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.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
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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