Arlyn in her classroom!

While on sabbatical from teaching, Arlyn volunteered in Nepal for one week. She is thrilled she had the opportunity and tells more of her story below.

Meet Arlyn, a seasoned teaching professional who recently won a week-long quest through United Planet while attending a local neighborhood auction.  Arlyn is no stranger to traveling and has been fortunate to have visited many countries during her career.

“I’m a very service-oriented person and I’d been thinking about doing a volunteer service trip for some time. With a lifelong interest in education around the world, the opportunity to teach English in Nepal was thrilling. When this opportunity came up, I jumped at the chance.”

Happy students playing outside the school

Packed and ready to go, she set off on her adventure.  Arlyn’s initial impressions of Nepal were through the plane’s window as she stared wide-eyed at the some of the highest peaks in the world.  Once on the ground, she marveled at the colorful clothing of the people she saw, was tickled to see monkeys wandering here and there, and amazed by the massive traffic congestion on the streets.

Cars, motor scooters, trucks and tractors lugging cargo all fought for space on narrow, one way roads often no wider than alleys.

The constant honking, gridlock and pollution was a shock to someone who thought she had seen chaotic roads in other countries. On her first day in Nepal’s capital city of Kathmandu, she was eager to begin her adventure but anxiously wondered what everything would be like. Would she like her home stay? Would the food upset her stomach? What would teaching really be like? As she finally got settled into her home stay, she found she was able to relax and enjoy the beautiful moments of Nepal each day.

“Teaching for 6 days in Kathmandu was a wonderfully rewarding experience,” said Arlyn, “although it certainly had its challenges. Education is happening there; it’s just not built out to the capacity one would hope.”

The school, where Arlyn taught, was founded by a local visionary named Uttam Sanjel, who is working hard to provide a decent, affordable education to poverty-stricken children throughout Nepal. Because she arrived in Nepal as a seasoned traveler, she wasn’t as shocked by what she saw yet was still saddened by the poverty, pollution and lack of basic supplies available at the school.

The school rooms were filled with many benches on dirt floors. They were positioned in front of long, thin tables illuminated only by the light coming in through the lattice and spaces between bamboo walls. A few light bulbs hung strategically to illuminate the darkest corners. A blackboard, eraser and small pieces of chalk were all that functioned as teaching materials. Some content-area books did exist, yet they weren’t culturally relevant and often contained vocabulary that was too advanced for the students. On the narrow benches sat forty-five to sixty-seven uniform-clad students crammed so closely together there was hardly room to stand – as is customary- when called on to speak. Because of the sheer number of students in one room, it was very difficult for teachers to learn everyone’s names – thus they sometimes resorted to calling out numbers to identify them.

A typical interaction between student and teacher went something like ‘Student #42, what did you have for an answer to this homework question?’ The school was not able to supply typical items such as papers and pencils, computers or photo copiers. No gym or cafeteria, no rooms other than the school rooms themselves. There was no running water, other than a tap at the school’s entrance. Students had to bring their own pens and sometimes had to share. If one ran dry or broke, it became very stressful for the kids. Basic supplies are clearly a valued commodity and not easily replaceable.

“I thought about all the extra pens I have laying around my house and I couldn’t believe I didn’t bring a whole bag of them” she said while recalling the poverty stricken country. Despite the difficult conditions, her students were so eager to learn and happy to come to school every day. The children rejoiced as they were taught songs such as “You are my sunshine” and the “Hokey Pokey.”

They were enthusiastic and immensely grateful for everything Arlyn taught during her forty-five minute classes. When asked if they wanted to learn about American holidays, they enthusiastically shouted “Yes”! The myriad of questions they asked about America both warmed Arlyn’s heart and saddened her, knowing they have so little access to the wider world.

Students working hard in class

It did take some time for Arlyn to get used to certain aspects of life at the school.  For example, when everyone in the modest teacher’s room was finished eating lunch, they would throw their garbage in a corner on the floor, rather than use a wastebasket.

