel on Istanbul's European side and spend a leisurely day strolling through the streets.

I have only one important mission today - I am in search of Turkish pistachio nuts for my friend Joanie, who developed an addiction for them when she visited Turkey. Joanie, Mehmet gave me some insider information for the Spice Market.

Tomorrow, I have the privilege of spending my last evening in Turkey with my friend Gökhan, who hosted me my first four nights in Turkey. Then, it's back to the United States.

That's it for now. The Spice Market awaits.

One of My Best Days in Turkey - July 9, 2010

2010-07-09T01:37:00.027-04:00

My visit to Bursa began with a grueling, 13-hour, cross-country bus ride from Sinop, but yesterday easily made up for it as I enjoyed one of my best days in Turkey.

Bursa is Turkey's fourth largest city and the center of the country's automotive and textile industry. On a map, look due south of Istanbul.

In addition to its current economic importance, Bursa is also known for its past. The first capital of the Ottoman Empire was located here in the 1400s. Yesterday, I went to tour some of the sites from that time period.

In the photo below, this might look like a tapestry on the wall in the Yeşil Mosque, but actually the wall is covered with hand-painted tiles.

The architecture here marked the beginning of a purely Turkish style that later spread across the Ottoman Empire.

Also, check out the exquisite tile work adorning the Yeşil tomb. The walls, too, are covered with tiles.

O.K., you might be thinking this is just an ordinary bridge.

Actually, it is only 1 of 4 bridges in the world with stores. The original from the 1400s was destroyed but eventually rebuilt.

Bursa's Ulucami (Great Mosque) also dates back from the 1400s.

One of my favorite things to do abroad is to walk through local markets. Some in Bursa are 700 years old.

My hosts in Bursa are Mehmet, his wife Yeşim, and their daughter Deniz.

They are not Couch Surfers. Instead, I met the family through a friend of a friend in America. Like all my other hosts in Turkey, the family made me feel welcome immediately.

In fact, when my bus from Sinop pulled into the station at 3:30 in the morning, Mehmet was waiting with a smile on his face.

After I did my sightseeing yesterday, Mehmet had a wonderful surprise - my first trip to a Turkish bath. In the picture, I am somewhere underneath all of those towels.

Here's how it works. A bather strips down and wraps himself or herself with a cloth (men and women bathe separately).

First, the bather goes into a marble-covered room....

where he dips a small pail into these basins lining the walls for water to lather up and rinse off.

Next, the bather goes into a type of steam room, which also contains basins with hotter water and a hot tub in the middle.

This part of the experience alone is exhilirating. but there's more.

Now, a bather walks into another room where an attendant, armed with a coarse cloth mitten, scrubs down the customer from head to toe, washes his or her hair, and repeatedly rinses the customer with soothing hot water.

It is an unbelievably relaxing sensation.

Finally, the bather is led to a meditation room, where he or she is toweled off by another attendant and left to soak in the atmosphere and listen to the hypnotic sounds of water bubbling out of a fountain. Beverages and food are available on request.

The Turkish bath is a centuries-old tradition, which the Turks picked up from the Byzantines, who got it from the Romans.

The Kervansaray bathhouse that I visited was renovated in 1389. No one is sure how many centuries it was in operation before then.

Do yourself a favor and experience at least one Turkish bath in your lifetime.

Later that evening, Mehmet and his family took me to a dinner meeting of the Bursa-ULUDAG Rotary Club. We dined aboard a ship that has been converted into a restaurant and hotel.

Once again, everyone welcomed me, as if I were a longtime member.

When I arrived, I was honored to be asked to speak at the meeting. With Deniz at my side translating, I shared the background of my trip and shared stories of the tremendous kindness I had experienced throughout Turkey.

Afterward, as I was savoring the fine food and relishing the fine company, the feeling surfaced once again about how truly lucky I am to have been invited into the lives of so many Turks.

This is why I travel. Sites are great, but I will forever treasure the memories of time I've spent with people around the globe, memories like the ones from last night with Mehmet's family at a Rotary Club meeting aboard a ship in Bursa.

I felt true joy.

Last night, I also thought back to a year and a half ago when I questioned whether I should set up my blog, for fear it might be a silly idea or might not work. Fortunately, I said "yes," which has led me on this magical journey through Turkey.

Many times, I've said "no" to new experiences life offered me, mainly out of fear, but this trip is teaching me that when we say "yes" it just might open up the door to a series of wonderful events beyond what we could have ever imagined.

Back In the West - July 8, 2010

2010-07-08T11:41:00.003-04:00

I have safely arrived in Bursa, after a 13-hour overnight bus ride from Sinop.

I have a lot to share - sites of Bursa, wonderful hosts, and my first Turkish bath. I will update you as soon as possible, but now I am headed to a Rotary Club dinner.

It keeps getting better.

NOTE: I have now added my pictures from Amasya and Sinop to the post below. Also, I will update you on Bursa a little later in the day.

Mountains and the Black Sea - July 7, 2010

2010-07-06T15:45:00.034-04:00

My journey north has come to an end at the shores of the Black Sea in the city of Sinop.

Sinop has been a port town for over a thousand years. These fortifications date back before the time of Christ.

Unlike some of the other waterfront areas I've visited, the pace of life in Sinop seems a little slower, and the area seems less developed. There are a lot of tourists, but most, if not all, appear to be from Turkey. It's scenery like this that keeps bringing people back year after year.

Sinop was the last stop of the day. Originally, I took a seven-hour, overnight bus from Kayseri going northeast to Amasya, a site also known for its beauty.

Amasya sits between two rocky ridges with a river running down the middle.

You might notice the holes in these rocks. They were once the tombs of rulers. Now all 18 have been removed.

In addition, there is a citadel perched high above the city,

...........and tourists also come here to see a group of restored Ottoman homes.

It's a great place to stroll with someone special.

While I was strolling, these two high school graduates stopped me because they thought I might speak English. Both plan to study English in college with hopes of becoming teachers, so they asked if I would mind speaking with them.

I felt honored to be giving something back to the Turkish people for a change. Since I couldn't find any formal volunteer work in Turkey, maybe my informal contribution is to help a few people with their conversational English, at least I'd like to think so.

After the chat, I jumped on a bus to travel two hours further north to the port city of Samsun, where I grabbed another four-hour bus north to Sinop.

Every overseas trip has a few long travel days. It's all part of the experience, but I forgot all about it that evening while enjoying the waterfront.

During the last bus ride, I sat next to a boy who couldn't get over the fact that I was from America. Throughout the trip, he kept asking me questions in Turkish, and I kept saying, "I don't understand," but that didn't dampen his enthusiasm or the rate of his questions. That's all part of the travel experience, too.

I am winding up my time in Sinop, and then I'll start heading back west.

That's it. I couldn't find any Couch Surfers here, so I stayed in my third hotel. Last night, I didn't mind because I needed some sleep.

I have to catch a bus in a couple of hours, so I will wrap this up. As always, thanks for reading my blog.

Financial Update

Expenses

Transportation = 251.80 Turkish Lira = $158.32 USD

Food = 106.79 Lira = $67.27 USD

Lodging = 95 Lira = $59.85 USD

VISA = 31.40 Lira = $20 USD

Ephesus Entrance = 20 Lira = $12.60 USD

Underground City = 15 Lira = $ 9.45 USD

Göreme Entrance = 15 Lira = $ 9.45 USD

Exchange Fees = 4.90 Lira = $ 3.08 USD

Internet Fees = 4.25 Lira = $ 2.67 USD

Total =543.64 Turkish Lira or $342.69 USD.

I've had no new donations. That means my total assets were $553.95 USD, and I have spent $342.69, so I have $211.26 left to spend over the next six days.

Turkish Riddle - July 6, 2010

2010-07-05T17:05:00.002-04:00

Here's a riddle for you. I needed a seat on a night bus to Amasya. One seat was empty, but the clerk wouldn't sell it to me. Why?

Did I say something to offend him? Did he not like what I was wearing? Was he saving the seat for a friend?

No, in Turkey bus companies for long-distance routes can't sell a ticket to a man if he is unrelated to the woman in the seat next to him or vice versa. A woman already had the seat, so I was out of luck.

The measure is designed to prevent harrassment.

Fortunately, Aziz, my Couch Surfing host, was with me because he also was catching a bus, and he was able to find me the last empty seat on another bus.

In Turkish, Aziz means "saint," and he lived up to that name throughout my visit, especially tonight. Even though Aziz's bus was five minutes from leaving, he insisted on taking care of my needs first, at the risk of missing his own ride.

I've got a couple of hours to kill before my bus leaves, so I stopped into an internet cafe to write this post.

It's moments like this that I remember the most when traveling overseas. I'm 5000 miles from home in a Turkish bus station after midnight. I can't understand the language, and I'm all alone, but I'm happy.

Life seems exciting and full of endless possibilities. The next adventure awaits.

Eating Turkish Style - July 5, 2010

2010-07-05T11:56:00.008-04:00

Many traditions have changed in Turkey, but Aziz and his other roommates, Dicle, Onur, and Tuğça, are trying to keep alive an ancient Turkish culinary practice.

For centuries, the Turks have eaten from communal platters while sitting on the floor.

Instead of separate plates, diners reach into the platters with forks or other utensils and eat the food directly. With lighter meals, the diners might place the food onto bread.

Many Turks still eat this way.

The philosophy behind the tradition is it is an act of sharing. The practice is certainly appropriate with Aziz because he and his rommates are some of the most generous people I have ever met.

It has taken me some getting used to eating off the platters, especially trying not to drop food, but it really is an intimate way to eat.

More Generosity

Yesterday, as I was returning to Kayseri, a woman struck up a conversation with me because she knew I was from abroad. Before she got off the bus, she invited me to have dinner with her and her family.

Normally, I would have gone, but I preferred to spend the evening with my friends. Still, I was touched by such an offer coming from a complete stranger.

Travel Update

In a few hours, I am leaving Kayseri on a night bus bound for Amasya, which is about 8 hours northeast of here. İf you've been keeping track of my path, I am continuing a counterclockwise circle through Turkey.

I'll update you as soon as I can. I know you probably get tired of reading it, but I can't express enough how much it means to me that you are reading my blog and sending me your comments. It makes home seem a lot closer.

Underground Turkey - July 4, 2010

2010-07-04T10:44:00.017-04:00

This is what most people come to Cappadocia to see - Göreme.

I'm not sure how to describe it. The best I've come up with is the Flintstones on the moon.

Göreme is only 1.5 hours west of the industrial city Kayseri, but it might as well be on another planet.

During Roman and Byzantine times, Christianity flourished in the Cappadocian region from the 4th - 11th centuries.

When settlers arrived, they found this mysterious and awe-inspiring landscape and decided to chistle their homes and their churches into the volcanic rock and ash.

Several rock churches, like this one from the 10th century, contain frescoes depicting the life of Christ.

The Cappadocians also built an estimated 36 underground cities in the region, including the one I visited in the village of Derinkuyu.

The underground city is a seven-level maze of narrow, twisting passages and stairwells, which would be a claustrophobic's worst nightmare.

During peaceful times, the people lived above ground, but when enemies threatened, the inhabitants could go underground for up to six months, even bringing along livestock.

The cities were fortified. The residents could roll these massive stones to block the doorways and fight enemies through the hole that you can see in the center of the stone. There were also holes in the ceilings to pour hot oil on invaders.

Once underground, the inhabitants got fresh air through these ventilation shafts.

Caving is my passion, so I felt right at home hemmed in on all sides by the rock walls.

Today, a few people still live in the rock structures in Göreme, but many have left because of problems with deterioration. In recent years, hotel proprietors have stepped in and renovated the structures to give travelers like me a chance to sleep in a man-made cave for a night.

____________

As I write this post, I'm back in Kayseri. Aziz and Dicle and their other roommates are such wonderful people that I wanted to spend one last evening with them.

Tomorrow, I hope to begin heading north toward the Black Sea. Aziz suggested the route, and as with all of my prior destinations, I go where the universe tells me.

Before I close, I wanted to share something that Dicle mentioned while she was showing me around Kayseri. I asked her if it was obvious by my appearance that I was not Turkish.

She said "yes" that there were certain features that made me stand out, but she said the real thing that was different about me was that I am always smiling. "People aren't used to seeing that," she said.

Part of the reason I've been smiling a lot lately is that I am so happy to be in Turkey, but also I have been trying to heed the advice of what my friend Umit from Izmir told me.

She said the more positive energy we give off the more positive energy we attract. It's made me wonder what other good things we can all attract in our own lives by paying a little more attention to the messages and vibes were are sending others.

More Guardian Angels in Kayseri - July 2, 2010

2010-07-01T17:02:00.018-04:00

The latest stop on my journey is Kayseri, a city with hundreds of years of history, as well as a thriving modern economy. Kayseri is in the Cappadocia region of Turkey in the middle part of the country.

As you can see in the background of the mosque, the scenic seaside has now been replaced by equally scenic rolling hills and mountains.

Today, Dicle, a friend of my host, showed me around the city. Dicle is standing in front of the walls of a citadel, which were originally built in the 6th century and repaired in the 1200s.

Dicle was a great, enthusiastic guide and a charming companion for an afternoon.

Dicle and Aziz are my latest Coach Surfing hosts. Both are studying astronomy. Aziz describes himself as a "mad scientist" who also enjoys acting. Although Aziz is extremely busy right now preparing for a journey of his own, he still graciously agreed to host me.

I have enjoyed his intellect and our engaging conversations.

Aziz told me he enjoys Couch Surfing because, "My life is based on sharing. I like to share everything, including my couch."

As for my project, he said, "In every human being there is good and evil, but I think the good is more dominant. I have a strong belief that one day it will come out, and we will have peace everywhere."

Kayseri isn't as much of a tourist town, so I drew some strange looks throughout the day. My favorite encounter was with these little girls. When they heard Dicle and I speaking English, they came running. One of the girls told Dicle that she had never heard a human speaking English before. The girls insisted I speak English over and over again, much to their delight.

I had to share my latest benevolent encounter. When I arrived in Kayseri, Aziz had his cell phone off because he had a bad headache and needed a few minutes of sleep. A representative with the bus company let me borrow his phone to call, but when Aziz didn't answer I got a little nervous.

Then, several of my guardian angels took over. A bus employee led me to a waiting area, where we got through to Aziz. Next, the representative walked me to a shuttle bus, where the driver took over, insisting I sit next to him.

About 30 minutes later, he showed me where to get off the shuttle, but I still wasn't sure where Aziz lived.

I asked a man in front of a store for help. The man must have walked a mile with me, stopping several times to ask for directions.

Finally, we came to a bakery, where we called Aziz. My guardian angel on the left wasn't at all annoyed. In fact, he acted like I did him a favor. That's Turkey. That's my latest example of why the world is good.

Tomorrow, I am journeying about an hour to Göreme, home to some out-of-this-world stone structures. I'll tell you about it in a day or two.

Until then, thanks for reading my blog, and Dicle and Aziz thanks again for your kindness.

Newspaper Story Update

O.K., here is the newspaper story I told you about, assuming you can read Turkish.

Financial Update

New Donations

June 22 = 20 Turkish Lira = $12.60
June 22 = $52.75 - 1.83 (PayPal fee) = $50.92
June 23 = $20 - 0.88 (PayPal fee) = $19.12
June 25 = $100 - 3.20 (PayPal fee) = $96.80
June 29 = $25.00 - 1.03 (Pay Pal fee) = $23.97
Total Donations = $203.41
Expenses
Transportation = 161.55 Turkish Lira = $101.77
Food = 81.54 Turkish Lira = $51.37
VISA (to enter Turkey) = $20.00
Lodging = 30 Turkish Lira = $18.90
Ephesus Entrance = 20 Turkish Lira = $12.60
Exchange Fees = 3.90 Turkish Lira = $2.49
Internet Fees = 2 Turkish Lira = $1.26
Total Expenses = $208.14
That means I have $345.81 left to spend over the last 10 days of my trip. It is looking more and more like the universe will respond to both my dreams - spending a month in Turkey and having money left over for charity. Incredible!

