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.

Mongolia public school students visited the U.S. State Department in November as part of their exchange program.

We were delighted to welcome the group of Mongolian high school students and teachers to Boston this past month–they brought amazing energy and enthusiasm into our city, our office, and the homes of 14 lucky host families. Now they’re continuing the program in Washington D.C.–their smiles and flashing cameras will be missed! Lots more photos on Flickr.

Last Tuesday we hosted a celebratory event for this wonderful exchange program.  It was held at the Villa Victoria Center for the Arts, in the charming South End neighborhood of Boston.  The program was arranged so that we could all hear more about the program and the exciting experiences the group has had.

Dave with Dr. Yu-Lan Lin, Senior Program Director for World Languages

First we heard from Dave Santulli, executive director of United Planet, who expressed his gratitude, on behalf of United Planet, to be able to facilitate such a unique exchange program.

“How better for two such different cultures to get to know and understand each other? I am so thrilled to meet the students, teachers, families, and sponsors who’ve worked so hard to pull this program together. And who are now experiencing the joy of living and eating and laughing in each others’ lives. Great young people, truly emerging leaders, who will take these bonds forward with them as they grow into global citizens.”

Helen Smith at the event at Villa Victoria

We also had the pleasure of hearing from Helen Smith, executive director of the New England Press Association, who has many years of experience as a teacher and a journalist, including teaching journalism to kids and teachers in the former Soviet Union.

She has worked in Hungary, Romania, Republic of Georgia, Armenia and especially Kyrgyzstan, and studied Russian for six years at Newton North in Massachusetts.

On Tuesday, Helen spoke about her time teaching the Mongolian students.  She gave a lesson about how to conduct a proper interview, and assigned the students a project to interview their host families, (read some of the interviews here!) She also spoke about the importance of a free press in a Democratic society.

Hanging out with his host brother, best buddies!

It was also wonderful to hear from one of the host families; they talked about what a joy hosting the Mongolian student has been and how close of a bond they had already formed with their host-son.   They also expressed their happiness with the program and the amazing opportunity to experience a new culture and share their home with such a wonderful and grateful exchange student.

A few students and a teacher from the Boston Public School trip who traveled to Mongolia in July spoke about the trip and what it meant to them–they shared some cool pictures too, such as planking in the Gobi Desert!

Some Mongolian Spirit to end a great night!

The Mongolian students each spoke about their favorite part of the trip and most of them gushed about how much they loved getting to know their host families! We also heard from the Mongolian Educational Alliance representative, the group who had facilitated the exchange in Mongolia back in July.

Finally Aqueela, a representative from iEARN in New York City, spoke on behalf of iEARN as well as the State Department.

Overall it was a great evening–a wonderful way to see the amazing work that both groups of students have accomplished.  Thanks to everyone involved!! If you’d like to read the blog written by the Mongolian students, please click here!

More information about the exchange program:

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).

Over the past nine years, United Planet has worked with local communities all over the world to find meaningful work for volunteer travelers; and has placed thousands of volunteers in those communities to live and work – for periods ranging from a week to a year. United Planet is the U.S. and Canadian member of the International Cultural Youth Exchange (ICYE) Federation, founded in 1949.

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 and www.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.

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!

From 9/16/2011: “Relax. Be patient. You have more time.”

Ghana Bound!!

If you ever find yourself venturing around Ghana, those are the three things you will need to remember. But I’ll get to that a little later.

I want to write everything, tell you all of my experiences so far, but I have to accept that it would be impossible to do that. I think this post will have to be separated into short blurbs.

-I arrived in Accra Tuesday afternoon, was picked up by Sheila, an ICYE worker, and with some apprehension, jumped in a taxi to wherever I was being taken. Accra traffic is scary, to say the least.

-I’m staying in a hostel with 21 other volunteers as we go through a week of orientation. Being the only American, it’s been quite a cultural experience so far. The others are from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Finland, and Sweden.

I definitely have it easiest when it comes to the Ghanaian English accent. The others know English, some better than the rest, but they have a very hard time understanding. Not in a mean way, but it’s interesting to watch them struggle.