At the end of the day someone would come and clean it up, leaving a litter-free floor the next day. While this was an odd, foreign practice to Arlyn, she knew littering was very normal for the Nepalese people. She also mentioned the standard fare students ate for lunch included dry ramen noodles, and if they were among the lucky,their parents would bring them hot pails of food.

When the weather was nice, children would eat outside and then play together in the bare, open space. There were no aspects typical to a western playground such as slides or swings, just dirt and open air. Yet knowing no differently, the children still found joy in the simple art of play.

When asked what biggest teaching challenge Arlyn faced at the volunteer project site, she replied the noise level made teaching and learning incredibly difficult. Not only did she have to strain to hear individual students as they spoke, but the thin bamboo walls allowed her to hear neighboring classes loud and clear, along with children playing outside and the typical pattern of low-flying planes overhead. Trying to focus on one noise at a time proved difficult and frustrating. Speaking loudly enough for students to hear left Arlyn with a tired, raspy voice by day’s end. Needless to say, this was quite a different educational experience than in America.

Hindu temple in Kathmandu

It wasn’t all hard work though. During her time in Nepal, Arlyn was able to take advantage of several cultural excursions and time off. She saw Mount Everest, visited an organic farm, explored local shops, and enjoyed walks through neighborhoods, observing Nepalese people in their daily life.

One highlight was her visit to the biggest Hindu temple in Kathmandu.  She felt deeply moved when she had the opportunity to observe the sacred ritual of cremation over funeral pyres at the Ganges River.  “I was breathless, struck by the life that was over and the ritual that has sustained itself for millennia” she said.

Arlyn felt lucky that she was able to return to a nice family in a comfortable home each evening. Her home stay family lived in a house with running water and western toilets, for which she was grateful. She found the family very accommodating and they even offered Arlyn the first floor where they slept, so she wouldn’t have to travel up and down the stairs to her guest room.

She was also able to get to know the family’s children and extended family. Typical to many Nepalese households, the extended family lived together, separated by different floors. Brothers, sisters and grandparents all shared the house, living peacefully among bells, prayer and the thick smell of incense. There were some adjustments however.

“I never had a hot shower while I was there, and the electricity was frequently cut off for hours at a time, but I adapted” said Arlyn. Overall, she was very happy with her home-stay placement and understood the reality that her daily life in Nepal would look very different than in America.

Young Nepalese child

Arlyn’s biggest accomplishment while in Nepal? Because the tiny, under-stocked library at the school wasn’t open to students, she suggested that the teacher assign each child a trip to the local library at least once per month.

“I hope the teacher follows through – a library can open the world to them.”

Arlyn only spent 6 days teaching, but feels she gained just as much as she gave. The trip of a lifetime she called it, that everyone should have the opportunity to take.

Megan reports that the language barrier was challenging, but the rewards were immense.

What did you enjoy most about your Quest in Japan?

The time spent with my host family and the time spent with the children at the school was what I enjoyed most about my Quest.

What was most challenging about your Quest experience?

The language barrier, if anything, was the most challenging.

Describe your volunteer work experience.

I helped at the local kindergarten at first with the small children and towards the end I worked with the 4, 5, and 6 year olds. I read to all the children in both English and Japanese, served lunch, and taught English songs. Everyday I played with the children.

Please provide a testimonial of your experience with as much detail as possible.

I could not have imagined a more perfect first visit to Japan, all thanks to United Planet. It was the most organized, fulfilling organization I have ever been apart of.

The experience surpassed my expectations: from the host family, to the volunteer work, the visits around Japan, to the everyday cultural involvement - the people of United Planet and Japan made me feel like I was a family.

I went to Japan to volunteer and in turn I learned more than I could have dreamed of in such a short quest time period. I will absolutely be using United Planet again and would recommend this amazing organization to anyone that asked with flying colors.

Lilyanne, posing for a recent post on her well-known fashion blog, "Bleed For Fashion"

Meet Lilyanne, a fashion blogger from Vancouver with an edgy style and a passion for life.  I had the chance to catch up with Lilyanne about her recent Quest to Nepal.

It was great to hear about her trip—the people she met, the places she saw, the independence she gained—the list goes on.  Here are some of the highlights as well as a few pictures from her 4 week long journey.