A Holy Site in Konya - July 1, 2010

2010-06-30T08:14:00.015-04:00

You are looking at a site considered to be one of the most holy in the Islamic world. I'm told that the turquoise tiles are quite rare and quite valuable.

The beloved philosopher Celaleddin Rumi, whose followers later called Mevlana (our guide), is buried here. As I approached the tomb, I saw dozens of people praying fervently in a way I found extremely moving.

After his death in 1273, Rumi's son founded the brotherhood of the whirling Dervishes. The Dervishes, clad in white robes and fezes, perform a worship ceremony involving a ritual dance, which is famous throughout the world. Take a look here.

Rumi's tomb is located in the city of Konya. On a map, Konya is inland about 360 miles (575 km) east of Izmir.

Konya was one of the first inhabited places on earth and was once an important trading center along the Silk Road. It is still known as a major agricultural area, although now manufacturing has become an important part of the economy.

Unlike the other cities I've visited, Konya has a reputation for being extremely conservative. I've seen more headscarves here than any where else in Turkey.

My latest Coach Surfing host is Recai, a professor in automotive engineering. Recai graciously showed me around the city and took me out to lunch with his delightful children, who were eager to practice their English. I got to sample some Turkish pizza, which unlike American pizza, is made on a wafer-thin crust.

Later that evening, I got to celebrate the birthday of Recai's son. By the end of the day, his daughter was calling me Uncle Mark. It doesn't get much better than that.

Like all of my other Couch Surfing hosts, I asked Recai about his thoughts on the organization. He told me, "I'm very happy about learning about different cultures. The Turkish people like to be hosts because guests are important according to our culture."

As for my project, Recai agrees that people are basically good, but he said in recent years he has been saddened by what he sees as the breakdown in worldwide human relations due to the increased use of television, the interent, governments pursuing their own political agendas at the expense of human relations, and religious groups that focus more on differences among other religious groups, instead of similarities.

As Recai put it, "It doesn't matter your race or religion, just that we are all human."

Recai is an intelligent man who is knowledgeable about many subjects. I enjoyed discussing several topics with Recai and having the opportunity to see world politics through Turkish eyes rather than American ones. It really puts things into a whole new perspective.

Thanks for welcoming me into your home, Recai.

Before I left Konya this morning, Recai set up two informal meetings with the head of a museum and the head of a car factory. I felt like a diplomat fielding questions about politics, religion, and current events, emphasizing throughout that I believe there are more similarities between the people of America and Turkey than differences.

I hope I added a little something to the spirit of open, peaceful dialogue. At the very least, I hope I left them smiling.

From Konya, I headed another four hours northeast to Kayseri, which is in a mountainous area of Turkey called Cappadocia. I'll let you know more tomorrow. Tonight, I am about ready for bed.

As always, thanks for reading my blog.

Update on Television Story

I have been getting a lot of positive feedback on the televison story that a reporter in Izmir did on my trip. After I left Izmir, a newspaper reporter called Umit because he also wanted to write a story. She gave him more information and sent him some pictures. Life really is funny sometimes.

It Keeps Getting More Amazing - June 29, 2010

2010-06-28T14:42:00.010-04:00

Traveling Teacher 2010 is headed for Turkish television.

This morning, I was interviewed by Izmir's largest television station about my month-long journey through Turkey. Izmir's population is about 2.6 million, which means that tens of thousands of people will be able to learn about my story.

In the pictures, you can see Umit, my host, translating for the interview

The story is due to air at 19:00 Turkish time and 12 p.m. EST time in the United States. Here is the link for the station. If you happen to be on the web site at noon, you can see the story simulcast. Look on the far left-hand column of the web-site. About half way down, you will see the red logo with the words "Yeni Asir tv" Click on it, and you will be able to see the story during the newscast. I'm not sure when it will appear.

So how did this all happen? It is due in large part to the efforts of the man seated in this photo - Serdar Samur.

Serdar is the general manager of the soccer team Göztepe, which has a long, proud tradition in Izmir and throughout Turkey. Serdar is Umit's brother.

Umit felt I should meet Serdar, so yesterday we went to see him at his office. When I told Serdar about my journey, a spark went off inside him, and he said, "I think people should know about what you are doing."

Serdar is a man with connections. Before we could even finish our conversation, he was on his cell phone calling the head of the local television station.

Am I surprised about this latest turn of events? Absolutely not. The Turkish goodness keeps flowing my way. I'm learning to live in expectation. I'm learning on an even deeper level that anything is possible.

The interview was amazing, but spending my birthday yesterday with Umit, Reyhan, and Serdar meant even more to me.

Serdar graciously took us out to dinner and even surprised me with a birthday cake. As if that weren't enugh, Serdar also bought my ticket for the next leg of my journey.

It's hard to express my gratitude to Umit, Reyhan, and now my new friend, Serdar. They have shown me such kindness and love.

Especially, I am grateful for Umit. A few minutes after meeting her, I knew I was in the presence of a holy woman, who literally radiates goodness. It has been a privilege to get to know Umit, and I am honored to be her friend.

Sadly, my time is winding down in Izmir. Tonight, I'm headed to Konya, which is located about 8 hours due east of Izmir.

Once again, I'll probably be out of touch for a day or two, but I will still be sending all of you good thoughts, and I continue to be lifted up by all of your positive thoughts and comments.

Thanks!

Back to Izmir - June 28, 2010

2010-06-28T08:13:00.004-04:00

After two days in Turgutreis, I said goodbye this morning to my latest host, Jim. Jim was gracious enough to show me the sites of the village from aboard his scooter.

I could have thought of no better way to have explored the coastline than with the wind blowing through my hair and the sun warming my skin, as I breathed in the salty air and marveled at the beauty around me. One word comes to mind - freedom.

Yesterday, Jim parked the scooter, and we planted ourselves on the beach. My only regret was that I didn't have a mask to gaze at the sealife below me in the turquoise water.

Thanks, Jim for your hospitality.

From Turgutreis, I look a four-hour bus ride back to Izmir to celebrate my 45th birthday with Umit and Reyhan.

The Turkish bus system is the best I've ever seen. The spacious, modern buses offer such amenities as on-board television, music, and movies, and all bus companies provide refreshments.

This morning, I enjoyed chocolate and vanilla ice cream. The universe must have known it was my birthday because the attendant offered me an extra cup.

In you are curious, the 180-mile (288-kilometer) trip cost around $15 USD.

As I write this entry, I am back in the peaceful and friendly confines of Umit's house. In a few minutes, we are headed downtown to celebrate my birthday. Even though I am so far from my family and friends, I feel happy knowing that I will get to spend this day with my special new Turkish friends.

Life is good.

A Taste of the Turkish Beach Life - June 27, 2010

2010-06-26T10:22:00.011-04:00

I am continuing my journey through Turkey in a counterclockwise circle. You are looking at the village of Turgutreis, which is located about three hours due south of Ephesus.

You probably won't be able to find it on the map, so instead, look for Bodrum. It is along the southwest coast of Turkey on the South Aegean Sea.

Both Bodrum and Turgutreis are international resorts known for the blue waters of the Aegean

and for the beaches.

Umit recommended I visit this spot. Good call, Umit. My plan is to remain here for a couple of days soaking up the Turkish sun.

As with Ephesus, I am not staying with a Couch Surfer, but I am enjoying the hospitality of Umit's friend, Jim, who three years ago moved to Turkey from the United States. It isn't difficult to understand why he landed here.

Turgutreis isn't just about the beaches.

Yesterday, I also spent a lazy afternoon wandering through a local market sampling some of the delicacies of the region.

Oh yeah, Turgutreis is known for one more thing - some of the best sunsets in Turkey.

Like every other place I've visited in Turkey, I continue to marvel at the great kindness and assistance of the Turks. Yesterday, I arrived at the main bus station in Bodrum and had to take a mini-bus to Turgutreis. Of course, a fellow passenger asked around until he found the correct mini-bus and put me on it.

When I pulled into Turgutreis, I began looking for the address of my host, Jim. A man walked out of his business and shouted, "I'll help you." He invited me to come inside, handed me a cold bottle of water, and called Jim on his business phone.

Many people told me that I needed to bring a cell phone to Turkey. That certainly would have made things easier - I arrive in a city; I call my English-speaking host, and I'm picked up. However, I felt that would have given me much more autonomy and removed some of my need for relying on the benevolence of others.

Later today, I plan on taking my first plunge into the South Aegean Sea. Tomorrow, I'm heading back to Izmir to celebrate my birthday with Umit and Reyhan, at their request. I've felt surrounded by love and good will my entire time in Turkey, but Umit's special gesture means so much to me when I'm 5,000 miles from home.

Life is good, and people are good.

I wanted to, again, thank all of you who continue to read my blog and to send me words of encouragement. I can assure you that your thoughts and words buffet my spirits each day and have been a constant source of inspiration.

Thank you!

Financial Update (June 13-June 27)

I began my trip with $350.54, but since that time, I have received an additional $179.44 in donations. I have spent $173.45. That means that, at the half-way point in my trip, I have $356.53 left to spend over the next 15 days. Incredibly, that is more money than I left with from the United States.

New Donations

June 22 = 20 Turkish Lira = $12.60

June 22 = $52.75 - 1.83 (PayPal fee) = $50.92

June 23 = $20 - 0.88 (PayPal fee) = $19.12

June 25 = $100 - 3.20 (PayPal fee) = $96.80

Total Donations = $179.44

Expenses

Transportation = 112.80 Turkish Lira = $71.06

Food = 78.79 Turkish Lira = $49.63

VISA (to enter Turkey) = $20.00

Lodging = 30 Turkish Lira = $18.90

Ephesus Entrance = 20 Turkish Lira = $12.60

Internet Fees = 2 Turkish Lira = $1.26

Total Expenses = $173.45

Exploring Ephesus - June 26, 2010

2010-06-25T14:07:00.017-04:00

Years ago, I had the privilege of visiting Rome to see some of the ancient ruins of the Roman Empire. Turkey has its own share of impressive ruins at Ephesus.

In 129 B.C., Ephesus became capital of the Roman province of Asia Minor. During its height, Ephesus was a wealthy trading city, and several awe-inspiring structures were built with that wealth.

...including the library of Celsus, which once contained 12,000 scrolls;

........the Great Theater, which could hold up to 25,000 people;

.......................and this marble-paved street.

Here are a couple of additional pictures.

You can get more historical details from the experts.

Christians believe that St. John wrote his gospel while living in Ephesus. As I walked through the ancient city, his words came a little bit more alive.

Ephesus is located a couple of miles away from Selçuk. If you look at a map, I traveled about an hour due south of Izmir to get here.

I've heard wonderful stories about the Greek coastline, but I cannot imagine anything much more beautiful than what I saw yesterday while driving through the mountains, gazing out at the Aegean Sea that stretched out beneath me the entire way from Izmir to Selçuk.

I couldn't find any Couch Surfers in Selçuk, so yesterday I checked into a hotel for the first time since arriving 13 days ago. The hotel was O.K, but I felt a real absence without my Turkish friends.

That evening, I tried something new - Turkish meatballs. Picture thinly-sliced, lean beef on a bed of fresh onions and tomatoes, smothered in cheese and butter. Fabulous!

Of course, no day would be complete without another story of Turkish kindness. Yesterday, I climbed aboard a mini-bus to travel three-fourths of the way to my destination, a junction near Selçuk, where the mini-bus would continue in another direction, and I would have to catch another bus.

The driver knew I was a foreigner, so he insisted that I sit next to him. I'm hardly a helpless traveler, but I never want to turn down a thoughtful gesture.

When we reached the junction, the driver stopped the bus, actually jumped out, and flagged down the correct bus to take me to Selçuk. I gave him a hearty handshake, and he responded with a smile whose meaning I could have understood in any language.

Living In Expectation - June 25, 2010

2010-06-25T03:52:00.003-04:00

One of the lessons that Umit is trying to teach me is that we all need to have much higher expectations for our lives.

Far too often, we settle for table scraps when a veritable feast is waiting for us in the universe if only we will expect more, if only we will believe more, if only we will dream more, if only we will ask for more.

Earlier this week, I was overwhelmed when I received three additional donations on my blog. Umit just smiled and said, "More is coming." When I asked her why, she said that I was extremely clear with what I asked the universe - benevolence to travel through Turkey and the dream of having money left over for charity.

"Now you will get both," she laughed.

This morning, I received an additional $100 dollar donation, which means that 12 days into my journey I have more money in my pocket than when I left the United States.

God certainly must have a sense of humor because this month-long journey is starting to look like one of the strangest fund raisers ever for Doctors Without Borders, Catholic Relief Services, and Save the Children.

It is as if the universe is telling me, "Come on, Mark. Your expectations for benevolence are way too low."

Travel Note:

I am writing to you from an Internet Cafe in Selçuk, which is just outside Ephesus. It might be a day or two before I am back in touch. As always, thanks for reading my blog.

A Slower Place - June 24, 2010

2010-06-24T06:47:00.012-04:00

I've been spending a lot of time in some of Turkey's largest cities, so today, my hosts took me for a drive along the Aegean Sea to glimpse a more traditional, more relaxed side of Turkey.

We ended up in the village of Urla.

Urla has managed to retain some of the facets of the Turkish culture that are beginning to die out elsewhere in the country.

Life here seems to be a lot slower. Everywhere I looked I saw people mulling about on the street enjoying one another's company through a friendly conversation, drinking cay (Turkish tea) or any of a number of other pursuits.

The man in this picture is smoking a nargile or Turkish water pipe. The pipe was a way of life for more than two centuries during the Ottoman Empire, but the pipe's use declined with the rise in cigarette usage.

No, I don't smoke. I don't condone smoking, and I go out of my way to tell my students and my friends to never take up such an unhealthy habit, but smoking is a big part of Turkey's past and present.

With the resurgence of nargiles, now many Turks are smoking a fruit-flavored, herbal mixture, instead of tobacco.

That's all I have to share for today. We are about ready to sit down and enjoy some fresh bread that we bought in Urla.

Often, people ask me why I love to travel so much. My common response is "because life is short." My friend Mike says it even better, "I could have been a lot further ahead in my 401k, but how many people can say they took a hot air balloon ride above the Serengeti Plain."

We'll all be gone from this earth shortly enough. With that in mind, I will leave you with a popular Chinese proverb, "Enjoy yourself. It's later than you think."

Travel Note:

I am back on the road tomorrow, so it might be a couple of days before I am able to post again. I continue to appreciate your messages and your support.

Recharging in Izmir - June 23, 2010

2010-06-23T12:34:00.020-04:00

"We do not know where we are going but we are on our way."

- Stephen Vincent Benet

Those of you who know me well know that I am a habitiual planner, but I decided to cast that aside for this trip and, instead, let the universe take me where it saw fit.

The only plan I had ahead of time was to visit Istanbul, since I was flying there, and visit Ephesus, since several people recommended it. If someone suggests a place, I feel that is the universe talking, so I go. If not, I don't go. That's my way of choosing locations to visit.

Suggestions led me from Istanbul to Canakkale to Akcay and now to Izmir. If you look at a map of Turkey, I am currently traveling south in a counterclockwise direction.

Every place I have visited has been a great experience. Now I am enjoying my second day in Izmir with my gracious hosts Umit and her roommate Reyhan.

After meeting them both, it took me about 10 minutes to feel as if I were an old friend. Last night, I was reclining on the sofa reading a book, while Umit was working on the computer, and Reyhan was washing strawberries for homemade marmalade she was preparing for breakfast when a feeling of joy flooded over me as the realization sunk in of how truly fortunate I am to be amongst such wonderful ladies.