Hostel for orientation week

They switch back and forth between their own languages and English to help each other understand. I don’t remember what it’s like to sit in the same room with everyone speaking English anymore.

-White people are ‘Oburoni’. Oburoni means white. White means rich (to them).

The men on the street come up, put their arm around you, attempt to make friends (sometimes more than friends), and will then try to sell you something.

-All my stressful preparation is paying off. Other volunteers are coming to me for things they need (good thing I brought a little extra of everything). I brought out UNO one night as well. Each country had some different rules, so we had fun making it up as we went.

-We started our intensive Twi language courses today. It’s…intense.

Drinking water in a bag

-I’m actually never too hot. I think good ol’ psychotic Minnesota weather is to thank for that.

-Now back to the title of this blog. We volunteers have been told numerous times that the hardest part of this adventure is already done.

We made the decision to move to Ghana.

William (the head guy here) says, “If you make it to Ghana, there is nothing you can’t do”.

He says that everything will come in its own time. I’m here for 6 months, there’s no rush to figure it all out. Just “relax” and “be patient”.

-Girl Worth Fighting For, from Mulan, has been stuck in my head for 3 days.

“When you travel you experience, in a very practical way, the act of rebirth. You confront completely new situations, the day passes more slowly, and on most journeys you don’t even understand the language the people speak….You begin to be more accessible to others, because they may be able to help you in difficult situations.”

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From 9/18/2011: “Naa Adwoa Shika”

Naming ceremony

That ^ is my Ghanaian name. Yesterday, we held a semi-traditional naming ceremony for all the volunteers.

Traditionally, after a Ghanaian woman gives birth, they keep the baby inside the house for 7 days.

On the 8th day, they perform an “outdooring”, and officially name the baby. The libation process is kinda complex, it involves dipping fingers into spirit alcohol and water, and placing symbolic drops in the baby’s mouth.

All the while, an elder wishes good morals and truth upon the baby. In the Akan culture, the first name is based on the day the baby was born (mine being Adwoa-monday).

Documenting all the new names

The second name is sometimes after an important family member/friend or it can be a name that means something good. Sampson, our Twi teacher who performed this whole ceremony, gave me Shika.

It means I bring wealth to wherever I go, I have a beautiful spirit, and I should have many many children. “2 children in 3 months” as Sampson joked. He’s a funny guy.

Our ceremony was minus the drops of liquid. Instead, we drank out of glasses. And let me tell you, 43% alcohol content was not my cup of tea…

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!

Kimberly felt that her entire safety review before spending 3 weeks in Tanzania was over the top. She remarked, “I was warned about many things, including ‘not to look at people in the eye’ and other safety topics. I did not have an issue at all with many of the topics that were brought up. If you practice common sense in Tanzania, then you will have a good time.” We thought we should explain to our volunteers and to anyone else interested in staying safe while abroad, why we spend so much time preparing our volunteers and ensuring our host family and volunteer project placements are safe.

We love our volunteers!

We took some time to put together some information concerning ways to stay safe while abroad, and we want to reiterate the importance of being prepared; we may focus on safety too much, but hey, it’s better to be safe than to be sorry!  Plus, we’ll do the worrying for you so you can have more time to enjoy your trip…

Living and working in another culture is an unparalleled experience.

Too many travelers, however, miss out on opportunities to help communities in developing nations because of concerns about personal safety. How will you find a safe place to live? How will you ask for help if you don’t speak the language? Will you make friends who can advise you? What will you do in an emergency?

A volunteer making the most of her experience in Chile last December

Staying safe abroad is much the same as staying safe at home. It requires common sense, an understanding of local customs and lives, and supportive relationships with local residents.

Cultural immersion, rather than keeping your distance, is the key to a safe and life-changing adventure.

Becoming an accepted and engaged member of your new community will give you the awareness, knowledge, and sensitivity you need to avoid unsafe situations.