According to the “about me” section of her incredibly popular blog, “Bleed For Fashion,” Lilyanne describes herself as, “Vancouver-based, Calgary-raised. Dreamer. Inspiration seeker. A wall that so few can hurdle across.”

She certainly took a trip outside her comfort zone while traveling to Nepal, and the “dreamer and inspiration seeker” portion of her personality was put to the test.

Considering this was her first time traveling independently to a foreign country, there were obviously aspects that took some getting used to, but all in all her trip was a success.

She remarked, “Overall it was really great.  There was a lot to get used to, but given the chance to stay longer I would’ve, and I’m determined to go back.”

Lilyanne’s first major adjustment was to the capital city of Kathmandu where she spent the majority of her 4 week trip.

A View of Prayer Flags in Kathmandu

She said the traffic and congestion was overwhelming at first; not surprising as it is the largest metropolitan in the country, and has nearly one million inhabitants.

After a week or so she was able to embrace the intensity of the city, and by the end of the four weeks she said, “I was able to see quite a bit–nothing really shocked me anymore.”

Another adjustment Lilyanne faced head-on was at the orphanage where she volunteered.  She quickly realized that the approach to schedules and following a routine is a bit different in Nepal than what she’s used to back home.

“It was up to me to schedule how much time I wanted to spend at the orphanage. It’s a very different structure; you have to be creative and think on the spot.  My priority was at the children’s home, and I tried to give everyone equal attention.”

One of adorable orphan children, Rajeshwori

There were 28 children at the orphanage she worked at and about 4 other volunteers who overlapped with her time there.  She made the most of her time by splitting the children into smaller groups so no one was left out.

Lilyanne was constantly impressed by the incredible children at the orphanage, explaining, “they’re amazing children! So smart– and they all have their own personalities.”

She recounted one of her most memorable experiences in Nepal, an experience that happened to combine her love for shoes with the joy and beauty of volunteering. During her days at the shelter, she couldn’t help but notice that many of the children didn’t have proper footwear—and some didn’t have shoes at all.

She and another amazing volunteer at the shelter decided to take the 28 children to a shoe store downtown and bought them each a new pair of shoes.

Shoe shopping!

As you can imagine, it meant the world to each of the young kids.  Lilyanne recalled happily, “to see their faces light up for something we so easily take for granted really warmed my heart.  For the first time in my life I really felt like I was doing something right.”

Another major adjustment she faced during her Quest was being without a set support system of family and friends.

“In a foreign country you can only rely on yourself.  I learned a lot about myself, and definitely became a more independent person.”

Throughout her time she also learned to lean on the staff and friends she made at the orphanage, remarking, “by the end I was so sad to leave; I made relationships with people that now feel like family.”

Her host family was incredible and had a huge impact on her trip. They made the transition into foreign life comfortable, loving, and exciting.

I could almost hear her beaming through the phone as she gushed, “I couldn’t have been happier with the family I was placed with.  I clicked with my host mother immediately—she spoke almost perfect English.” Laughing, she continued, “I’m also Vietnamese, and my host mother and I actually looked alike!  I was often mistaken as a local.”

Lilyanne also easily bonded with her host sister, and they were even able to spend time together at the orphanage during a holiday while her host-sister was on vacation from school.

Lilyanne and her host-sister on the last day at the orphanage

Though most of her time and energy was spent at the orphanage, she was also able to enjoy the culture and beauty of Nepal.

She got to go to some of the main Buddhist and Hindu temples around Kathmandu, and even witness an eye-opening live cremation at a Hindu temple.

She said it was fascinating to explore the beautiful temples, especially since religion is such a major part of the culture and heritage of Nepal in general.

During Dashain, “the most auspicious festival in the Nepalese annual calendar,” she found time to travel to Pokhara, the third largest city in Nepal.

Beautiful Pokhara

She shared with her many followers in one recent post,

“I had the chance to be rid of the crowds, noise and pollution of Kathmandu and leave for higher ground for a couple of days. Located 200 km west of Kathmandu, Pokhara is the third largest city in Nepal.