It is worth repeating that before traveling to Turkey I had never met any of my Couch Surfing hosts, and yet, they have treated me with a level of kindness and trust normally only acquired after years of friendship.

As I write this entry, Umit and Reyhan are out, and they trust me enough, after knowing me for two days, to leave me alone with a spare key in what they say I should consider to be my "home." Either I am the luckiest person to have ever traveled in Turkey with the people who have crossed my path, or there is something greater at work here. As I've said over and over again, I believe a benevolent universe is responsible.

I think it is also worth repeating that I am hardly roughing it. Here is Umit and Reyhan's house, and even though I am not eating in five-star restaurants, I can't imagine tasting food any better than the delicious cooking of Reyhan and Umit. More importantly to me, I am getting to forge new friendships and experience Turkey in a way I never could have staying in hotels.

The universe definitely sent me to the right place at this point in my journey. I had forgotten how long it takes to adjust to a new country, especially after the 20+ hours of traveling it took for me to get to Turkey.

It has been a real blessing to just unwind in such a peaceful place with such peaceful women. Although Izmir is a city of more than two million people, Umit and Reyhan live in a quiet, residential area just across the street from the Aegean Sea. Each morning, Umit swims to begin her day. This morning, I gladly joined her.

I am also blessed to be receiving such guidance and support from Umit. She is a very spiritual woman, who has gone through her own struggles and become a better person as a result. She is teaching me to trust my mission even more and to be even more aware of what is going on around me and the people around me.

Umit believes that people either give off positive energy or negative energy. Those who are giving off positive energy tend to attract other people giving off positive energy and thus, good things normally happen. On the other hand, people who give off negative energy tend to attract other negative people and thus, bad things tend to happen.

Umit continues to tell me that since I am so committed to my mission of benevolence I am attracting goodness and creating my own reality in Turkey, which has been so amazing. She is giving me a lot to think about for the manner in which I should live my daily life once I return to the United States.

Originally, I had planned on visiting Ephesus tomorrow, but Umit wants to show me around Izmir tomorrow, and she wants more time to try to set up a couple of hosts for future destinations.

I was worried I would be imposing, but she and Reyhan insist that they are enjoying my company, and Reyhan has already made me promise that wherever I am in Turkey, I will return next week to celebrate my birthday with the two of them. I told her I would be honored.

I am beginning to run out of words to express it, so I will just say that the Turkish people really are incredible. I hope you will consider coming here one day to see for your self.

In closing, I want to again thank all of you for making this trip possible. I want to especially thank Umit's friend, Patricia Hamilton, who is coming to the end of her own month-long trip to Turkey.

Earlier this week, I meet her in Akcay, where she was visiting Umit. Before Patricia left, I found 20 Turkish Lira, about $12.60 on top of my backpack. I asked where the money came from. Patricia said, "It isn't much, but I really appreciate what you are trying to do to show that the world is a good place."

If that wasn't enough, last night, a high school classmate, who I hadn't talked to in 28 years, gave me a $50 donation on my blog and today, I discovered an additional $20 donation from another reader. I am truly touched.

Below, you will find an updated financial statement. A couple of days ago, I was ready to tell you that I had spent $102.38 over the past 11 days in Turkey, which I think is pretty amazing, but with the latest donations, I am now down only $19.74 from where I started.

Can you explain it?

Financial Update

I started out my trip with $350.54, but since then, I have received an additional $82.64 in donations. So my total assets are now $433.18.

The donations are as follows:

- $52.75 (minus a PayPal service fee of 1.83) = $50.92
- $20.00 (minus a PayPal service fee of 0.88) = $19.12
- 20 Turkish Lira, equivalent of about = $12.60

Expenses:

Transportation = 78.80 TL = $49.64
Food = 47.29 TL = $29.79
VISA(to enter Turkey) = $20.00
Money exchange feeds = 2.32 TL = $ 2.95

Total expenses = $102.38

I now have $330.80 left to spend over the next 19 days.

Greetings From Izmir - June 22, 2010

2010-06-22T12:12:00.009-04:00

The journey to my next Couch Surfing host led me to Akcay, where I met up with Umit, a name which means "hope" in Turkish.

Akcay is located about two hours southeast of Canakkale along an inlet of the North Aegean Sea. We spent only a day here before moving on to Umit's home in Izmir, but there was time to take my first swim in Turkey and enjoy the ambience before departing the following day.

Also, I got to witness a Turkish wedding. In Akcay, the tradition is that the street is closed so that the wedding can be held outdoors, and everyone is invited.

Two More Acts of Kindness

When I arrived in Akcay, I had Umit's telephone number, but no phone, and no idea where she lived. As I was walking along the sidewalk, I passed a man getting a shoe shine, who called out, "You are from England?"

I explained where I was from and what I was doing in Akcay, and he asked me if I wanted to walk to a building where I could make a "call for free."

The building turned out to be a public facility with several pay phones. Even though Umit is bilingual, the man took it upon himself to make sure there would be no problems with the communication between me and my host. Then, he hung up and paid for the call. I objected, but he said, "You are my guest now in Turkey. It is my pleasure."

Afterward, the man walked me to his car and drove me to the bus station, where Umit was waiting. Umit in Turkish explained my mission to him, and he simply responded, "You have chosen the right country, my friend."

Before leaving, the man asked me once again if I needed anything else, since I was his "guest."

Later, Umit and I and her friend, Patricia, strolled through the streets of the small waterfront town. Umit and Patricia ducked into a store, but I decided to wait outside.

Suddenly, a man in the store next door pulled out a stool and invited me to sit with him on the sidewalk.

He didn't speak any English, but he proceeded to offer me a bottle of mineral water and showed me a book with local sites. The man was in no way trying to sell me anything. He just wanted to be hospitable.

When Umit returned, he explained to her that he was happy I was in Turkey. Then, once again, Umit told him about my journey, and he, too, said he believed in the goodness of people.

It is hard to explain the feeling of coming across all of the people who have helped me in one way or another during my time in Turkey. It is as if there is some cosmic alliance whose mission is to safely deliver me from place to place until I meet my next host. It really is amazing, but Umit believes that I am creating this reality because I, too, am trusting the universe, and so, it is responding in kind.

As I am writing this, I am safely tucked away at Umit's home in Izmir, which is located about four hours south of Ackay. Umit is a spiritual healer/spiritual writer and a retired teacher.

When I meet each of my Couch Surfing hosts, I ask why he or she participates in the program. Umit had this to say, "I want to connect with people from all over the world, exchange information, and to develop more compassion toward other people by learning more about their cultures and lifestyles."

Some people have already told me that I'm crazy for staying in the homes of strangers, and I've heard it said that certainly a woman shouldn't do it. Umit had this to say, "I trust people. It doesn't matter whether it is a man or woman. Couch Surfing is very safe and done in a very professional manner."

Umit has hosted travelers for three years and never had a problem.

Finally, I asked Umit about my belief that the world is a good place. She said, "I completely agree. Goodness is inside each of us, and it reflects onto others."

In a previous post, I told you about Umit. Currently, she is participating in a worldwide spirituality writing contest, whose winner will receive a book contract. You can see her story and read a chapter of her book by clicking on this link. Her author ID number is 1118. If you like her writing, I hope you wil consider voting for her in the contest.

The second round of the contest ends on June 28. In the first round, she was one of 270 people chosen out of 2,700 entrants. The second round whittles that number down to 25.

NOTE: Umit did not ask me to make this request. I am doing it because I believe she has a lot to share with the world.

It's been a long day, so I'm going to wrap it up. Izmir seems to be a good place to relax for a couple of days. I'm worn out, and my body is telling me to rest. Umit's house is just across the street from the North Aegean Sea, which will give me ample opportunities to enjoy the soothing waters and become refreshed.

Thanks for reading my blog.

Farewell From Canakkale - June 21, 2010

2010-06-20T11:18:00.005-04:00

(Özgür performs on a traditional Turkish instrument called a bağlama.)

This morning, I will leave Canakkale full of fond memories of the time spent with Özgür and his friends.

Özgür showed me a side of the city that would never have been possible if I were exploring Canakkale on my own, and his generosity was humbling. Many times, I tried to pay for things, but he would not let me.

It was the same way in Istanbul with Gökhan. One night when I asked Gökhan why he would not let me pay for dinner, he said, "I like being a part of something."

I also feel like I am a part of something receiving such acts of kindness from the people of Turkey.

In tribute to Özgür, I will close with one of his favorite quotes from James Dean, "Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today."

Travel Note

I am traveling today to Akcay and tomorrow to Izmir, so it might be a couple of days before I am able to post again.

Canakkale - June 20, 2010

2010-06-20T01:33:00.010-04:00

The person on the right is my new Couch Surfing host Özgür and you might recognize what is behind us. It is the Trojan horse used in the movie Troy with Brad Pitt. Troy, itself, is about 30 miles from here.

But my focus is the harbor town of Canakkale, which is located between the Sea of Marmara and the Aegean Sea.

People come here on weekends to unwind and enjoy the waterfront.

Canakkale is also a popular spot for nightlife. One of the advantages of staying with Özgür, a school psychologist, is that he knows the great eating spots.

And there's no better way to top off a meal than with the Turkish beverage of choice, tea.

I plan on staying here one more day and then head for another waterfront town called Akcay, where I will meet my next host, and together we will go to Izmir.

As with my other Couch Surfing host, Gökhan, I asked Özgür why he allows strangers into his home. He said that he enjoys meeting people from different cultures, and like me, he believes most people are honest, so he is not afraid of hosting. I never would have made it through my first week in Turkey if that were not the case.

Please keep reading, and again, I appreciate all of your support.

Financial Update - June 13-19

Here is an update on how much I have spent during my first week in Turkey. Obviously, I can't afford to go to the opera, which I don't do much in the United States, and I haven't eaten in any 5-star restaurants, but why would I when I sometimes get to eat homemade food or eat at restaurants that locals recommend.

I have to avoid some things, but I in no way feel deprived.

Here is the breakdown:

Transportation - 55.80 Turkish Lira (TL) - about $35 USD. My big expense here was a $22 bus ride from Istanbul to Canakkale.

Food - 45.54 TL - about $29 USD.

VISA to enter Turkey - $20 USD

Exchange fee - 1.32 TL - about .83 USD

Total amount spent - $85 USD

Assistance At Every Turn - June 19, 2010

2010-06-19T05:56:00.002-04:00

I have heard it a hundred times - people in large cities are cold, impersonal, and certainly will not go out of their way to help someone in need. Yesterday, my guardian angels in Istanbul disproved that myth, as I traveled to my next stop, the harbor city of Canakkale.

Canakkale, which is located about six hours south of Istanbul, is a popular weekend destination, especially during summer. I found that out the hard way when the first two bus companies my host, Gökhan, called said they had no seats for the next two days.

The third time was the charm, but the catch was the company could only hold the reservation for one hour. I jumped on a bus and raced to town to pay for the ticket.

For some reason, the bus began to head in the opposite direction. I tried to get an explanation from the driver, but he did not understand my Turkish, which consists of about 10 words.

Then, the first of a string of guardian angels sprung into action. A group of four riders huddled around me and through their combined efforts managed to communicate to me that it was just a deteor.

I breathed a sigh of relief and we continued toward the section of town with the bus station. My earlier plight must have made quite an impression on one of the four group members because, suddenly, I saw her demeanor change, as if she were contemplating something important.

Next, the woman smiled, popped up out of her seat, and gestured for me to follow her. I got the feeling it was not her stop, but she was on a mission.

I handed the woman a piece of paper with the name of the bus company on it, and we were off. For several blocks, she led me through the streets until we arrived at the bus company. The woman would not leave until the attendant confirmed that I had a reservation.

Then, I gave her my warmest teşekkür ederim (thank you), a handshake, and she was gone. She will never know how much her kindness meant to me.

With the bus not leaving for several hours, I wandered around and eventually made my way back to the bus company to catch a shuttle to the bus station. Here, too, the attendants personally looked after me and led me to the right shuttle when it arrived.

After a few minutes, we pulled into the station, which was full of buses headed in all directions. I did not have to search for the correct bus because the shuttle driver asked for my ticket and led me to a waiting area.

Before leaving, he said something to another employee, who looked in my direction. About an hour later, my bus arrived. I knew it had arrived because, you guessed it, that same employee walked me to the bus, where the driver greeted me with a cheerful, "Ah, American. New York City."

I am certainly grateful for the assistance I received, but as I wrote a couple of days ago, such instances of traveling kindness are not unique. I believe that most people have that spark inside motivating them to help someone in need.

As I close, I want to tell you that I have safely made it to my stop, Canakkale. Even though the bus was three hours late, my new host, Özgür was still waiting. CouchSurfing really is amazing.

I will have more in the next day or two, but bear with me because sometimes it is hard to get to a computer.

Time Winding Down In Istanbul - June 17, 2010

2010-06-17T01:12:00.011-04:00

Yesterday, I did a little bit more sightseeing but also had a chance to iınteract more with Gökhan in his personal life.

I got to see his team play soccer, and his team won. The stars must have all been in allignment because Gökhan scored the winning goal. Afterward, Gökhan said, "You would not have a chance to see a local soccer game staying in a fancy hotel."

He was probably right. My best travel experiences have always been while I was staying with a family. I enjoy tourist sites like anyone else, but I always prefer the chance to get to talk to and to know the people in the places I visit.

I have nothing against fancy hotels and fancy restaurants, but in those environments a tourist runs the risk of being isolated from the very people he or she is visiting. A tourist runs the risk of not interacting much at all with the culture.

With the soccer game behind us, we headed to a local gathering of CouchSurfers. Thousands of people participate in the program in Istanbul. Within about five minutes of walking into the gatheriıng, I had met travelers from several countries and received two invitations to visit Egypt and Morocco.

Today, I will spend more time seeing the Asian side of Istanbul. A teacher friend of Gökhan is going to show me around.

Tomorrow, I will head to a new city called Canakkale. I will give you more details when I get there.

As my time in Istanbul winds down, I leave you with a couple of reflexions. If you are ever thinking of visiting, do it. Istanbul reminds me a lot of New York City regarding the diversity of the people, the tremendous cultural options available here, and the great energy and excitement of the place, but unlike New York, Istanbul also has hundreds of years of history.

In addition, I could never think of Istanbul in the future without thinking of Gökhan. He is one of the most generous, peaceful individuals who I have ever met. Gökhan is a great ambassador for his city but also the very embodiment of benevolence. Thank you for everything, Gökhan.

I will have more when I arrive at my next destination. Thanks for reading my blog as we all continue the journey to see if a person can spend a month in Turkey relying on the goodness of others.

Afternoon Update

Today, Gökhan's friend, Büşra, graciously showed me around one of the outlying areas along the Bosphorus River. What a beautiful spot nestled on the waterfront. I'm sorry I forgot to take my camera.

Then, Büşra introduced me to some traditional Turkish cuisine. Earlier, we sipped Turkish coffee at a sidewalk cafe (It was like cappachino on steroids).

Later that evening, she cooked a traditional meal of Yufka Börek, which is a giant flour wrap stuffed with meat and vegetables; Cacik, a combination of cucumber, yogurt and water; and Şakşura, which is a dish with eggplant and pepper.

Wow! She is a fabulous cook. I am in danger of gaining twenty pounds in Turkey, but what a problem to have.

Financial Update

Earlier, I told you I would keep you updated on my expenses. I started out my trip with $350.54. Here is a breakdown of my expenses from June 13- June 16: Food = $22; VISA to enter Turkey = $20; Transportation = $8.51; Money exchange fee = .83. The grand total is $51.34.

That means I have about $300 left to spend over the next 26 days. Turkey is by no means inexpensive, but Gökhan assures me Istanbul is the most expensive city I will visit.

