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.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Christmas in Guatemala - December 16, 2009
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
Life was good in
To make matters worse, things in
All I could think about was what was missing. In my state of despair, I couldn’t even see what
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
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 24th, 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
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
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Six Degrees of Separation - December 13, 2009
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
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 1st 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
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
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
Sunday, November 15, 2009
The Ripples are Stagnant - November 15, 2009
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.
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.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Travel Magic - October 13, 2009
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.
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.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
A Lesson in Patience - September 22, 2009
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.
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.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Why Travel Internationally? - September 13, 2009
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."
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."
Monday, September 7, 2009
A Week of Firsts - September 7, 2009
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.
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.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
The Ripples Spread - August 30, 2009
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.
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.
Friday, August 21, 2009
The Journey Begins - August 21, 2009
------Trip Dates - June13-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 world back in 2010 voted to send me to Turkey, and a benefactor graciously offered to donate my plane ticket. Check out my April 26, 2010, post, "An Unexpected Gift," for more details).
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. (The PayPal button was removed at the conclusion of the journey.)
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!
"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 world back in 2010 voted to send me to Turkey, and a benefactor graciously offered to donate my plane ticket. Check out my April 26, 2010, post, "An Unexpected Gift," for more details).
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. (The PayPal button was removed at the conclusion of the journey.)
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!
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