Surrounded by beautiful peaks of the Himalayas, luscious green forests and the magnificent Phewa Tal lake, Pokhara is a remarkable place of natural beauty and for some R&R.”

Her trip only raised her spirits further as she found more and more to love about the country of Nepal.

Lilyanne had an amazing trip and made a deep and meaningful impression on the people she met.  Here’s some advice she had to share—what a great approach to life she has!

“Go in with open heart and mind. In the beginning I struggled. I needed to remind myself this was my decision—I made it on my own—I had to just tell myself what I’m doing is for a purpose and I need to embrace it and live in the moment.  Remember: Stay humble and give back. You never know when you’re changing someone’s life, or saving it.”

A mother and daughter in Thimi

Thanks, Lilyanne, from all of us at United Planet. You made a meaningful impact on the lives of so many deserving children, and you’ll surely be remembered every time they look down at their feet!

If you’re interested in volunteering abroad in Nepal, here’s some more information about United Planet Quests, and how you can get involved in over 40 countries around the world! For more highlights from Lilyanne’s trip, including pictures and videos, be sure to check out her blog!

Our Grand Prize Winner is Andi Enns,who wrote a wonderful piece about her experience in Uganda and how it influenced her to raise money for a Ugandan village upon her return home. Here’s an excerpt from her piece…

“I went back to my room at the hotel we were staying at and stared at the blinking cursor on my computer screen, trying to figure out how I was going to tell the story. I felt dizzy as I thought of way after way that I could help the village myself. Maybe I could sell my jeans and my laptop, and that would help. My iPod? My luggage? I realized in that moment that I would give up everything – from my laptop to my coffee addiction to my mascara – if only that little boy and his family could have some clean water.

There’s a simple word in Uganda that means a lot, “kyambura,” meaning “I have searched, and I have prayed, and that is all that I can do.” I had my own kyambura moment that day – I had searched and prayed for answers, but that was all I could do.

So I pulled out my voice recorder and pulled every conversation I had had that day off of it. And I edited a radio story that contained my heart and soul. My voice was all I had.

When I came home, the piece played on the local NPR station. The community responded, and now my university is trying to raise enough money to give a Ugandan village a well.”

Justin Lebron is our winner for the Photography portion of the contest, who traveled to India with United Planet and captured a great photo as he was driving out of the village on his last day. Justin hopes to join the Peace Corps after college.

They will miss him!

Kathryn Murphy is our winner for Video, who captured her experience in Quito, where she taught for four weeks. Kathryn traveled to Peru with United Planet following her trip to Ecuador.

Kathryn’s video of children dancing to the beat in Ecuador!

These students love to dance!

Honorable Mention goes to Sarah Daniel, who traveled to Nepal and snapped a shot of a breathtaking view from the Himalayas, as a woman trekked with her woven basket.

What a view!

Congratulations to all! We are looking forward to next year’s contest!

Jean Charles, a seventeen-year-old senior at the John D. O’Bryant School of Math and Science in Roxbury, doesn’t remember his first trip on a plane — as a baby traveling from Haiti. He will never forget his second. In July, Jean flew over 30 hours to Mongolia via Washington D.C. and Beijing.  “I got very used to being in a plane,” he says. Many more unfamiliar experiences, however, were ahead for Jean.

Some of the group, ready to explore

Jean was one of 11 Boston Public School students and three teachers selected to join a three-week expedition to Mongolia as participants in the U.S. Department of State’s U.S.-Mongolia Emerging Youth Leaders Program. This October, Mongolian teenagers will travel to Boston to learn about journalism and the role of free expression in democratic society.

The program is supported by a grant from the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and coordinated by United Planet, a Boston-based nonprofit that offers volunteer abroad programs; and iEARN, the world’s largest educational network for project-based learning.

Enrolled at Boston Latin, Quincy Upper, and Snowden School, as well as O’Bryant, the students represent the diversity and talent in Boston’s public schools.

They were each selected, says Caitlin Ferrarini, International Programs Manager at United Planet, because they were “involved in extracurricular activities, had an interest in journalism and free expression, were mature and independent, and were good students. We also tried to select kids who hadn’t had many opportunities to travel, especially internationally. A few kids were flying for the first time ever – it was really eye-opening!”