Still, I would have spent much more if not for the generosity of Gökhan.

Yesterday, I tried to show a small token of my appreciation by cooking him dinner. In the process, I learned a very important cultural lesson - do not always trust the pictures on labels. Since I do not understand Turkish, I bought a can of what I thought was tomatoes. It turned out to be tomato paste. Fortunately, there is always the magic of water.

Spices and Spirituality - June 16, 2010

2010-06-16T00:23:00.042-04:00

I think I have found a passion to pursue in retirement. I like the sound of calling my eatery The Kabab Kastle.

Part of what makes my new culinary addiction so tasty is the spices. Especially in medieval times, spices were an important, and often expensive, part of cooking. For hundreds of years, Istanbul was a crucial link in the spice trade because the city is situated between Eastern countries where most spices were grown and Europe.

Today, a spice market still exists in Istanbul. The Spice Bazaar was built during the 1660s.

I have never been a fan of shopping, but I would quickly change that attitude if I got to breathe in the aroma of the coriander and nutmeg and ginger and all of the other spices that delighted my senses yesterday while waking through the corridors of the market.

Since I was on a roll, I decided to also visit The Grand Bazaar, which has been in existence since the 1400s.
It is a maze of hundreds of shops selling everything a souvenir hound or local resident would ever want, and dozens of merchants wanted to sell me something, even though I kept telling them that a Turkish rung would not fit well in my backpack during my next month in Turkey.

But that did not even slow the merchants down. "No problem. I will keep the rug for you until you get back. No problem. I will mail it for you. No problem. You can at least look at my rugs. Because you are a teacher, I will give you a special discount."

I have heard sales pitches in markets all over the world, but yesterday I heard the best pitch ever. At the time, I was carrying a bag with a bottle of water that weighed only a few ounces. A merchant saw me passing and said, "Hey, big, strong man. How can I help you spend your money?" Actually, I learned a new Turkish phrase to handle such situations - "Param yok," which means "I have no money."

After a couple of hours of fending off the economic advances of the shop keepers, I decided to tour a few of the mosques of Istanbul.

It is not hard to locate a mosque because of the towers that dot the skyline throughout the country. The towers are called minarets.

I am certainly no expert on Islam, so I sat down yesterday and talked with a representative at the famous Blue Mosque, who explained some of the features of a mosque.

He told me that the minarets symbolically remind people to focus on Allah/God in their lives and to draw attention to the fact that a mosque is located at a particular site, but he also told me that the minarets serve a very practical function.

One of the basic tenants of Islam is that Muslims are obligated to pray at five designated times throughout the day. Before each prayer time begins, someone in each mosque, called a muezzin, issues a "call to prayer."

The muezzin goes into the base of one of the minarets, which have loud speakers attached, or climbs stairs to the top of a minaret and recites a specific prayer to assemble the believers. If a person cannot get to a mosque, a Muslim is allowed to pray wherever he or she is at the time.

Even though I am not a follower of Islam, I still am captivated daily by the sound of the rhythmic chants echoing through the streets of Istanbul, reminding me that there is something far greater than each of us and our individual concerns.

Another noticable difference between a mosque and a church is that there are no pews in a church. Instead, Muslims pray on the carpeted floor. Worshippers remove their shoes before going inside.

Also, there are no images in mosques. The representative told me that is because Muslims believe that it would be impossible and even blasphemos to try to create an image to represent Allah. Also, any human or animal images would be considered iınappropriate because
worshippers are to focus on Allah and Allah alone and not on human or animal images.
Again, I am no expert on Islam, so I apologize ahead of time if any of this iınformation is iıncorrect.

Still, there is no lack of beautiful artwork in mosques.

Many of the mosques contain stunning tiles that adorn the
walls and ceilings.

One of the most famous mosques in Istanbul, and in all of the world, is the Blue Mosque, which gets its name from the tens of thousands of tiles inside.

Many of the tiles were hand painted.

I have iıncluded a couple of pictures, but the pictures do not do justice to the magnifience of the artwork.

Before I close, I wanted to thank all of you for the many e-mails I received checking on whether I had arrived safely ın Turkey. As I reflect on it, it really is remarkable that before Monday I had never even met my host, Gökhan, and yet, I managed to travel 5,000 miles to a country with a language I cannot speak and managed to find my way, through a lot of friendly helpers, to a meeting spot I had never seen before, trusting that Gökhan would actually be there and him trusting that I would actually show up, and now I am typing you this message from a computer in his home.

Frequent overseas travelers are probably smilıng right now because my story is far from unique. It is just a small reminder of travel magic in a benevolent universe.

Hello from Istanbul - June 14, 2010

2010-06-14T14:48:00.018-04:00

After 26 hours of traveling, I arrived safely in Istanbul and am now typing this entry at the house of my host Gökhan. Below is a picture of Gökhan and his two friends in front of the Bosphorus River, which separates European Istanbul from Asian Istanbul.

So far, Gökhan has been a very gracious host. Earlier, he took me for my first Turkish kebab. I understand now why some Turks eat them almost on a daily basis.

Since this is a journey in benevolence, I wanted to get his thoughts on the subject. Gökhan agrees with my basic proposition that the world ıs good, sayıng he believes goodness is "in the nature of all humankind," but he thinks that "fear often masks it."

Almost four years ago, Gökhan began hosting guests on CouchSurfıng. At the tıme, he thought people were pretty different in the world, but he said this experience has taught him that "people are completely the same, just the language is different."

Gökhan has hosted 30 people and never had a bad experience. Just as hosting someone takes a leap of faith, so does staying in the house of a stranger, but if the experience wıth Gökhan is any indication of things to come, I will be well taken care of in Turkey. Thank you, Gökhan.

Today, I also benefitted from the kindness of some Turkish strangers on the streets of Istanbul. I was pretty wiped out when I arrived after so much traveling, so I got a little mixed up with the public transportation. Two people went out of their way and actually missed their respective buses, so they could help me find mind, twıce! One man walked four blocks out of his way. This is yet another example of travel magic.

In the past, I was surprısed by such occurrences. Now, I have come to expect it.

I do not have much else to report. It is about bed time. Tomorrow, I plan on doing some sightseeing. I will try to update the blog as much as possible, but I must admit it is taking me a little time to get used to some of the differences with the Turkish characters on the keyboard.

Thanks for reading my blog, and please check back often. Hopefully, I will have gotten better with the computer.

It'sTime To Go - June 12, 2010

2010-06-12T04:56:00.009-04:00

Almost ten months ago, I launched my mission, a dream that many of my students and adults said would be impossible to achieve. Tomorrow, I'm headed to Turkey to find out if benevolence will carry me through the country for a month.

It's a 15-hour flight to Istanbul, so don't expect to hear from me for a couple of days.

Istanbul is the only city in the world that sits on two continents. If you click on this link, you will see the European side on the left, and across the Bosphorus River, you will see the Asian side on the right. Look for the word Kadıköy in the lower right-hand corner of the map. That's where I'll be staying.

My host in Istanbul is named Gökhan, who I found through CouchSurfing. He's graciously offered to put me up for four days.

I'm touched by his generosity, but Gökhan is not alone in his willingness to host travelers. If you still don't believe benevolence exists in the world, you might want to check out some of the experiences of people who've used CouchSurfing.

When Gökhan read my story about how some of my students believed that the world was evil, he wrote me this, "I felt sad about your students and this idea. If any kid came to me and told me that the world is an evil place, then I'd probably do the same thing you did. I hope I can help you with your mission here and break the prejudice of some young minds. "

During my journey, I will do my best to update my blog frequently. I hope you will check in occasionally and see how everything is unfolding.

I'm beginning my trip with $330.54, but I remain confident that the universe will provide for my needs. Through the magic of the internet, I can still receive donations during my trip, if anyone is motivated to do so.

Since this is our trip and you are my benefactors, I will keep you updated on how your money is being spent. At the end of the trip, my friend Joanie has agreed to post a more formal accounting statement. During the trip, I'll let you know in my posts. I'm still hoping I'll have money left over after the trip to donate to charity.

I've said it many times before, but I wanted to say again how grateful I am for all of the emotional, spiritual and financial support I've received over these last few months. You are making my dream possible, and you are helping me to send out a very powerful message to my students that the world, and people in general, can be trusted.

Tomorrow, we'll finally all find out together if a teacher can travel around the world relying on the generosity of others.

A Turkish Hug - June 9, 2010

2010-06-09T12:28:00.029-04:00

I haven't even arrived in Turkey yet, and already I am experiencing great kindness from the people who live there.

Last week, I told you about my decision to use CouchSurfing, after someone posted a message on my blog suggesting that I do so. CouchSurfing is a free, worldwide, cultural web-site that offers members the opportunity to host guests and to be guests in other members' homes while traveling. CouchSurfing utilizes numerous procedures to heighten safety.

After what I've seen so far, I might never book a hotel overseas again.

I have already received invitations to stay with families in Istanbul, Izmir, Bursa, Canakhhale and Bodrum. I've also been invited to dinner and been offered the services of a tour guide. Wow!

Speaking from past trips overseas, I can say without hesitation that there's no better way to experience a culture and truly interact with others than by living with a family.

CouchSurfing has also given me the chance to find out what some Turks think about the chances of success for the journey. My favorite comment is from Suleyman who said, "I believe that Turkey will give you a hug, and you will have a wonderful experience in each city." Who could ask for more.

Along the same lines, Pasa said, "I believe you'll meet with very good and helpful people." Corina was so impressed with Turkey that she left Australia to move there. She said, "Turkey in general is the most hospitable country you could visit, and I love it here."

For months, I've been sharing my belief that the universe can be trusted. Several Turks on CouchSurfing agreed with my sentiment. Fatih wrote to me saying, "Let's show your students that YES!! the world IS a good place to live. It depends on how you look at things!"

I am especially inspired by the words of Umit Samur, who said, "I am a retired teacher. I told the same idea to my students. I would love to help you and your students to understand that your beliefs make our realities."

Umit speaks from experience. Back in 1999, she lived through a massive earthquake in Turkey that killed more than 45,000 people and left about half a million people homeless. At first, Umit was angry and cursed the tragedy, but then she decided to try to ease the pain of those around her.

As she put it, "I saw that there was no point in crying. It would be a more noble behavior to help those who suffered in the earthquake, and to sympathize with them, I decided. I searched for ways to reach them."

This process led her on a spiritual journey that caused her to transform her life and brought her to the United States, where she became a citizen.

Now, Umit is a spiritual writer, who is helping other women overcome roadblocks in their lives. Currently, she is participating in a worldwide writing contest, whose winner will receive a book contract. You can see her story and read a chapter of her book by clicking on this link.
Her author ID number is 1118. If you like her writing, you can vote for her in the contest. (By the way, I decided to mention this on my blog on my own. This was not Umit's idea. Umit, if you read this, I hope you don't mind).

Several people have asked me if I am worried about staying with strangers. I am certainly not suggesting that anyone do so. That is up to each individual, but I've seen the safeguards with CouchSurfing, and once again, I believe people are basically good, so I'm making a leap of faith.

Actually, meeting anyone new or trying anything new requires a leap of faith. You even need a certain amount of faith to stay in a hotel because anyone with a pass key could walk in at any time.

As I write this entry, I am four days away from traveling to Turkey. Sometimes, it's hard for me to believe that this all began with a blog ten months ago.

Since that time, many wonderful things have happened. I've had more than 2,000 hits on the blog from 38 U.S. states, 32 countries, and two territories; a friend donated an airline ticket for my trip, and readers have generously donated $330.54. Thank you!

This experience has reaffirmed my belief in benevolence. It has also taught me that there is a tremendous amount of power in the universe. All we must do is to ask the universe for what we need and then have faith that it can happen.

Or, on a less esoteric note, I'm beginning to see that there is a whole network of people in the world who want to see our plans succeed and who want to help us. It's a matter of recognizing the network and asking for help. In the past, I've often failed to do so out of fear, the desire to not impose on others, or the desire to not appear foolish.

As you know, I like to close my posts with a quote. Today, I'll close with another quote from Umit, who had this to say about my upcoming month-long journey into the unknown. "The universe knows the route for you. Just relax and enjoy the ride." Sounds like some good advice for our journey through life, too.

PLEASE HELP - I continue to need your financial assistance for my trip. If you can, I hope you will consider making a donation, so I don't have to eat the Turkish equivalent of Kraft macaroni and cheese throughout my trip. I promise I will use the money wisely. Any money that is left over will be donated to the charities Doctors Without Borders, Catholic Relief Services and Save the Children.

The Deceased Box - June 2, 2010

2010-06-02T20:14:00.011-04:00

I saw something at the doctor's office today that reminded me why I decided to begin this journey more than ten months ago.

After getting my annual physical, I was sitting in the laboratory waiting to have some blood work done. In the corner of the lab, stood several shelves of what appeared to be patient records. At the base of one of the shelves, I noticed a nondescript, cardboard box with the words "Deceased - April 2010" on the side.

The box was crammed full of years of medical records of once-living patients that are now nothing but manila envelopes in the "Deceased" bin.

A sobering realization struck me in the gut like a sucker punch - one day we will all end up in some kind of impersonal "Deceased" box that will likely just be a dust collector stacked in a corner of a room or left forgotten in some cold, steel filing cabinet.

The "Deceased" box can't be avoided, so it's up to each of us to decide how we'll spend our time between now and then.

It's ironic that earlier this week my good friends, Mike and Donna, sent me an e-mail to wish me luck on my trip. The e-mail contained several inspirational quotes about embracing life and embracing new experiences, quotes that they are trying to live by in their retirement. One of my favorite is from Helen Keller, who said, "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing."

The way I figure it, we might as well try to live our dreams to the fullest now because one day we'll all get dropped into the "Deceased" box. The trouble is none of us knows if that will happen in the next decade, next year, or next week.

TRIP UPDATE:

The donations continue to flow in. I am now up to $272. I can't tell you how much it means to me to have your support. I really am touched by your generosity. Thanks!

Also, the CouchSurfing experiment, so far, is reaping some rewards. Already, two people in Izmir have offered to possibly host me, and I've been communicating with a friend of a friend who is going to try to help establish some contacts for me in Istanbul and Bursa. In addition, I'm awaiting word back from a couple of other potential contacts.

I'll keep you posted.

It's Time to Go Surfing - May 31, 2010

2010-05-31T18:24:00.033-04:00

The trip is now less than two weeks away. Through a chain of friends and new acquaintances, I've made contact with one person in Turkey and am waiting to see if that leads anywhere. Meanwhile, last week, I got an e-mail from a high school classmate I hadn't heard from in 20+ years. It turns out that she has Turkish friends in the United States that are interested in putting me in touch with some of their relatives in Turkey. Again, I'm waiting to see if that leads anywhere.

I'm optimistic, but lately I've been thinking about pursuing an additional option - CouchSurfing. CouchSurfing is a non-profit organization whose stated vision is "a world where everyone can explore and create meaningful connections with the people and places they encounter."

Members of CouchSurfing, who reside in more than 230 countries, are given the option to host visitors from around the world, and in turn, members may ask other members if they would be willing to let them be guests in their homes while they are traveling. Hosts are not allowed to charge guests for accommodations, which can range from a spare couch to a spare bedroom.

The online network takes numerous steps to heighten safety, such as verifying member addresses and member identities and allowing guests to post feedback on their hosts and hosts to also give feedback on their guests.

I've been a member of CouchSurfing and a similar organization, Hospitality Club, for awhile, but originally I didn't want to utilize either organization in this Turkish endeavor because I wasn't sure if CouchSurfing fit in with my original intention of just throwing my idea into the universe and letting it spread through word of mouth and through those who came across my blog.