Your skills and energy are needed in many different countries. Here’s how you can make a difference without worry:

• Learn about your destination before you go. Read traveler forums, blogs, and accounts from people who know the country. Explore the streets, countryside, and transportation routes via Google Earth’s satellite maps and images.
• Arrange to live with a host family or in a hostel managed by local residents. They will be your first friends and support network in the country.
• Arrange to do meaningful work within the community. Real contributions will help you build real relationships.
• Learn the language as much as possible before your arrival.
• Be aware of cultural patterns and plan to take part in local customs. What is considered polite behavior and decent attire? What holidays, festivals, and other events will take place while you are there?
• Learn about the realities of daily life in your community. What are the challenges? What are the joys? Plan to share in both.
• Enroll in a reputable international travel program that provides pre-departure training as well as a network of in-country support.

Happy kids at a school in Tanzania

United Planet (www.unitedplanet.org) has been helping people volunteer in 40 nations for several years. Committed to fostering cross-cultural understanding to promote global peace, UP’s in-country coordinators have lived, worked, or studied in the region they manage. They provide personalized attention and planning for each volunteer as well as comprehensive pre-departure information and training.

On arrival, volunteers receive an on-site orientation by their in-country coordinator, who explains logistics, public transportation, emergency procedures, and local health and safety precautions. UP volunteers have 24/7 phone access to their coordinator, and coordinators check in regularly with all volunteers in the field. Host families, locations, and projects have been thoroughly vetted by the UP team.

By building relationships between volunteers, coordinators, and community members, United Planet ensures that their participants have all the preparation, tools and resources they need to stay safe while making a difference.

“My two children participated in a United Planet Quest to Peru last summer. They enjoyed their experience so much that this summer they are both going to Guatemala. Both of them truly loved what United Planet organized for them in Peru. Not only did they feel that they were helping underprivileged children in Peru, and making a difference in their lives, but they also bonded with their local host families, became more fluent in Spanish, and were able to travel throughout the incredible countryside of Cuzco. To feel that way is a very empowering experience for teenagers. It has opened their eyes to the world and given them more respect and understanding for other cultures.”

–Renata De Dalmas – Parent of two United Planet volunteers

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!

There’s no question that it takes a lot of nerve to drop everything for 10 weeks and travel from the comforts of your New Jersey home to Africa.

Beautiful Africa

“I love to travel, I was so unhappy at work, and I had nothing keeping me here. I decided to quit my job and take the plunge.”

All good reasons, but it still took a lot of courage to actually follow through with her decision, and it’s great that she did!  Her trip was inspirational, exciting, wonderful, and adventurous; just what she needed.

Prior to her United Planet Quest, Sara had no experience with teaching (besides some dance lessons and cheerleading camp).

Needless to say, she was a bit apprehensive about teaching two classes, each with 30 second grade African children.  She explained, “I was terrified, so nervous!  I had no idea what I was going to do or what the kids’ learning ability was.”

Her first couple days at the school were spent sitting in on lessons to get a sense of what type of skills the children had.

Sara with some of her students in Dar es Salaam

She felt fortunate that the children were taught all of their lessons in English which meant they could have basic conversations and a basic understanding of one another.

Sara was given free rein during her math and English lessons; while she taught, the teachers were able to take a break, get some work done, etc.  It freed up their day to get things done that they needed to.

One of her favorite and most memorable parts of the whole trip was when she developed a game to help the kids get excited about math. She had them split into relay teams and put math problems on the board that they had to solve as fast as possible as a team. 

Sara and her students

The kids loved the game and went from hating math to asking if they could do extra!

Sara explained, “It was exciting to see them helping each other out and working together which is something they had never been exposed to by their other teachers.”

Naturally, Sara fell in love with teaching and since returning home has had a lot to think about in terms of her future. Even though she never had considered teaching as a profession before, her experiences in Tanzania have opened her up to a multitude of ideas and possibilities.

When I asked Sara about the most difficult aspect of her trip to Africa, she remarked: “the heat! I mean I knew Africa was hot, but I was not prepared for how intense it was.”

Teaching the kids a new favorite dance; the macarana!

Beyond the initial heat shock, she also had a tough time getting used to being an outsider.

She said, “you just can’t blend in, so people stare.  Not because of malicious intent, but simply because you look different.  They see you and they mostly want to know where you come from, why you’re there, etc.”

She was able to get used to both the heat as well as the extra attention, and after her 10 week stay she became much more comfortable and confident as a traveler.