When they arrived in Mongolia, the students met their host families and visited schools, media outlets, an orphanage, historic sites, and nomadic herders in their ger tents (or yurts) in the desert.

It isn't every day one can "plank" in the Gobi Desert

They wrote newspaper articles and explored the meaning of free speech with their Mongolian peers. They learned to play games with goat anklebones and taught their hosts the latest Hip Hop dance moves. They heard harmonic throat singing, rode camels, and drank fermented mare’s milk. The American fad of planking – in which players compete to “plank” or lie like a board on top of unusual locations – may have found its champions when the Boston students planked on sand dunes in the Gobi desert.

Jean brought home a new sense that “the world is a lot smaller than I thought it would be.” He was struck that “as far away as they live, a lot of Mongolians we met spoke English really well – along with Russian and Mongolian – when Americans struggle to speak a second, or even one. Now I want to learn more languages myself.”

As a member of the Boston Student Advisory Council, Jean was impressed with the schools in Mongolia. “All the parents, teachers and students there are involved in the schools. I hope I can emphasize the importance of being involved in your school through my work on the Council.”

A boy and his goat

The American and Mongolian students are now staying in touch through Facebook, and can’t wait to see each other again when the Mongolians visit Boston this fall. “I’m saving up to take my host brother to the Galleria and shop for sneakers,” says Jean. “I’d love it if he could go to a Red Sox or a Patriots game.”

The Mongolian students will spend two weeks in Boston, visiting and learning; they will tour the Emerson College radio station, visit the BU Center for Investigative Journalism, interview homeless people, drop by the MIT Center for Future Civic Media, and more. The third week, they will be in Washington, DC, where they will tour Capitol Hill and the Supreme Court, visit the Smithsonian, and more.

About Mongolia

The whole happy group of travelers!

Mongolia, a landlocked country in East and Central Asia, is bordered by Russia and the People’s Republic of China. Mongolia’s political system is now a parliamentary republic; during the last century, its politics were similar to those in the USSR, until a democratic revolution in 1990 led to a multi-party system, a new constitution in 1992, and transition to a market economy. Since 2006, the media environment has been improving with the government debating a new Freedom of Information Act, and the removal of any affiliation of media outlets with the government. Market reforms have led to an increasing number of people working in the media, along with students at journalism schools.

The project is a program of the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. It is being managed and implemented by United Planet (based in Boston, MA) and iEARN (International Education and Resource Network).

About iEARN

iEARN was launched in 1988 as a pilot project between the US and former USSR to demonstrate that students could use emerging new technologies to work together on meaningful educational projects that enhance the quality of life on the planet. It is iEARN’s vision that if students start working together globally from the earliest ages (5-19), they will learn better through experiential interaction with peers in other countries and learn that the world’s issues can be resolved by collaborative solutions. iEARN has grown to become the world’s largest educational network for project-based learning, with programs in more than 130 countries.

iEARN-USA was awarded the 2003 Goldman Sachs Foundation Prize for Excellence in International Education and is a 2004 Tech Museum Laureate winner for “technology benefiting humanity.” Please visit www.iearn.org andwww.us.iearn.org or e-mail: iearn@us.iearn.org iEARN-USA is based in New York City.

About MEA

The Mongolian Education Alliance is an independent non-governmental organization established in July 2004 as a successor to the education program or the former Mongolian Foundation for Open Society. Th mission of MEA is to strengthen and sustain the network of local and international partners that contribute to open society values such as transparency, accountability, participation, equal access in the Mongolian education sector; identify underserved areas of educational reform; and initiate projects supporting reform in teacher development, student center learning, and community involvement. MEA is the officially designated iEARN representative for Mongolia

About ECA

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the U.S. Department of State fosters mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries to promote friendly, and peaceful relations, as mandated by the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961.