CouchSurfing is a wonderful example of benevolence and would seemingly be a great way to forge truly personal ties with Turkish people, but it will require me to go outside my own site to another site to ask members if they would be willing to host me during my trip to Turkey. In the process, I might then attract new readers to my blog, who didn't discover it on their own or through word of mouth.

I had been mulling over this philosophical question when, last week, someone anonymously posted the comment on my blog that I consider trying CouchSurfing, so I came to the conclusion that the universe had, indeed, given me a gift and that I needed to accept it and give CouchSurfing a shot.

This weekend, I also began thinking about the old tale of the man caught in a flood.

As the story goes, flood waters rose higher and higher around the man's house, threatening to engulf the structure and drown the man. A neighbor on dry land tried to throw the man a rope, but the man refused help saying, "I'm waiting for God to save me."

Next, someone in a boat passed by and offered to ferry the man to safety, but, again, the man declined saying, "I'm waiting for God to save me."

By this point, the house was almost completely underwater, so the man climbed onto the roof. A helicopter spotted the man, and the crew lowered a rescue ladder, but the man wouldn't grab on because he still said he was waiting for God to save him.

The man drowned and met God face to face in heaven. Immediately, the man asked, "Why didn't you save me?"

God replied, "I tried. I sent you a rope, a boat, and a helicopter. What more did you want?"

Some readers might disagree with my logic, but I feel like the universe has thrown me a rope in the form of the suggestion that was sent to my blog last week, so I'm grabbing it. I don't want to turn my back on a potential source of benevolence just because it isn't in the exact form that I was expecting and doesn't comply exactly with my originally stated vision.

With that in mind, tomorrow night, I plan to contact some of the Turkish members of CouchSurfing and post a short message explaining what I'm doing with my trip.

Although I'm registered with both CouchSurfing and Hospitality Club, I've never had the opportunity to either host someone or to be a guest in someone's home. Perhaps, this summer we'll all find out what that experience is like, as I continue my quest to determine if a teacher can travel for a month in Turkey relying on nothing but benevolence.

Note: I have a tremendous amount of respect for the work of artists. All images on my blog are either from my own personal photographs or are free images downloaded from the public domain.

The Vision is Becoming a Reality - May 25, 2010

2010-05-25T19:23:00.043-04:00

Back in August, I launched this blog to try to show my students that the world is, for the most part, a friendly place made up of kind people who will help others if given the chance. I'm seeking to demonstrate this idea by attempting to travel around the world relying on the goodness of others, rather than on my own wits and financial means.

I began my quest with no destination in mind and no money. In April, readers voted for me to travel to Turkey, but at the time, I had received only a few dollars in donations. My students said the dream was impossible. I still laugh when I think about my student Juan's comment, ""Mister! Now you really do have enough money to take a trip – to McDonald's."

Later that month, a benefactor stepped in unexpectedly and offered to buy me a plane ticket. Today, I received that ticket. So, on June 13th, I will board a plane to Turkey and return 30 days later on July 12th.

I'm still humbled by all of the generosity and support I've received with this endeavor, but am I surprised things have gotten this far? Maybe a little, but over the years I've encountered too many situations traveling where people went out of their way to help me. I find it hard to attribute it all to chance. I believe such things happen because we live in a benevolent universe.

Despite the fact that I now have a plane ticket, some of my students still remain doubtful about whether I will be able to get by in Turkey for a month, but at least, I hope that one or two of my students are finally beginning to believe that maybe the universe really is a friendly place and maybe that anything really is possible, including their own dreams, such as going to college.

But the journey is just beginning, and now I need your help more than ever.

What will I do during my 30 days in Turkey? That's up to all of you. So far, readers have suggested that I visit Bursa, Ephesus, Istanbul and Izmir. I'm looking forward to trying to get to all those locations, but the trip is about more than just sites.

I want to use this blog as an opportunity to uncover and share a more personal side of Turkey. Through the blog, I hope to tell the world about people and organizations that are doing noteworthy, positive, benevolent things in Turkey. It could be a social welfare program. It could be a cherished local artist. It could be a charity. It could be a local custom that most tourists never see.

I'd like to do more than just write on my blog. If a social agency needs volunteers, I'd love to lend a hand. Last summer, I had an opportunity to volunteer with a children's program in Cusco, Peru, and it was one of the highlights of my trip. Volunteering is a great way to experience a country and give back, all at the same time.

I would welcome any suggestions because this is a journey in benevolence, not just site seeing.

I also need your financial assistance. From the very beginning, I told my students that I believe magical things can happen in a friendly universe, which is why I am relying on the universe to keep me afloat in Turkey for 30 days.

So far, I have received $72.29 in donations. I would be grateful for additional contributions. I promise that I will be as frugal as possible with your money. My dream is that I will have enough money left over after the trip so that I can make a donation to the top three charities that readers voted on - Doctors Without Borders, Catholic Relief Services, and Save the Children.

In addition, I would welcome any help with accommodations. I've never met a couch I didn't like, and I think I'm an easy house guest. Also, I would be willing to do any chores or any other work to help earn my keep.

Already, a couple of readers have given me contact information for people in Turkey who might be willing to assist me with this pursuit. It's the typical "friend of a friend of a friend" scenario. I'm anxious to see how it all unfolds, but I'm confident it will be good because, again, I believe good things happen in a benevolent universe.

Before I close, I wanted to thank all of you who continue to read my blog and to share the site with others. Back in August, I discussed the blog with my class of 15 students and with six friends. I told no one else because I wanted to see how the idea would spread via the internet and via word of mouth like ripples on a lake.

I'm a bit overwhelmed when I say that as of today, I've had more than 1,800 hits on the site from 38 states, 29 countries and two territories. As I continuously tell my students, the world really is a small place.

Often, I like to finish with a quote. In less than three weeks, I will be stepping onto Turkish soil for the first time, so this quote from explorer Sir Richard Francis Burton seems fitting. "One of the gladdest moments of human life, methinks, is the departure upon a distant journey into unknown lands. Shaking off with one mighty effort the fetters of habit, the leaden weight of routine, the cloak of many cares and the slavery of home, man feels once more happy."

I hope you all will continue to accompany me on this journey as we discover together whether a teacher can travel around the world relying on nothing but benevolence.

UPDATE:(June 26)

The day after I wrote this entry, I updated my class on the trip. In particular, I wanted to see the reaction of my biggest skeptic. Last month, when I told her someone had offered to buy me a ticket, she said, "I'll believe it when I see the ticket."

Today, I showed her a copy of the ticket. For a few minutes, she looked down and said nothing, as the other students excitedly passed it around and bombarded me with questions.

"You're flying to New York first?"......"Yes, a lot of international flights go through New York."......"Are you scared?"......"No, I like to fly."......"I didn't know your name was Mark. Can I call you that after graduation?"......"Sure."

Many of the kids smiled while reading over the details on the ticket. I'm not sure what they were thinking, but I'd like to believe that holding the ticket made their own dreams seem a little more attainable.

Finally, my disbelieving student looked up and simply said, "Wow!"

Sometimes Tomorrow Never Comes - May 8,2010

2010-05-08T12:37:00.070-04:00

"I will ________________when____________________."

If we reflect on our lives, it doesn't take long to fill in the blanks.

"I will go back to school when I save a little more money ..... I will start a family when I am more established in my career ..... I will spend more time with my friends when I'm finished with the quarterly reports ..... I will travel to Europe when I retire."

I'm certainly no expert at avoiding procrastination.

For years, I contemplated leaving reporting to become a teacher, but I kept waiting for the day when I would have more certainty that it was "the right path for me." I still might be reporting and wondering "what if" had it not been for friends who drew me into the deep end with a combination of coercion, reassurance, and threats. Now, I can't imagine my life without a classroom in it.

Last spring, I kept rationalizing that I would wait to set up this blog when I had more time to "flesh out the details" and when the economy "picked up." Again, a couple of friends helped in the decision-making process by encouraging me to take the leap of faith.

Often, I turn to my family and friends when I'm stuck in the "I will_________when _________" mode, but if I'm still unable to act, I think of Bill.

I met Bill back in the 1980s while doing temp work at a pharmaceutical company in New York City. Not a week would pass by without Bill talking about the lake house that he was building for retirement.

Bill's plan was to put in as much overtime as possible so that he could afford to retire early. Bill was the classic workaholic. When he was not working, Bill was overseeing the construction of his dream house. For years, it was work and house, work and house, work and house.

But Bill always said the sacrifice would be worth it because, once he retired, he would slow down and finally enjoy life.

When I left New York, Bill was still working feverishly to accomplish his plans. Years later, I caught up with one of my former colleagues at the pharmaceutical company and asked about Bill.

Yes, Bill did retire early, and yes, he did move to his dream house to finally slow down and enjoy life. As a man in his late 50s, Bill looked forward to many happy years at the lake, but that never happened. Less than 24 months later, Bill died of cancer.

"I will _________________when _____________________."

I've been thinking about Bill a lot lately because of a retreat I did last month at the monastery of the Benedictine Sisters in Cullman, Alabama.

One day, while walking through the community's cemetery, I noticed the grave markers of two women: Sister Angela Mulvey and Sister Rose Coleman. Both were born about a month apart in 1885.

Grave markers can't reveal the answers to questions such as where the two women were from; did they knew each prior to arriving at the monastery; or why they decided to become Sisters, but I'd like to imagine that the two women had known each other in childhood and that together they might have made the decision to enter the religious order.

Having a trusted friend would have made the transition to Benedictine life a lot easier, but even if they weren't prior friends, I'm sure it was a comfort for Angela and Rose to be so close in age.

Life was difficult in the 1800s in rural Alabama, especially with the oppressive heat and illnesses such as tuberculosis, but it still must have been a shock to the community when Sister Angela died in 1905 at the age of 19.

I'll never know what Sister Angela envisioned for her future, but I'll bet she expected to be on earth a lot longer. Maybe, she, too, had a list of "I will___________when_________."

I'm especially curious how the death would have impacted Sister Rose, since they were the same age. Did it make her appreciate life even more? Did seeing her friend die motivate Rose to not put off till tomorrow what she could do today?

On the other hand, Sister Rose might have dismissed the death as an isolated tragedy and maintained the belief that she would have plenty of years left to develop into a master teacher or to cure the sick or to perhaps one day become the prioress of the community. After all, chances were good that two young Sisters wouldn't both die as teenagers.

And so, life probably returned quickly to normal.

When I visited the cemetery last month, I first came across the grave of Sister Angela, but it wasn't hard to find Sister Rose’s burial spot because it was located just inches away from Angela's. It turned out that a year and a half after Sister Angela's death, Sister Rose also died - on Angela's birthday.

"I will _________________when _____________________."

I believe we procrastinate because we think we'll have enough time to get to the items on our lists. Unfortunately, life seems to intervene if we put things off.

All too often that desire to go back to school is sidelined forever in lieu of buying a new house or a new car. Even though the career becomes established, the dream of having kids dies because the would-be parents are now too old. The quarterly reports get finished, but the friendships that were long neglected deteriorate beyond repair. The retirement watch is finally awarded, but the recipient's health has deteriorated, making the trip to Europe impossible.

Teaching high school kids is a constant reminder of the rapidity with which time passes. It seems like just yesterday when I graduated from high school, but the age on my driver's license indicates that it actually occurred 27 years ago, a fact that my students enjoy kidding me about. "Mister, you're old," they've been known to say, which in their eyes, I am.

My kids still don't believe me when I tell them that they'll wake up one day and wonder where the years have gone. That's why I always tell them to NOT put things off and to quit saying, "I will ____________
when _____________."

I'll admit that I've still got many things on my "I will_______" list, but at least I can say that Traveling Teacher 2010 is not one of them. I hope that you are enjoying my blog, and I hope that you will continue to support me in my effort to prove that someone can travel around the world relying on the generosity of strangers.

How about you? What's on your "I will_________when_________list?"

We might be able to put the items on our lists off until tomorrow or next week or even next year and still achieve our goals, but remember that Bill, Sister Angela, and Sister Rose also likely kept putting some things off until tomorrow, but ultimately they arrived at the moment in their lives when tomorrow never came, and one day we'll all arrive at that point, too.

UPDATE ON TRIP TO TURKEY

In an earlier post, I told you that a friend has offered to donate a ticket for my trip to Turkey. She is still pricing the ticket and is currently out of town, herself, so I don't have the travel dates yet. I will pass them along as soon as I know them.

In the mean time, I still have received only $34.05 to spend on food and lodging. Please consider making a donation using either one of the two PayPal buttons on the right side of my blog.

An Unexpected Gift - April 26, 2010

2010-04-24T14:28:00.048-04:00

Over the years, I have been blessed to have received numerous forms of benevolence during my trips overseas - directions, offers of rides, dinner invitations, words of encouragement or even just a smile when I was lonely and needed it most. I believe in travel magic, but it normally doesn't happen until a person is willing to make a leap of faith into the unknown. That's why I decided to undertake Traveling Teacher 2010.

Despite all of the gifts I've gotten, I'm still awed occasionally by unexpected travel generosity. Last week, I received such a gift when my friend Joanie Sompayrac offered to use some of her frequent flier miles to buy me a ticket to Turkey. I am still humbled and blown away by the gesture.

Joanie is one of the most generous, supportive people that I've ever met. If it were not for her enthusiastic response last year when I talked to her about my idea for this blog, I might never have done it. Thank you, Joanie.

At first, I was a little hesitant to accept the gift because it seemed a bit too much, but my friend simply replied, "It isn't just about you. It's about the journey." Joanie, who is also a college professor, said she, too, is hoping that this journey will show students that anything is possible and that the world is a lot smaller than we recognize.

Later, I realized another aspect of my hesitancy to accept her gift was that I never expected benevolence to show up in the form of an airline ticket. It didn't fit in with my perception of how the ripples from my blog were supposed to spread through the universe. It's one thing to receive a few dollars or overnight accommodations, but an entire ticket?

In essence, I was seeking to control the spread of the ripples, which is the last thing I wanted to do, and worse, I was attempting to deprive my friend of the joy of giving. Intellectually, I know that love and friendship are as much about receiving as giving, but I'm still working on letting that truth sink in completely. It made me wonder how many other times in my life I haven't been open to receiving gifts because they were wrapped up in unfamiliar packages.

Last spring, this journey began with a classroom discussion of whether someone could travel around the world relying on the generosity of others, and my students continue to be at the heart of my quest. A week hasn't gone by in class without us discussing the importance of dreams and without my students asking how much money I've collected.

Today, I got to share my good news about the ticket with my students, many of whom have been skeptical about my chances of getting overseas. I understand their skepticism. Most of my kids are immigrants whose families struggled in their native lands and who continue to struggle to make it in the United States. The notion of a benevolent universe is a bit foreign, and dreams like college seem out of reach.

When I revealed my news today, I felt as if my English class had collectively achieved a great triumph. Spontaneous applause and yelling filled the room, but then, just as quickly, the hoopla died down, and my students just sat silently with proud smiles etched on their faces. Other students stared into space appearing to be deep in thought.

I'll never know what was going through their minds, but I'd like to think that perhaps they had arrived at a realization that if Mr. Dickinson's crazy dream was within reach then maybe their own dreams were achievable.

Still, despite my announcement, one of my students remains doubtful about the trip. "I'll believe it Mister when I see the ticket," she said. I assume she's not the only student or adult with doubts. Hopefully, this trip will change some more minds.

So, now I know that I will actually be going to Turkey this summer. Wow!

When will I leave? I'm not sure. How long will I be there? I don't know that either. Where will I visit? That's up in the air, too, but Joanie has suggested I visit, Izmir, which I would like to do, and I assume I will be flying into Istanbul.

I am leaving the details of the flight to my benefactor. In other words, I'm having to give up control and let the ripples unfold, but I will share those details in future posts.

