Conscious Travel Article, El Vocero, San Juan, PR
For many years, my social responsibility efforts have been geared towards developing global awareness within my own community. The following two quotes summarize my social responsibility efforts:
Travel is fatal to bigotry, prejudice and narrow-mindedness. Broad wholesomeness and charitable views cannot be acquired by vegetating in one tiny corner of the globe. ~Mark Twain
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. ~Margaret Mead
Travel and adopting new places as home (even if momentarily) is an important part of who I am. It has helped me develop the ability to look at life from the point of view of “the other” and to find “the other” within, which has come in handy when writing speeches for clients or even when understanding someone else’s ideas and projects. It has also tremendously expanded my world view, which is often reflected in my strategies and writings.
I have been blessed to have travelled to four continents, mostly on my own. In some places, I didn’t speak the language, but was still able to make travel friends, which was most enlightening. At the same time, crossing the Atlantic and being able to communicate with new people, even if their accents were very different, was amazing.
In the local library in Austin, I have been having fun with parents, children and my accomplice librarian for the past two years as we read books in English and Spanish during “Bilingual Storytime”. It’s great seeing how parents from a wide variety of cultures enjoy learning a new language with their children. We have taught mini Spanish lessons to children and adults from the U.S., Nepal, Japan, Korea, Mexico, China, Kenya, India and others. It’s a global adventure every time!
For the second year in a row, I have had the pleasure to organize the International Fair for the local elementary school, an event that attracts over 350 attendees who enjoy exhbits, shows, food and drinks from 20 countries. Working hand in hand with the parents to create, what turned out to be an amazing event for the kids and the community, was a great experience.
After organizing the fair and working with the parents and the children, I noticed there was a need to be met. After developing the strategy for a new organization, the local school received with open arms the concept of the “Global Student’s Village” and we are working during the summer to develop it. It’s the first organization of its kind in the nation and it seeks to enhance the experience of bilingual and bicultural students in the American school system by creating a network of students, parents, teachers and administrators who get together to meet and to learn about how to help these students be successful, both socially and academically, while appreciating and respecting their mother culture and language. Most importantly, the native students in the school system will undoubtedly learn more from their fellow global classmates and their parents, as these become more involved in the schools.
Other “global awareness” efforts have included: a website for women travellers, ‘Solo Travel’ seminars, the radio show “Around the World in 60 Minutes” (hosted and produced it for 4 years), President of the International Students Association at DePauw University, a web page on my visit to Morocco after 9/11, articles such as this one on Bootsnall.com and the e-Budget Travel Guide.