ECA accomplishes its mission through a range of programs based on the benefits of mutual understanding, international educational and cultural exchange, and leadership development. We engage youth, students, educators, artists, athletes, and rising leaders in many fields in the United States and more than 160 countries through academic, cultural, sports, and professional exchanges. Striving to reflect the diversity of the United States and global society, ECA programs, funding, and other activities encourage the involvement of American and international participants from traditionally underrepresented groups, including women, racial and ethnic minorities, and people with disabilities.

ECA exchange program alumni encompass over 1 million people around the world, including more than 50 Nobel Laureates and over 350 current and former heads of state and government.

I will never forget my first morning in Indonesia...

Sarah posing with some of the teachers at the boarding school.

Just as the sun was about to peek over the horizon, I was jolted awake by a strange sound. In a matter of seconds, the dark and silent city was hit by waves of high pitched cries, enveloping the sleeping houses and hills beyond.

It took a few heart-pounding moments for me to remember I was in Semarang, Central Java, and recognize that these loud, eery voices echoing out of the darkness were the Islamic calls to prayer.

Closing my eyes and listening to these rhythmic, haunting sounds gave me goosebumps.

It hit me for the first time that I was thousands of miles and worlds away from everything I knew.

Teacher Sarah!

I couldn’t wait to start my journey.

For six incredible months I lived and assisted teaching English at a Pondok Pesantren, an Islamic boarding school in Indonesia led by an expert of Islam called a Kyai.

It was a bumpy 15 minute drive from the nearest main road through steamy forest and scattered villages.

Eventually, a large sign welcomes you to the school, a collection of small buildings.

In the centre of the clearing, surrounded by natural mango trees and flowering bushes, was the home I shared with the family of the Kyai, my host family.

Some students and Sarah in the home where she stayed.

To the left were the student dormitories housing approximately 1,000 students and to the right, the classrooms.

A typical day for the students starts at 4:00 am when they arise to pray and read the Koran.

Standard curriculum classes, such as math, history, and English, start promptly at 7:00 am and last until 3:00 pm. After that, school activities are focused around religious studies and reading the Koran. Sometimes they continue until 10:00 or 11:00 at night!

I was always amazed at how everyone could get through the day with so little sleep. They liked to tease me by saying, “selamat siang” (good afternoon) if I woke up at 6:00 am!

My favourite time was late at night when the students finished their activities and I would relax and chat with them in their dormitory. Mixing English and Indonesian, we talked about everything.

Sarah with some of her happy students.

It was amazing living at a boarding school because I was was not only a teacher, but became a close friend to many of the students as well.

On my teaching days, I would walk from my home to the classrooms wearing my long, batik patterned skirt and brightly coloured hijab covering my hair, which I wore out of respect for the culture.

“Assalamu alaikum!” I would greet my class in Arabic and they would enthusiastically reply in unison, “Wa alaikum salam!”

The classrooms were often very crowded and I had little more than a whiteboard and marker to teach with, but we always had a great time.

Some more students at her school.

The children were so full of energy and every day we would practice our English through songs, acting or games.

Whatever we did, I was usually exhausted by the end of class but always walked out smiling. It was fulfilling to see the students respond so energetically to the lesson plans I worked hard to make for them.

I think the most important thing I took home from my journey was the cross-cultural experiences and exchanging of ideas and knowledge.

It’s now clearer to me than ever that to create a better world we need to foster respect, understanding and acceptance between people of different cultures, different ethnicities and different backgrounds.

I find it troubling how easily western societies associate Islam with terrorism. I can say from first hand experience that generalizing about a group of people like this is completely unjustified and wrong.

Beautiful view from the balcony at Sarah's project.

For the people I lived and worked with in my Islamic school, as well as those I met traveling around this predominately Islamic country, the primary values in life were taking care of family, helping those less fortunate and keeping their religious and cultural traditions alive. These people are some of the kindest and gentlest people I have ever known.

I feel extremely lucky to have experienced a Quest with United Planet in Indonesia. It allowed me to   immerse myself in life in another part of our world.

When I arrived I found a culture that at times left me feeling bewildered and confused. By the time I left six months later I had learned so much that Indonesia felt like my second home.

Sarah loved staying at the boarding school where she met some amazing students and teachers.