In the meantime, I continue to need your help now more than ever. This is the world's trip, so please send me suggestions of who or what to visit in Turkey. It doesn't have to be a tourist site. Some of my best travel experiences have been volunteering, which I believe is the best way to delve into a culture and to give back to the people who live there. Do you know of an organization in Turkey where you'd like me to volunteer?

Also, I continue to need your financial help. So far, I've got only $34.05 to spend on food, accommodations and travel within Turkey. Please consider making a donation using my PayPal button on the right side of the blog.

If you can't make a donation, I would be grateful for any offers of meals or lodging in Turkey. The theory of six degrees of separation claims that any person in the world can be connected to any other person in the world through at most five acquaintances. If that's true, I'm hoping that someone reading this blog has an acquaintance in Turkey who might be willing to give up a couch for a guest.

As I look toward the summer, I think of the words of Albert Einstein, who once said, "The most important decision we make is whether we believe we live in a friendly or hostile universe." With that in mind, even if I receive no more than $34.05 in donations, I still plan on making the trip. I'm not worried because, as with the ticket, I know that the universe and God will provide, if I'm willing to make the leap of faith onto Turkish soil. I can't wait to see what happens, and I promise to share it all on my blog.

30 Days Left - April 14, 2010

2010-04-11T14:42:00.030-04:00

There's only 30 days left.

Back in August, I began my on-line quest to find out if a teacher could travel around the world relying on benevolence. Part of the quest was already achieved when voters decided on my destination, Turkey, but now two parts of the quest remain - I need your suggestions on what to visit in Turkey, and I need your financial help.

In 30 days, I will either be buying a plane ticket, or I will be bringing this nine-month journey to a close. In that case, I will donate the $34.05 that's been contributed to me to Doctors Without Borders, Catholic Relief Services and Save the Children.

If you believe in this endeavor, please help before May 15.

A lot can happen in 30 days, and I think nothing motivates a person more than a deadline. Now, that deadline is fast approaching.

April 1, 2010 - And the Winner is.................

2010-03-31T17:19:00.081-04:00

And the winner is.......Turkey.

In August, I asked the universe where I should travel this summer. After eight months of voting, the answer is Turkey. At least, that's what the universe told me as late at February, when I noticed that the 100-plus votes on my polls were decreasing, rather than increasing (See March 7 post "Blogger Glitch").

I immediately reported the problem to Google, which runs Blogger. Problems are only addressed by posting them on a help forum. You can see my post at this link. Since Google never fixed my polls, I felt that I had no other choice but to honor the leading vote getters at the time of the malfunction.

Prior to the malfunction, on the question of which country to visit, Turkey was the leading vote getter by a slim margin over Egypt and Australia. As far as charities, Doctors Without Borders was the overwhelming vote getter, followed by Catholic Relief Services and Save the Children.

Again, I'm sorry for the glitch, but I can assure you that it was totally out of my control. I hope everyone is satisfied with this solution.

So the world wants me to visit Turkey this summer.

I've always been fascinated by the country because I've read that the culture is a mix of European, Ottoman, Middle Eastern, and Asian traditions. That makes sense because geographically the country is a bridge between Europe and Asia. It also makes sense historically because the Ottoman Empire at its height stretched across three continents.

Now I know where I'm going, but I still need your help. As I've written before, this isn't only my trip. It belongs to the world. With that in mind, I need your suggestions on what to visit beyond just tourist attractions. It could be a place. It could be an organization that is doing noteworthy, positive work in Turkey, especially an organization that normally doesn't receive publicity. It could be a particular person that is making a difference in Turkey that you'd like the rest of the world to know about. It could be a cherished tradition.

I enjoy beaches, but it's hard to learn about any culture merely sitting by the ocean sipping drinks at a resort. The purpose of this trip is to delve into a culture I know nothing about and write about my discoveries. Wherever I visit, I will post the information on my blog, so that my students and the rest of us can all learn something about Turkey together.

I eagerly await your suggestions.

In addition to needing your help with suggestions, I also need your financial help to get to Turkey and to travel within the country. This blog is an experiment in benevolence, so I am starting my journey with no money and will travel only as far as the universe takes me.

You can donate by clicking on the PayPal button up above on the right-hand side of my blog.

I can assure you that I will spend the money wisely. I've always preferred traveling frugally by throwing on a backpack, utilizing public transportation, and staying in basic, locally-owned accommodations. That way, I feel good about supporting the local economy, and I have a better opportunity to actually get to know and to forge ties with the people who live there.

If anyone is uncomfortable giving me money, benevolence comes in many other forms. I would welcome and appreciate any private offers of meals, transportation, or accommodations, however simple they might be. Some of my best travel experiences have been staying with families, rather than in hotels, and I would love to share all of these experiences on my blog, as well.

If I don't have enough funds to buy an airline ticket by May 15, I will cancel the trip because I'm afraid if I wait any later than that, a last-minute plane ticket would be exorbitantly priced, which would be unfair to my donors. In such a scenario, I would send all of the money that I'd received to the charities Doctors Without Borders, Catholic Relief Services, and Save the Children.

To some, this journey might sound ludicrous, but as I keep telling my students, I believe that the world is made up mainly of kind, generous, trustworthy people. I am maintaining my belief that enough of these people will come to my assistance. I am maintaining my believe that a person can travel around the world relying on the generosity of strangers. I am maintaining my belief in miracles.

Regardless of what happens, I am already grateful for the response I've gotten from my blog. When I began this journey, I wanted to demonstrate to my students the power of a single person and a single idea.

Many of my kids come from impoverished backgrounds in foreign lands, so they lack some of the financial resources and personal connections and contacts that other kids take for granted. As a result, most of my students don't think that they can achieve such dreams as going to college or landing a good job or climbing the ladder of success.

This blog is one way I hope to show them that anything is possible.

Constantly, I tell my kids that any idea or dream can spread like ripples on a lake, regardless of how much money a person has or who he or she knows. I think this is especially true with the rise of the internet. That is why I decided to use the internet for my journey and why I've done no other fund-raising or sought any other forms of publicity, other than this blog.

If I had contacted media outlets or companies or sought help from influential people, then this endeavor would have become an exercise in my personal abilities and my perseverance. I would have been controlling the ripples, rather than giving up control to the universe and letting the ripples spread where they may, through the actions and good will of others.

In addition to my 9th grade ESOL English class of 15 students, I have still told only six people about this blog. Yet, I'm amazed that I've gotten more than 1,400 hits on my site from 35 states and 23 countries, as far north as Russia, as far south as Argentina, as far east as Japan, and as far west as Tonga.

Although the ripples continue to spread, so far, I've received only $34.05 in donations. I'm reminded of a joke that my student, Juan, made back in September when I told the class how much I had collected. With a grin on this face, Juan said, "Mister! Now you really do have enough money to take a trip - to McDonald's."

Not many people, including my students, think I'll raise enough money to get to Turkey, but I believe I will, even though I have less than a month and half to do so before the May 15 deadline.

My dream is that the universe will send me to Turkey, so that I can share my discoveries with my students and my blog readers; that I will have enough money left over after the trip to donate to the three charities; and, in the process, that maybe one of my students or even an adult will be motivated to pursue his or her own dreams.

Is my dream impossible? I don’t think so because the words of John Updike keep echoing in my head - "Dreams come true. Without that possibility, nature would not incite us to have them."

The original question that I asked back in August remains unanswered - Can a person travel around the world relying on the generosity of strangers? I know it's possible, but I need your help.

Why? - March 28, 2010

2010-03-28T13:17:00.006-04:00

Since I began this adventure in August, I’m frequently asked, “Why are you doing this?” My answer is simple. "I have to."

After the conversation I had last year with my students about whether people are basically good or basically evil, I immediately came up with the idea to launch this blog, but I dismissed the idea just as quickly.

We all know the drill. Human beings have a knack for looking at all the reasons why something will fail, rather than focusing on why it will succeed. I generated a long list of mental objections - “No one will even read the blog.....We are in the midst of a recession. No one will give you any money.....It’s a silly idea that can’t possibly work.”

But the idea kept coming back.

Ever since I was a boy, my father’s told me to listen to my internal voice and follow my hunches. Sometimes I do. Many times I don’t, although most of the time good things happen when I do. Despite my reservations, I felt like I owed it to my father, myself, and my kids to give the blog a shot.

Now, eight months later, I’m glad I trusted my instincts. Have I raised a lot of money? Nope. I’m still sitting on $34. Will I end up going overseas? That remains to be seen, but regardless of what happens, I feel that the blog has been a success because it’s gotten the attention of my students, and maybe, it’s given them the motivation to trust their own hunches.

Even though the weeks are passing ever closer to the time when I will have to make the final decision on the trip, I remain optimistic that I’ll be going somewhere this summer. My gut keeps telling me that something wonderful will happen. I’m not sure what, but I’m excited about what lies ahead.

As always, thanks for reading my blog.

One Person Can Make a Difference – March 13, 2010

2010-03-13T11:23:00.017-05:00

Anything is possible.

Even though I've been saying it for eight years, my students still have trouble believing it, especially with some of the great challenges they've faced in their lives. At times, I'll admit it's hard to sell this message of hope when a student tells me something like, "I'm poor, Mister. I can't go to college. I have to work to help my family."

When faced with such comments, I refer to the long list of people who have overcome seemingly insurmountable odds and become successful, proving with their lives that anything is possible.

Helen Keller lost her hearing and sight as a baby, but she managed to graduate from Radcliffe College and became a world-famous speaker and author.

Stephen Hawking suffers from Lou Gehrig's disease and since the age of 21 has been almost fully paralyzed, but he's become one of the best-known scientists in the world and is considered to be one of the greatest minds in physics since Albert Einstein.

Oprah Winfrey was born to poor, unwed, teenage parents in rural Mississippi, but that didn't stop her from becoming one of the most influential women in the world and the world's first black female billionaire.

"But they're old people," I’ve often heard my students say in reply, or they’ll say something along the lines of, "We don’t know anybody around here who's done anything."

Last week, that changed when my kids saw for themselves, in our own school, that anything is possible.

Like most schools across the country, my high school, Southeast Whitfield, is suffering from massive budget cuts caused by the economic downturn. There's not enough money for the essentials, let alone extras, such as new athletic equipment, but that didn't discourage the head of our school's physical education department, Carrie Burch, from trying to acquire the equipment. After all, anything is possible

In the fall, Carrie heard about a contest by the professional football team, the Atlanta Falcons. The contest involved students from schools across the state of Georgia filling out registration forms and turning them in at locations of a national sporting goods chain. The school with the most completed forms would win.

Carrie's enthusiasm spread to her staff and throughout the student body, and last month, the principal of our high school received a phone call from the Falcons, saying that Southeast had won the contest. In fact, it was the highest amount of forms ever received in the contest.

And the prize? The sponsors of the contest donated $5,000 of apparel to our school’s athletic teams and another $5,000 in cash, most of which will be used for the much-needed equipment for the physical education department, equipment that Carrie told me the school could never have afforded.

To celebrate the victory, members of the Falcon organization, including two cheerleaders and the team mascot, Freddie the Falcon, visited Southeast to throw a pep rally.

All too often, we tell ourselves that we can’t do something. "...I'm too old. I'm too young. I'm too poor. I don't have any connections..."

But, the world is full of examples that show clearly that anything is possible and that one person can truly make a difference. If Carrie Burch can get $10,000 of new athletic equipment in the midst of one of the worst recessions in decades, what can you and I accomplish with a little ingenuity, hard work and faith?

Blogger Glitch - March 7, 2010

2010-03-07T13:12:00.010-05:00

As fellow participants in this world-wide journey, I wanted to make you all aware of a Blogger glitch that I'm having with the site.

Last month, I discovered that votes were disappearing from my two poll questions - “Which country should I visit?” and “Which charity should receive any leftover money?” At first, it was just a handful, but now dozens of votes have vanished. With the country question, I've gone from 139 votes to to 34. With the charity question, I've dropped from 84 votes to 23 votes.

I set up the polls because I wanted to get as much input as possible, and I appreciate all of you who have voted. I’m sorry that many of your votes are now missing.

When I discovered the problem, I immediately reported it to Google, which runs Blogger. Problems are handled only via a Help Forum. You can see my post about the problem at this link and see the reactions I’ve gotten so far.

Google is aware of my problem, and, hopefully, is working to correct it. Apparently, similar such problems with disappearing votes have occurred in the past.

Prior to the poll problems, on the question of which country to visit, Turkey was the leading vote getter by a slim margin, and as far as charities, Doctors Without Borders was the overwhelming vote getter, followed by Catholic Relief Services and Save the Children.

My plan is to still close the polls in April. If the polls are not fixed by then, I will stick with the choices that were leading prior to the poll malfunctions.

Again, I’m sorry for the glitch, but it was completely out of my control. At this late stage, it seemed inappropriate to start the voting all over again because it would negate the votes that were tabulated before the malfunction. I hope no one's enthusiasm has been dampened by the problem, and I look forward to seeing where this journey still ends up. Stay tuned, and thanks for reading my blog.

Comfortable or Life Changing? (Part 2)-February 15, 2010

2010-02-15T13:22:00.053-05:00

It’s difficult enough to walk down a new, unknown path in our lives when it means that we must let loose of a comfortable situation, but sometimes we are motivated to walk down paths that will likely change the entire course of our lives and everything that we know and hold dear, paths that although they seem nonsensical to follow, we still feel overwhelmingly compelled to do so.

Over the centuries, millions of immigrants have chosen such terrifying, all-encompassing paths when they made the decision to come to the United States. Many risked everything and left everything behind in hopes of a better life.

I love to travel overseas, but I’m always aware that I will soon return to my familiar way of life. I can’t imagine the courage it would take to board a ship, knowing that I might never return to my homeland, my family, my friends, my culture, my identity.

One of the privileges of teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) is that I get to work with students and families who have emigrated to the United States. It’s a real joy to see people who often arrive with little or nothing overcoming adversity and becoming successful in their newly, adopted country.

Recently, I came across the story of a woman named Julie Pearce who felt the call to walk down such an all-encompassing, potentially life-altering path. Until last month, Julie worked as a television anchor and reporter in Minnesota.

Nightly, she reported the events unfolding in Haiti from the earthquake that killed more than 200,000 people. Julie, who is also a registered nurse, decided she could no longer just report on what was happening. She decided she needed to use her nursing skills to directly help those who were suffering. So, Julie quit her job and bought a one-way ticket to Haiti, where she’s currently volunteering at a hospital in Port-au-Prince. You can follow Julie’s journey on her blog.

I’ve never met Julie, but I admire her willingness to take such a leap of faith. Will it forever change the course of her life? That remains to be seen, but her actions certainly serve as an example to those of us who might be considering a radical change in our own lives. It can be done. The universe can be trusted. Your Higher Power can be trusted.

As author Patrick Overton so eloquently put it, "When you have come to the edge of all light that you know and are about to drop off into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing one of two things will happen: There will be something solid to stand on or you will be taught to fly."

Comfortable or Life Changing? - February 1, 2010

2010-01-25T18:50:00.054-05:00

Lately, I've been mulling over a haunting question that I can't seem to get out of my mind, a question that a friend suggested we ask ourselves when faced with any decision, especially a major one – do we choose the comfortable path or select the path that could truly be life changing?

It’s easy to remain in a comfortable job, a comfortable relationship, or a comfortable pattern of behavior, even if we know it might be wrong for us, because walking down a potentially life-changing path can just be too frightening, even if we know the path is probably right for us.

Sometimes, I’ve shied away from the latter path. Although I don't have many regrets, occasionally, I wonder how things might have turned out differently, if I had had the courage to walk down more of the life-changing paths.

Watching television, which I admit I’ve spent countless hours doing, is comfortable. Reading a book, especially a challenging one, can potentially change a reader forever. Tending to one’s yard is comfortable. Spending that same time volunteering could transform the volunteer and the lives of those with whom the volunteer interacts. Buying a new television is comfortable. Donating that money to charity can literally mean the difference between life and death for someone.