“The city can be incredibly overwhelming, so for the first 2 weeks I was so afraid of getting lost, I’d just go straight to school and then straight home.  It was really rewarding when I tried to go somewhere else for the first time and I actually made it there. It definitely gave me the confidence I needed to explore the city on my own comfortably.”

Most of United Planet’s Quest programs involve a home stay where you have the incredible opportunity to live with a family who is native to the area.  As many United Planet volunteers have done in the past, Sara expressed the utmost appreciation and affection for the family that she stayed with.  She said some of her favorite moments came from being able to go to family events with her host family; events and experiences that typical tourists would not be exposed to.

Happy students

Being able to see the little things about day to day life and see how they live really meant a lot to her.

She said she has been keeping in touch with her host family through their nephew who uses e-mail and passes along her messages.  She also decided to send them a care package and she hopes to visit them in Africa once again in the near future.

Sara had the opportunity to travel during her 10 week Quest on a weekend trip to Zanzibar and a trip to Bagimolio.  After her Quest was over she also spent 1 month on an overland trip from Nairobi to Johanesberg where she traveled with a group who camped and cooked together at each stop.

She was able to go bungee-jumping, horseback riding in Lake Malawi, swim with horses in the lake, visit the Delta in Bostswana, and more.  She saw a lot of amazing things and met some really cool people that she plans to keep in touch with.

Sara and her adorable kids

It isn’t hard to see why Sara had an amazing experience in Tanzania. 

“Coming home you feel different; it’s hard to explain, but seeing how happy simple things make the people you were spending all your time with is very humbling.”

She is incredibly grateful that she took the leap and chose to go ahead with the trip. I have no doubt that she had as much of an impact on the people she met as they had on her.

Sara had some advice for any future travelers…

1. “Be open to anything and everything because it will be totally different.
2. Don’t get annoyed with cultural differences, embrace them!
3. As far as teaching kids goes; be patient, repetitive, speak slowly, and try to have fun with it!

Thank you Sara and EVERYONE who volunteers; the world is better because of what you do!

In 2010 Ruoqing went on a Quest to Ghana with United Planet, where she spent 9 wonderful weeks in Putubiw teaching young children; here she shares her thoughts and ideas and most cherished memories…

Ruoqing surrounded by her students in Putubiw

“My most cherished memory from my volunteer experience is the time I spent with my host family. They really made me feel at home when staying away from my home country and they tried their best to make me a part of the family and part of the village.”

Making the choice to go abroad for a volunteer Quest has been one of the most exciting experiences Ruoqing has had.

She had a firsthand experience with a culture foreign and unknown to her, and had the opportunity to experience together with her host family the true face and beauty of Ghana. Another memory she cherishes is celebrating Ghana’s Independence Day.

“Walking along the busy street, talking about each other’s favorite Ghanaian food, buying our little sister Grace a toy horse from a street stand and having Fufu in a hidden backyard-restaurant make up my most beautiful memory about Ghana.”

Upon her return, Ruoqing felt she had learned so much through this experience.

“This kind of understanding would never be achieved without the experience of fully immersing myself into a different culture. I did feel a sense of accomplishment.”

Ruoqing teaching in a classroom in Putubiw

Through the Alumni Council, Ruoqing wishes to continue to make a difference though her effort — which was why it was easy for her to accept the position as President of the Alumni Council.

She wants the council to give the Alumni great opportunities for networking and connecting to each other through their experiences abroad. “I am enthusiastic to contribute to this meaningful purpose.”

Ruoqing hopes volunteers and Alumni will stay involved by providing help for each other before and even after their Quest, through fundraising for the projects they went to or for other projects volunteers might feel connected to.

“Alumni could not only make contributions to the projects, but also expose more people to the opportunities provided by UP’s wonderful programs.”

A few of her students, posing with Ruoqing

We wish Ruoqing much luck and success with her hard work and dedication to the United Planet Alumni Council. She is excited about the potential it has, and she hopes that people are as excited to join as she is.

Ruoqing leaves us with her favorite quote by Kant:

“Two things fill the mind with ever new and increasing wonder and awe —the starry heavens above me and the moral law within me.”