My mind has been opened more than I imagined it could be and the way I see the world, myself, and those I know will be forever changed.

I would like to continue working with people from all walks of life and continue fostering relationships and building cross-cultural b

ridges that are essential to make our world a better place for everyone.

This certainly will not be my last Quest!

Click here for more information about becoming a United Planet Volunteer in Indonesia!

She’s working on building the infrastructure and the team to sustain a long-term effort for rebuilding and helping. We hope you will join us in supporting her, and helping to build United Planet Japan.

To donate using a mobile device such as a cell phone, please:
text JAPAN to 85639

$10.00 donation to United Planet Japan. Charges will appear on your wireless bill, or be deducted from your prepaid balance. All purchases must be authorized by account holder. Message and Data Rates May Apply. Text STOP to 85639 to STOP. Text HELP to 85639 for HELP. Full Terms: www.mGive.org/T. Privacy Policy

___________________________________________
Voices of Survivors: Mr Akama
 
“I am from Yamato town, I was at the dentist when earthquake hit on 11th March 2011. Right after, I was worried about my house, so I went back to the house, then big Tsunami came, water broke windows and came inside of my house.

I could not stand up, water level was almost my height, so I was jumping up and down, drowning in the water, drunk sea water. I almost gave up, but I told myself that I should not die like this, so I used my last energy and somehow managed to climb up on the top of wardrobe, floating.

The water was really cold, my body was really freezing, I needed to heat myself up, therefore I tried to find Sake. I had thought drinking Sake would heat my body up, but it was impossible to move or to find Sake, all of items in house were messed up in water.

A few days later, I was rescued…. Now, I am sharing this space at this shelter with 2 other men, Not only me, many people lost families; one of my friend here were 5 members in a family, lost 4 of them.

People who were evacuated here shared same experience, we have very strong bond… that is one good result of disaster…………..of course I feel sad, but what can I do ? Better to move on in life.”

Shelters continue to house thousands of people who lost their homes in the tsunami.

The group from BPS at an orientation

In Mongolia, they will learn all about the people, culture, and local media organizations of the country.

Then in October, a group of students and teachers from 10 different Mongolian high schools will travel to the USA where they will spend time in Washington DC and Boston learning about the government and media practices in America.

Caitlin Ferrarini, the United Planet Group Coordinator who will be accompanying the BPS group, explained that she’s most excited about the traditions and cultural wonders they will get to see. As she said, “Mongolia seems like it is a place that is still very full of traditions, and I am very interested to learn about these and get to know the people in Mongolia.”

The group will have the unique opportunity to spend time in both the capital city, Ulan Batar, as well as the Gobi Desert. The contrasting traditions, lifestyles, and cultures between the many Mongolians who still practice nomadic herding, and those who live in the city, are sure to be eye-opening for the students and teachers alike.

Here in Boston, the BPS group has had the opportunity to get to know each other and learn some introductory information about Mongolia.  Everyone has been getting along really well and both the kids and adults are incredibly excited!  As Caitlin says, “Meeting all of the students in the group has been great so far, they are all such amazing people whom I am excited to get to know better on our adventure to Mongolia!”

United Planet's Theresa dressed in Mongolian Princess regalia

United Planet Vice President Theresa Higgs, herself a returned Peace Corps volunteer and veteran traveler, traveled to Mongolia this past November to help set up the program details, prepare and facilitate the exchange program and choose the Mongolian students.

Check out this video, (posted by iEARN USA who is administering the exchange program), where Theresa shows us an up close tour of a traditional ger (yurt), as well as a couple friendly welcomes from the Mongolian students who are participating in the exchange.

Theresa was so excited and impressed by the people she met during her trip.  As she wrote in her journal, “The participating students and teachers from 10 schools from around the country are so motivated and focused on learning more about journalism and community action. They have truly inspired me!”

This trip promises to be a wonderful experience; one that we hope will have a positive effect on each individual involved as well as their families, friends, and communities!

Keep looking out for more updates as the time draws nearer.  Hopefully we’ll have some live reports from the nomadic travelers while they’re abroad!