I’m not trying to make a value judgment. I’m merely grappling with the notion that we make certain choices because we want familiarity, comfort, and safety, and we avoid making other choices because we are afraid of the possible pitfalls, although going down the uncomfortable path might ultimately make us happier.

In regards to travel, I think it’s also useful to address the question of comfortable versus life changing when considering one’s destination. I enjoy an occasional trip to Florida. It’s a chance to relax, soak up some sun, and eat great seafood. It’s comfortable, but no trip to Florida has ever had any lasting impact on my life, other than a few days of short-term pleasure.

I took my first life-changing trip back in 1994 when I went to Guatemala for seven months to study Spanish and to travel. I was uncomfortable on many occasions. At first, I didn’t understand the language. I lacked many of the conveniences of home, including heat, even though the temperature on some nights dropped to 20 degrees. I was surrounded by poverty. I battled stomach parasites, and at one point while traveling in Nicaragua, I was so sick and dehydrated that I didn’t have the strength for several days to climb out of bed to board a bus to get back to my “family’s” home in Guatemala.

But with the challenges came some life-changing gifts. I got to learn firsthand about the rich culture of Guatemala and to experience the kindness and incredible generosity of the people. I got to learn Spanish, which I still use to communicate with individuals in my community and with my students. I got a chance to see some of the poverty that I’d previously only read about, which, to this day, motivates me to contribute to charities doing relief work overseas. I got a chance to find out for myself that a person doesn’t need a lot of material possessions to be happy.

I was so moved by the way that Guatemalans reached out to me that I've always tried to repay some of that kindness when I encounter Guatemalans in my own country. In many respects, my experiences in Guatemala inspired me to teach English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL).

I’m not implying that an overseas trip, especially to a developing country, will automatically change one’s life for the better. In fact, it can do just the opposite. I’m familiar with a volunteer who was so overwhelmed by what he saw while working in the slums of India, that he needed psychological help and has no desire to ever return to such a situation. All I am saying is that some trips contain the seeds for a potentially life-changing experience, while other trips, such as lying on the beach in Miami, normally don’t.

As with all other decisions, I think that we avoid traveling to certain destinations out of fear. When I told friends I wanted to go to Guatemala, many replied that I was crazy because Guatemala was dangerous. Yet, I never ran into any problems. When I said I wanted to visit Haiti, even more people said I was crazy, but once again, I had nothing but positive experiences.

I agree that travelers need to exercise more caution in some countries, just as travelers to the United States need to exercise more caution in some cities rather than others, but excessive caution can stand in the way of the thrill of learning about and interacting with new cultures.

In 1993, I missed out on a chance to participate intimately in a cultural and religious experience abroad because of fear. At the time, I was visiting a small village a few hours outside of Guadalajara, Mexico. The occasion was Holy Week, which in Christianity is the commemoration of the last week of Jesus Christ's life leading up to his crucifixion and resurrection.

Each year, the village reenacts the events of the Passion of Christ. Hundreds of villagers march through the streets following the person who's playing the role of Christ. The procession ends outside the village with the "Christ" actor being tied to a cross atop a hill.

It's an honor to be chosen to play Jesus. Because I was a visitor, I was asked to play the role, but I declined because, at the time, I knew very little Spanish, and I was afraid I would look foolish if I had to speak.

It turned out that the actor didn't have to say a word.

As I walked through the village watching the moving spectacle, the painful realization sunk in that I had blown a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and worse, I realized I might have offended some of the villagers. Now, I use this past incident to emphasize to my students that we don't always get second chances in life.

Excessive caution or fear can also quickly quash potentially life-changing trips within the United States. Listen closely. You can almost hear these thoughts echoing through the universe..."I wonder what it would be like to help out in Appalachia?.....Nah....Maybe, I could hammer some nails for Habitat for Humanity?.....No, I need to catch up on some things....Could I have helped out with Hurricane Katrina?.....Nope, that's silly."

Again, it gets back to the question of comfortable versus life changing. We might prefer comfort and safety and fun, but, as my friend suggested recently when he raised his challenging question, pursuing potentially life-changing paths could lead to long-term joy.

The World Responds to Haiti - January 23, 2010

2010-01-23T14:50:00.009-05:00

It’s not a good time to be giving away one’s money. The U.S. unemployment rate remains at 10 percent, and many of us fortunate enough to have jobs are seeing our pay checks cut through less hours, furlough days and higher insurance costs. The nation is shackled by an ever-increasing debt, and depending on which economist you listen to, we are either still in or slowly climbing out of one of the worst worldwide recessions in decades.

During these uncertain economic times, millions of Americans have slashed their personal spending to save money, so it seems a bit illogical that anyone right now would be giving away his hard-earned cash, especially to strangers. Yet, that’s exactly what’s been happening in Haiti.

According to The Chronicle of Philanthropy, since the earthquake, private donors have contributed more than $380 million to help the people of Haiti. From an economic standpoint, such actions don’t make sense because donors are diminishing their wealth and getting nothing in return, aside from a possible tax break.

Donating only makes sense if we accept the notion that human beings sometimes are motivated by principles other than just self-interest. A cynic might say that people are donating out of guilt or pity or to save a little money on their taxes. That might be partially true in some cases, but I don’t think it could account for the magnitude and the fervor of the response to the Haitian crisis.

As I continue to write on this blog and to tell my students, I believe the majority of people are kind and generous and will reach out to help others, given the right set of circumstances. Eating a candy bar feels good, but it feels even better sharing the candy bar with someone else. It’s no different with money. Giving makes us feel good.

Why? Although we lose sight of it sometimes in our daily struggles and pursuits, I believe we all know deep down that we are happiest and most fully alive when we respond to that little voice inside of us that tells us to think of others, not just ourselves.

Please, if you haven't done so already, consider making a donation to the relief effort in Haiti.

A Plea For the People of Haiti - January 14, 2010

2010-01-14T21:06:00.025-05:00

Even in the best of times, life is a daily struggle in Haiti. Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and one of the most impoverished nations worldwide. About 80% of the people live below the poverty line, trying to exist on an average annual income of around $450. The country suffers from numerous problems, including a lack of infrastructure, few natural resources, insufficient health care, widespread illiteracy, malnutrition, disease, and political upheaval dating back to the country's founding.

Once, I asked a relief work in Haiti where volunteers could best utilize their money and their efforts to improve the lives of Haitians. He replied, "Take your pick. There are just so many problems to tackle. It's hard to know where to begin."

Haiti is one of the countries least equipped to deal with natural disasters, but because of its geographical location, it's been hit by numerous hurricanes, floods, droughts, and earthquakes. Haiti was still attempting to recover from the damage caused by three hurricanes back in 2008 when, this week, one of the most devastating disasters ever befell the country, a 7.0-magnitude earthquake, which killed tens of thousands of people.

Three years ago, I traveled to Haiti's northern city of Milot to visit my church's "adopted parish," Immaculate Conception.

The priest, Fr. Tijwa, told me because of Haiti's dire economic situation, most hospitals, schools, churches, and social service agencies couldn't survive without foreign financial assistance. Again, this is the scenario during the best of times.

Now, Haiti must deal with a crisis that would overwhelm even the most wealthy and powerful of countries. Haiti needs our help.

I realize this post is a bit of a departure from my other entries, but my blog is meant to be an experiment in benevolence. All along, I've told my students that I believe the world is a good place. I have faith that the world will respond to the plight of Haiti.

Please, if you have a few dollars to spare, send them to one of the numerous agencies already mobilizing to assist Haitians, who I've found to be some of the kindest, most generous, most resourceful people I've ever met.

This morning, I received word that Fr. Tijwa was alive and well, but several of his friends died in the earthquake in Port-au-Prince, including the city's archbishop. Despite his loss, Fr. Tijwa was more focused on the living and wanted to pass along his personal plea that all of us, who can afford it, consider contributing to some agency, any agency, that is working to alleviate the suffering in Haiti.

As a teacher, I sometimes hear adults complain about the selfishness and the idleness of our youth. Today, as I was leaving school, I passed one of my former students in the hallway. The boy, who led an extremely difficult life growing up in his native country, appeared to be a bit dejected and preoccupied.

When I asked him what was wrong, I expected him to say that he was having trouble with a girl or needed money to buy a car or was bothered by any of a number of the dramas that affect teenagers. Instead, he replied, "Mr. Dickinson. I wish I could go and help in Haiti."

There's Always Hope - January 8, 2010

2010-01-08T17:01:00.009-05:00

As a new year begins, if there's nothing else, there's always hope. If you lost your job, there's hope you will find a new one. If your marriage ended, there's hope you will meet someone else, maybe someone even more compatible. If you are suffering from an addiction, there's hope you will finally overcome it. I've never been a fan of the revelry of New Year's Eve, but I've always been comforted by the notion of a new year offering the chance of new beginnings and new possibilities.

Back in August, I launched my blog in response to a classroom discussion of whether people are basically good or evil. Through this online endeavor, I want to find out if benevolence can take me around the world, but I also want to show my students that any dream is possible, no matter how improbable it might seem. That's because there's always hope.

To this day, I have told only six people about my blog, as well as my 9th grade ESOL English class of 15 students, so I can see how an idea spreads, much like ripples spread across a lake after a rock plunges into the water. Since August, I've had more than 1,000 visits to the site from 31 states, 17 foreign countries and 2 territories.

Even though I've received only $34 in donations, I remain hopeful that I will be traveling overseas this summer. Hope is what fills me with excitement each day as I open my e-mail with the belief that today might be the day that I've received a ticket from the president of an airline or received a huge donation.

Although many of my kids don't think I'll raise enough money for my trip, a week doesn't pass by without a student asking me for an update on who's visited my blog or if I've collected additional money. I'm thrilled when a student asks because it gives me a chance to, once again, remind the kids that they should remain optimistic about their own dreams, such as graduating from high school or achieving better lives than the ones they left behind in their native countries.

At times, I'm surprised that my students continue to express such interest in my blog. I'm not sure why, but part of me believes that they want to see my crazy experiment succeed because then it might make their own dreams seem a little more attainable. After all, there's always hope.

A New, New Year's Resolution - December 28, 2009

2009-12-28T18:42:00.002-05:00

The Christmas presents are all unwrapped. The holiday feast is over, and now the focus shifts to New Year's and the annual resolutions for the coming year. Hmmm...Should I lose weight?...Should I exercise more?...Should I make an effort to be a better person? Rather than trying to live up to these familiar, difficult resolutions, why not try a new resolution this year that is both enjoyable and will enrich your life - travel outside your country's borders.

Yes, I realize there are many wonderful things to see within one's own borders, but a journey to another land allows a traveler to experience different languages, foods, customs, cultures and ways of thinking. To me, there's no greater thrill than occasionally stripping off everything that is familiar and comfortable in one's own culture and plunging into the depths of the unknown.

A person can't help but learn more about himself and others by delving into such waters, and often, the effects remain long after the trip is over. In 1986, I had a chance to visit Russia, which, at the time, was considered to be THE enemy of the United States. After a few days in Moscow getting to know the people who lived there, I could no more think of a Russian as an enemy as I could a person back home. As Mark Twain put it, "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness."

As part of a New Year's international travel resolution, you might also want to add an additional element that will further enrich the trip, while at the same time helping others - volunteer. Numerous companies now sell "volunteer vacation" packages, which can cost thousands of dollars, but you can set up your own international volunteer experience for little to no money.

Last summer when I visited Peru, I spent a week volunteering with the organization Aldea Yanapay, which I found through the website IndependentVolunteer.org. I’ve also read good things about the websites Volunteers for Peace and Service Civil International. I didn't pay a cent to volunteer with Aldea Yanapay, although I did pay a modest amount for room and board to live with a family associated with the program. In addition to the satisfaction of helping children in Peru, volunteering enabled me to immerse myself in the culture and get to know people in a way I never could have by just backpacking.

As the days wind down in 2009, I want to thank all of you who have read my blog and encouraged me with this endeavor. If you haven't already done so, please vote on where you'd like me to visit this summer, and please vote on which charities should receive any leftover funds.

Have a great 2010, and seriously consider a resolution to get outside of your own borders. You will forever be grateful that you did.

Christmas in Guatemala - December 16, 2009

2009-12-16T19:19:00.003-05:00

I've lived in several cities during my life, but no matter how far away I might have been at the time, I’ve always come home to celebrate Christmas with my family. It isn’t that my family has an elaborate array of traditions or puts numerous events onto the holiday docket. Actually, it’s just the opposite, which makes Christmas a relaxing time to unwind and simply enjoy one another’s company.

Back in 1994, I couldn’t make it home for Christmas or even make it to the United States. At the time, I was living in Guatemala studying Spanish and traveling throughout the region. Knowing that I planned on staying in Latin America for at least six months, the cost of an airline ticket seemed out of the question.

Life was good in Guatemala. I was enjoying my school. I felt comfortable in the house where I was living, and I was fascinated by the culture, especially the indigenous cultures. None of that seemed to matter, as I looked at the calendar and saw the time winding down ever closer to Christmas, the day when I was supposed to be in Chattanooga, Tennessee, with my family. Yes, I was feeling sorry for myself.

To make matters worse, things in Guatemala were just too different. There were no stockings hung by the chimney with care. In fact, there were no chimneys. There was no chance of a white Christmas. That certainly couldn’t happen with the daily high temperature hovering in the 60s, in the middle of dry season. Even more troublingly, there were no members of my family within a thousand miles.

All I could think about was what was missing. In my state of despair, I couldn’t even see what Guatemala might have to offer me for Christmas. If one of my Buddhist friends is reading this post, I’m sure you are laughing at me right now. Yes, I know I was suffering because my holiday reality wasn’t matching up with my expectations of how things should be.

The question is why did I put myself into this situation. Why had I decided to travel abroad when I really wanted to be home. After all, I didn’t have to be in Guatemala during Christmas. I could have been back in Tennessee enjoying It’s a Wonderful Life.

Actually, as I’ve gotten older, I’ve begun to realize that it’s rainy-day moments like these that motivate me to travel much more than the moments when everything is perfect. In the words of Italian poet Cesare Pavese, "Traveling is a brutality. It forces you to trust strangers and to lose sight of all that familiar comfort of home and friends. You are constantly off balance. Nothing is yours except the essential things – air, sleep, dreams, the sea, the sky – all things tending towards the eternal or what we imagine of it."

Perhaps, I was off balance enough to begin to finally notice some of the preparations going on around me for a Guatemalan Christmas. No, there was no sign of Santa Claus, but I had the pleasure of experiencing my first Posada, a nine-day celebration symbolizing the trials that Mary and Joseph faced trying to find a place where Jesus could be born. No, I didn’t hear any familiar Christmas carols, but I did experience a new Christmas sound of exploding firecrackers echoing nightly through the narrow streets of my town, along with the soothing, festive sound of marimbas.

And as the clock struck midnight on December 24^th, no, I wasn’t able to embrace the members of my family or exchange presents with them or savor a glass of eggnog and Christmas cookies, but I did get to take part in the cherished Guatemalan tradition of “Noche Buena,” meaning good night. With a spirit of revelry that reminded me of a combination of New Year’s Eve and the Fourth of July, suddenly, at midnight, firecrackers began exploding everywhere all at once , and the streets were filled with people yelling to welcome in Christmas Day.

When I walked back inside the house where I was living, the mother of my family didn’t hand me eggnog and cookies, but, instead, a piping hot mug of holiday fruit punch called ponche and a plate of specially- prepared tamales.

The sadness slowly melted away to the point that the only thing I missed, other than my family, was the familiar site of stacks of presents. In Guatemala, rather than adults exchanging gifts, there is more of an emphasis on giving children a few simple presents. As a result, everyone during the Christmas season seemed more relaxed and seemed to be able to focus more on one another and the true spirit of Christmas, rather than being consumed by the holiday rush and the materialistic aspects of the holiday. On “Noche Buena”, the children appeared to be just as excited with two or three presents, rather than 20.

