Drink It In

It seems as if there are times in our lives that seem to stick out more than others. Times that we can look back on and remember minute details; what we were wearing, the food we ate that day, the people we chatted with, the conversations that we were a part of, or logistical details that are of no real importance in the overall scheme of things. This weekend in Kansas City is now one of those times for me. It started out on a late night flight from DCA. I checked into my hotel room at The Hyatt Place near the airport, took a bath, and feel fast asleep later than I should have. Routine. The next morning, I began a two day journey on this herculean ship that was my outbound seminar with the Ambassadorial Scholar class of 2011-2012. Twenty-four of us gathered from all over the country. Strangers passing through each other’s lives – new Rotarian faces dotted the room and further enhanced the weekend. Larry Lunsford and Jorge Aguilar started us off as we went around the room to introduce ourselves. Two minutes each of who we are, where we are from, what we plan to do, and how our lives led us on this path. Twenty-four individuals spoke on Friday and each and every introduction was awe-inspiring. Sharon Benzoni will study water anthropology in Ghana and work towards solving the crisis of water in Africa. Jessie will study sustainable development and agriculture in New Zealand and help cure world hunger. Greta is about to publish her novel on women in Liberia and will study forced migration in South Africa. Angie will study rural development and food scarcity in India. To say that I was blessed to be in a room with such amazing human beings is an understatement. I want to be each one of them. I want to study the things they will study, work on the same projects alongside them in Ghana, Peru, Hong Kong, Thailand, Australia, England, Switzerland, India, South Africa, Costa Rica, and Scotland. I want to till the soil with Angie in Delhi and work with refugees in Africa. Each person will spend the next year doing extraordinary things with extraordinary people throughout this world. All because we have been afforded an opportunity through our Rotary Clubs nationwide. This organization has singlehandedly almost eradicated Polio. For one dollar a vaccine, Rotary has changed the lives of hundreds of thousands of human beings. $26,000 is being given to me – an amount that could have bought 26,000 lifetimes for those in the countries still stricken by the disease. This could purchase thousands of wells in developing Africa that could furnish clean drinking water to hundreds of towns that have never seen water that is clean and sanitary. Collectively, our group was given $624,000 from the pockets of selfless men and women who believe that we will deliver on our promise to change this world. It will be no easy task, but it will be the spark in the fire that will change the rest of our lives. I am infused with enthusiasm, inspiration, and hope for the upcoming year.

I am already impressed with the reach of Rotary International. Every corner of the world seems to be brimming with Rotarians who are working on project after project that furthers the mission of the organization. They are building wells in Africa, and working with women across the world and teaching them how to take care of themselves physically and financially. Little girls in India are being given the chance to educate themselves in schools that were dreamed up by Rotarians. Microdevelopment, sustainability, renewable energy, food scarcity, peace and conflict resolution, climate change…these “bigs” in the world – the things that can overwhelm both the individual and society…the things that sometimes feel too staggering to address…are being addressed right now by these amazing people. They need hands on deck for each project. Faith. Vitality. Vision. All qualities I possess and want to dole out immediately. For this reason, I have decided that my plane ticket to New Zealand will be a one-way ticket. My studies will end after a year, this is true, but my studies in life will be just beginning. It is at this point that I will begin my trip around the world. This trip will start in New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, and Tonga. I plan to work my way up the map into Indonesia, Bali, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, India, Russia, The Middle East, Eastern Europe, and finally, Africa. I imagine that a large part of my time will be spent throughout Africa, as there is the most need in this part of the world. After my time in Africa, I hope to work my way to Central and South America, and finally, back to the United States. I am not capping this trip at a year, as I have no way to know what amount of time I should anticipate on each project that I do, nor do I know exactly what projects will arise. I have a fierce savings goal that I am currently pursuing, but will work when I can while abroad. I will work as the people work whether it be on a farm in India or selling vegetables in Tibet. I am doing my best not to worry about the details, for those will fall into place. I have ten months to prepare myself and my mind for this trip to New Zealand, and then a year to deal with the rest…I will be drawn to the projects that need my attention, and stay as long as I am needed. I anticipate a year now, but I will allow for more if that is necessary - without question. It is an amazing feeling to finally have an answer to that ever present pull I feel within myself – the pull to change the world person by person, place by place. I will finally capitalize on my urge to write as well and catalogue my journey. So stay tuned friends, the next few years will be extraordinary.