United Planet is very excited to announce that Chie Goto will serve as the Country Manager in Japan for a new voluntary international exchange program between Japan, the United States, and other countries, entitled United Planet J-Initiative, J-Center Volunteer Leaders²(pronounced Volunteer Leaders squared).  Starting this week, Ms. Goto will oversee this program that expects to enroll over 650 American and Japanese volunteers within four years.

Chie gave a lecture at a school in Japan and discussed the work of United Planet

“Chie shares the same vision and mission of United Planet as exemplified by her life experiences and accomplishments. She understands how the principles of Relational Diplomacy can bring people together to enable us to surmount local and global challenges and realize our fullest global potential,” says Dave Santulli, Executive Director of United Planet.

“Chie’s life sets an example for many.  As our leader in Japan, Chie will be able to inspire and involve generations of volunteers and leaders to build understanding and work together to find global solutions. We are very proud to have Chie Goto join the United Planet team and build United Planet in Japan.”

Ms. Goto has founded three nonprofit organizations: “Japan-Kenya Student Conference” (JKSC), “Student Conference Network,” (SCN) and “Japan-India Student Conference,” (JISC).  For the nationwide Japanese newspaper, “Mainichi shinbun,” she served as a freelance journalist and has received numerous nonfiction writing awards. In 2005 the International Soroptimist Okazai, Japan awarded Ms. Goto for contribution towards society and International exchange.

United Planet J-Initiative, J-Center Volunteer Leaders² Program will allow underserved youth within Japan and America to foster cross-cultural cooperation and civic leadership through an innovative, sustainable voluntary exchange program. Building upon the 2010 Global Volunteer Exchange Visit funded by the Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership (CGP), United Planet will expand relationships from across various sectors, including universities, NPOs, foundations, and companies. In a decade, United Planet hopes to engage over 4,000 incoming Americans and outgoing Japanese volunteers.

Chie in the newspaper!

Chie volunteering

Her UP story started with a decision in 2008 and in mid 2009 Abbie was on her way to Cambodia for a 10 day Quest with United Planet to teach English and play games with children. Today Abbie shares with us her stories from her great volunteering experience and her vision for the future of United Planet’s Alumni.

Abbie with some of the kids she met at the foundation in Angkor

“Be the change you wish to see in the world” is Abbie’s favorite quote by Ghandi, and by going to Cambodia she was trying to do exactly that – be a change.

Her journey started with some challenges:  having to cope with a huge language barrier and trying to communicate in a language the local people didn’t understand and who spoke back in a language she didn’t understand.  Despite this, Abbie’s attitude and experience was positive.

“The people were so friendly and welcoming; it was easy to get comfortable halfway across the world from my home!”

Abbie felt the people were an enormous help to her when she first arrived and made the transition easier for her. Being in Cambodia and surrounded by these amazing people, Abbie found an unexplainable inspiration and motivation.

Even though her visit was short, it was powerful; and Abbie is positive that she will never forget the things she learned and experienced during her 10 days in Cambodia. She truly enjoyed her experience and had a wonderful time interacting with the amazing Khmer people, and being at the school and orphanage.

“Talking with Phally, who runs the English school out of his house, and hearing about his commitment to the children in his community and what he faced during the Khmer Rouge was very inspiring.”

This was amongst her most cherished memories from her time spent in this beautiful country.  Even after returning home, the experience left a mark on Abbie.

“I felt inspired and motivated, and am still planning when I am going to be able to go back.”

Beautiful Angkor

When she was offered the position of Secretary for the Alumni Council she knew this would be her way of giving back to United Planet. Her goal is to connect volunteers with both the projects and countries that they were involved in, and she hopes they will be as involved and motivated to spread the word about United Planet.

Abbie hopes that volunteers will stay involved by signing up for the newsletters, checking the website and Facebook page every so often and asking how they can help.  She explained, “we can come up with something!” She believes there is a solution to everything, if someone is willing to pitch in.   In this case, it’s all about the Alumni!

We wish Abbie good luck on her journey with the Alumni Council! With her motivation, eagerness and inspirational mind we are sure she will be an amazing contributor to the Alumni Council and to the mission of United Planet!