Now, the only thing missing was my family, but I even forgot about that for awhile when the mother of the Guatemalan family took me by surprise by giving me a small gift.

Yes, Cesare Pavese was correct. In the days leading up to Christmas, I had lost sight of “all that familiar comfort of home and friends,” and, yes, I was off balance and a bit empty inside, but Pavese was also correct in saying that being adrift allowed me to embrace something even greater, which in this case, was a new reality of Christmas.

If given the choice, I would prefer to spend each Christmas with my family in Tennessee, but as the years pass and I reflect on past holidays, “Noche Buena” is still one of my fondest Christmas memories, a memory made possible through travel.

Six Degrees of Separation - December 13, 2009

2009-12-13T12:32:00.016-05:00

An estimated 6.8 billion people are now living on the face of the earth. Despite this staggering number, some authors believe we are all a lot more connected socially than at first appears.

Six degrees of separation is the theory that any person in the world can be connected to any other person in the world through at most five acquaintances. In other words, I don’t personally know the president of Ghana, but I might have a friend of a friend of a friend, who is the third cousin of the president.

In college, I first encountered this theory during a lecture on the importance of using networking to find jobs. The professor asked students to raise their hand if any of us knew former President Reagan. No hands went up. Then the professor asked if any of us had friends or friends of friends who knew Reagan. Surprisingly to me, one hand was raised.

When I launched Traveling Teacher 2010 back in August, I wanted to test my own theory that the world is basically a friendly place and that someone could travel around the world relying on nothing but benevolence.

I have been humbled by the number of people who have read my blog. At last count, I’ve had more than 900 hits from 31 states, 17 foreign countries and two territories. I’m also humbled by the number of people who have voted on where I should visit and on which charity should receive excess funds that I don’t use on the journey.

I will take votes until May 1^st 2010, when I’ll close the polls and travel to the top vote-getter. If the polls closed today, I would be headed this summer to Turkey, and any left-over funds would be split equally among the charities - Doctors Without Borders, Catholic Relief Services, and Save the Children.

As it now stands, readers of my blog have generously donated $34.05 toward my journey. Thank you! Even though that’s not enough for a plane ticket, I’m optimistic, and at the very least if I can’t purchase a ticket, that money will go to the three charities.

I realize that economic times are difficult for many individuals, so I thought I would throw out my own six degrees of separation request to the airline companies, or if you know Warren Buffet, Bill Gates or Donald Trump, that would be great, too, because they might be able to spare a few extra dollars for an airline ticket. Perhaps, the president of an airline has already read my blog and is waiting to surprise me with a ticket, once voters decide on where I’ll go this summer. If not, perhaps a friend of a friend of a friend, who babysits the son of the CEO of ___________Airlines will pass my blog along the six degrees chain.

While doing so, please let the CEO know that I’m not interested in going to ____________to just sit on a beach. I would hope to use this blog during my trip as an educational forum to shed light on people, places, and organizations that might otherwise not get noticed.

I kept such a blog back in the summer of 2008, when I was honored to be chosen to visit Japan as part of the former Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund Teacher Program. Through the blog, I believe I was able, on a personal level, to teach my students and my community a lot about the East Asian country.

In past posts, I’ve explained all of my motivations for Traveling Teacher 2010, but my strongest motivation continues to be to show my students that anything is possible. As a teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), I work with kids who, in many cases, have come from some very challenging situations in their native countries and who continue to face great challenges in this country.

If my students are able to see me doing the seemingly impossible – traveling around the world without any money of my own - then maybe they’ll begin to believe in their own seemingly impossible dreams such as attending college.

As the holidays unfold, I want to thank all of you who have read my blog and who have told others about it. I hope you have enjoyed reading it as much as I have enjoyed writing it.

In closing, I’ve decided from now on to end all my posts with a travel quote. This one comes from famed travel writer Freya Stark. “To awaken quite alone in a strange town is one of the pleasantest sensations in the world.” – Freya Stark

The Ripples are Stagnant - November 15, 2009

2009-11-15T18:18:00.006-05:00

It's been almost three months since I began my journey, and the ripples are stagnant. Much of the enthusiasm has died, and every day when my students ask me if I've received more money, I have to tell them "no."

In the midst of the doldrums, my students also constantly ask me whether I'm discouraged, and I also tell them "no."

What I do tell them is that any dream worth pursuing is going to have its share of adversity. Although my ship has hit the doldrums, I have confidence that I will be going somewhere next summer. If not, three charities are going to be $34.05 richer.

Regardless of what happens, it's already been a great trip because as Mark Twain said, "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

I hope you will continue with me on my journey, and we'll all see what happens on May 1 when I close the poll on my blog and discover where I'll travel.

Travel Magic - October 13, 2009

2009-10-13T14:36:00.005-04:00

Over the last few weeks, people have asked me about where I came up with the notion that someone could travel around the world relying on benevolence.

I might be taking benevolence to an extreme, but serendipity is certainly not unfamiliar to travelers, especially travelers who shy away from all-inclusive vacation packages and try to truly immerse themselves in foreign cultures.

That effort is often noticed, and good things often happen. I call it travel magic.

I’ve been the recipient of travel magic throughout my past journeys, but one of my favorite instances happened in Poland back in 1992. I was traveling from Germany to Warsaw to meet my brother, who had been traveling in Estonia.

The first travel magic happened when a Polish businessman unexpectedly gave me a ride to Warsaw and offered to drop me off at the rendezvous spot for my brother. He wasn’t there.

Rather than leave, the businessman took me on a tour of Warsaw and bought me a typical Polish lunch. When we returned to the rendezvous spot, my brother still wasn’t there, so the businessman took me to meet his wife and children.

Finally, it became apparent that my brother wasn’t coming that day (he had missed the bus), so the businessman dropped me off at a hostel for the night. Before he drove away, I asked him why he had gone to such trouble. I’ll never forget his response.

The businessman said that he had a 16-year-old daughter who dreamed of one day traveling to the United States. He said that he always tried to help foreigners with the hope that someone would return the favor if his daughter ever needed assistance during her visit to the United States.

That’s travel magic.

In an earlier comment that she left on my first post, Elizabeth Mahlou shared some of her own travel magic. (I hope you don’t mind, Elizabeth, that I quoted you in my post).

“I have gone to many countries with very little money and often come back with the same amount of money that I went there on…I have been stranded in foreign lands on multiple occasions when arrangements went awry, and strangers helped. Once, with my daughter in Siberia, we had planned to take a bus back from the airport where I had gone to make changes in a ticket, and I found out that there was no bus back, only a bus to the airport…I had only 9 rubles to my name at the time -- for a 75-kilometer ride back to the tiny town where we were living. I explained the situation to a cab driver, and he took us there for the 9 rubles. Every time the meter ran over 9 rubles, he would re-set it. People are amazing!”

I agree that people are amazing, and you don’t have to travel overseas to experience it.

Individuals who hike the Appalachian Trail often receive unexpected gifts such as food, medical assistance and even offers of accommodation from people who expect nothing in return. The hikers call it “trail magic”

As I’ve said repeatedly, I believe the universe is a benevolent place, but we must travel through it and trust it to experience the magic.

Over the last month, I’ve received more financial magic. I have now collected $34 for my trip. Thanks to all who have donated. Also, thank you for continuing to read my blog.

A Lesson in Patience - September 22, 2009

2009-09-22T19:48:00.006-04:00

It's now been a month since I tossed my idea into the universe, creating internet ripples that have passed before the eyes of readers throughout the U.S. and radiated to 14 other countries, but the ripples have slowed recently.

Today, one of my students asked me if I've received any more donations. "Nope, I'm still at $10.08," I said. Not wanting to miss an opportunity, one of my students replied, "Mister! Now you really do have enough money to take a trip – to McDonald's."

Once my laughter and the laughter of my students died down, I used the occasion to talk about dreams.

My current dream is that the universe will send me across the globe to share my discoveries with my students and my blog readers; that, hopefully, we can raise some money for charity; and, in the process, that maybe a student or adult will be motivated to pursue his or her own dream.

A few people have called my dream crazy, but I remain confident that I will be going somewhere this summer because I continue to believe that the world is a friendly place. As I told my students today, I have faith that something good is waiting just around the corner.

Many of my students also have dreams, such as graduating high school, having a successful career and raising families. Like me, I told my students that they, too, will face periods in their quest for a dream when the goal seems out of reach and when the ripples have seemingly stopped. Rather than being discouraged, I told them that is the time to push down the doubt and remember that adversity is the price of chasing a dream, but in the end, adversity makes the attainment of a goal all the more satisfying.

Stayed tuned, and thanks for reading my blog.

Why Travel Internationally? - September 13, 2009

2009-09-13T16:44:00.024-04:00

Over the years, I've constantly been asked why I choose to travel internationally. Now that I've launched the blog that question is back at the forefront.

There is an easy, surface answer to the question - travel is exciting. There's nothing like the thrill and freedom of journeying to exotic lands to experience sites like the ancient ruins of Rome or the awe-inspiring peaks of the Andes or the intricately-crafted temples of Kyoto.

But the excitement of these postcard scenes wears off after only a few days. It's the experience of interacting with, and learning about, different people and different cultures that remains long after the trip ends.

The real thrill begins when a traveler lands in a locale with an unfamiliar language, an unfamiliar way of doing things and an unfamiliar way of thinking. If the traveler can let loose of a few of his/her preconceptions of how things should be, it's a wonderful opportunity to begin to see the perspectives of others, and it puts the world into a whole new light, while at the same time serving as a reminder that one's own culture is not the only culture.

In addition, I travel because I believe it makes me a better ESOL teacher. I work with students from around the world, especially Latin America. I'm able to empathize and connect better with my students, at least those from Latin America, because I've eaten their food, seen many of their native cities, experienced their cultures and speak their language.

As a teacher, travel has also helped me understand some of the frustration of my students at adapting to a new land. I've felt a little bit of what it's like to be the outsider in a foreign place. For example, years ago, I spent seven weeks in Mexico. One weekend, I visited a family in the countryside. I consider myself to be reasonably intelligent, but it was difficult to detect on that trip because I was using the Spanish vocabulary of a four year old. The low point of the weekend for my self-esteem came when the mother in the family turned to a neighbor and laughed saying, "Él no entiende nada." Unfortunately, I knew enough Spanish to understand that she was saying, "He understands nothing."

Over the years, I've been asked about my philosophy of travel, as well. Like anyone, I enjoy an occasional luxury, but it's far too easy to visit a country and patronize only luxury hotels and luxury restaurants, where English and dollars are the norm, and risk coming away with an experience that might not be much different from home.

I've always preferred throwing on a backpack, traveling on public transportation, and staying in basic, locally-owned accommodations. That way, I feel good about supporting the local economy, and I have a better opportunity to actually get to know and to forge ties with the people who live there. Better yet, a week or two of volunteering is a great way to learn even more about a culture, while at the same time lending a helping hand.

Last summer, I loved seeing the sites of Peru for a month, but it was the 12 days that I spent living with a family in Cusco and volunteering at Aldea Yanapay that made the trip.

Some companies charge thousands of dollars for a "volunteer vacation," but with a bit of homework, it's possible to volunteer oversees for little to no money. I found Aldea Yanapay on the site Independent Volunteer.org.

Now, more the ever, world cultures are becoming interconnected due to the growth of multinational corporations, the explosion of the internet and the ease with which people can jet across the globe. I can think of no better way to promote world understanding and to break down barriers than by getting outside of one's comfort zone by getting outside of one's own backyard.

I've read that less than 30% of people in the United States own a passport. That's ashamed because there are such fascinating cultures out there waiting to be explored. I tell everyone if you have even the slightest thought about traveling internationally, do it.

For me, it's all about one's financial priorities. Possessions come and go, but experiences, like travel, can never be taken away.

Aside from all my reasons for traveling, I think that author Miriam Beard summed it up best when she said, "Certainly, travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living."

A Week of Firsts - September 7, 2009

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I continue to be humbled by the reaction to my blog.

To date, the site has gotten almost 600 hits from more than 30 states and ten foreign countries. Also, this week, I received my first donations totaling $10. Thank you! According to a Chinese proverb, "the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." Hopefully, these ten dollars will help me take the first steps of my own 1,000-mile journey.

As promised, I will provide you with monthly financial statements. The first one will appear in October. Since I had no donations in August, my accounting friend didn't post a September statement.

This week, I also received another form of generosity from a reader in Australia. His name is Marcus Endicott. I've never met him and knew nothing about him until a couple of days ago, but through a series of ripples, he came across my blog and decided to share my story with his 2,000-member travel site (See comment section under "The Ripples Spread").

It turns out that Marcus is an internationally-known travel writer and authority on sustainable tourism.

Was it a coincidence that Marcus came across my blog? I'm reminded of the words of Joseph Campbell who said, "Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors for you where there were only walls." Thanks, Marcus, for opening up a new door.

Frequently, I tell my students to follow their dreams because anything is possible. I know that there are other people out there with dreams of their own. Maybe it's time to follow your own bliss and trust that a friendly universe will support your dreams.

Because this is a universal undertaking, I have decided to add a translation program to the blog. The program features more than 30 languages. I hope this will make the site more accessible.

Again, thanks for reading my blog, and thanks for your generosity.

The Ripples Spread - August 30, 2009

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It's been a little over a week since I threw my idea into the universe by launching my blog.

Still, I've only personally told six people about the blog, as well as my 9th grade ESOL English class of 15 students. The reason is I want to see how an idea can spread much like ripples spread across a lake after a rock has plunged into the water.

As of 11:15 a.m. EST, the ripples have spread to more than 20 states and a handful of countries. During that time, the blog has had 441 hits.

In his book, The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century, Thomas Friedman talks about how the internet has contributed to the world becoming a level playing field because now someone working on a computer in India, Iceland or Indonesia can collaborate with or economically compete against someone living in Illinois. The internet has also leveled the playing field for the spread of ideas.

I've been amazed at how quickly word as traveled about the blog outside of my original group of six adults and 15 students. On the day that the blog was launched, the head of my department spread some ripples by e-mailing my blog to the staff at our school. Later that day, one of my friends outside of work set up an open Facebook group called "Mark Dickinson's Experimental Adventure," which spread the ripples further. As of September 1st, that group had 182 members, most of whom I've never met, but ripples often spread in ways we can never imagine or predict.

The next day, a newspaper reporter in Dalton, Georgia, learned about the blog through a Google alert and e-mailed me to see if she could write a story. That story ran on August 29th, and because the reporter was using a video camera, part of our interview got posted on YouTube.

I didn't ask anyone to do any of these things. The word spread through the actions and, in some cases, the generosity of others and through the magic of the internet. As I keep telling my students, anything is possible, especially in our technological age in a world that is becoming increasingly flat.

Speaking of my students, they seem to be interested in my blog, but most of them still don't think I'll be traveling anywhere this summer. As one of my students said last week with a grin spread across her face, "Mister. It isn't going to work."

Maybe she's right because, so far, I haven't received any donations, but I remain optimistic because I know the world is a good place. To illustrate my point, last week, one of my students lost his ID in the school building. At the beginning of class, another student walked in and handed it to him, saying he'd found it in the hallway. Things like that happen in a benevolent universe. I got a few "oohs" and "awhs" out of my kids with that one.

Regardless of what happens down the road, already the blog has triggered some great classroom discussions ranging from the importance of learning about other cultures to the importance of setting goals to the importance of following one's dreams.

On a personal note, I appreciate all of the positive feedback and encouragement I've received since the blog went on-line. I hope you will continue to follow the blog and find out if a person can, indeed, travel around the world relying on the generosity of strangers.