Getting excited: My brother is coming into town - and it's his first time in Canada!

August 27, 2005

Getting excited: My brother is coming into town - and it's his first time in Canada!

Well, you probably all know by now that I grew up in Austria and came to Canada when I was about 20 years old. I don't really have much family left over there, the only people left are my brother and my sister-in-law. In fact, my brother is my only living biological relative as both my parents were single children. So no cousins, no aunts, no uncles. I often say in jest that my family tree is a stump....

Coming to Canada by myself at the tender age of 20 wasn't actually as hard as one would think. Although I didn't know anybody I had a one year work permit and a job lined up, so I had a place to go to. Getting adjusted and dealing with the language was not the greatest obstacle either since I always had an enormous interest in foreign cultures and I love learning languages. One of the most difficult things was the weather (winter drags on into March and April), and of course the lack of mountains - that was definitely hard to accept for an Alpine enthusiast like me.

When I came to Toronto I already spoke decent English, but of course in Austria we generally learn British English (or what Austrian high school teachers think is British English), so the main thing was I had to change my accent around and lose words like "bonnet" (British English for "hood") or "boot (instead of "trunk") and get rid of my highly sophisticated yet fake English accent that I had so lovingly nurtured during my high school years.

During the first 9 years of my life in Canada I frequently travelled back to Austria to visit my father, grandmother and brother. My mother had passed quite tragically at a relatively early age in 1987. My brother is 9 years older than me, and he moved out early on, so I never really had a chance to develop a very close relationship with him, although I would have liked to.

1995 was a major year in my life, since both my father and grandmother passed away that same year, and combined with other factors, these two events ushered in an extended dark phase in my life. As a result of many sad memories I had no desire to travel back home for a long time and I did not go and visit my home country for 8 years, from 1996 to 2004.

Finally in the spring of 2004, my husband and I connected with my brother and sister-in-law in the south of Spain. It was my husband's first time in Europe, and my brother and sister-in-law had driven all the way down from Austria by car to the south of Spain. It was also the first time my husband and my brother met and we spent a fabulous 12 days together. It was great to have everyone together during that vacation in Spain, particularly since my brother had never visited me in Canada. For him, not having flown in an airplane since the early 1980s probably had something to do with it.

But during my trip to Austria last November (first time back in 8 years) I spent a really great 9 days with my brother and sister-in-law and on the last day we had a little celebration that included our neighbours from my home town, a married couple in their 40s. And all of a sudden I sprung the idea: Why don't the 4 of you come to Canada together next year?

An exciting idea was born. All 4 people were getting excited about the idea of travelling to Canada together to visit us. This was big news for all of them since their main travels up to this point had been restricted primarily to driving vacations to Italy, Croatia and the south of France. So jumping in a plane and coming to Toronto was a big step for all 4 of them. It would be everyone's first time in North America.

Well, today is the day, when my Brother Ewald, my sister-in-law Anneliese, and my two Austrian neighbours Luis and Isabella are going to arrive, and they are going to be greeted by my husband Nigel and me, on our home turf right here in Toronto. The last 2 weeks have been extremely busy restructuring the house so it would hold sleeping quarters for 4 guests (2 of whom can't sleep in the same room because one snores and the other has light sleep), so we had to create 3 private sleeping areas in the house.

But one pull-out couch, one futon and one inflatable airbed later, we'll be able to house all of them quite comfortably and I am really looking forward to spending 9 days together in Toronto, showing them around my new home town and introducing them to the New World. I'll keep you posted.......

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For more travel articles, advice, photos, interesting interviews &
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Presenting: Robert & Bette Allekotte - Servas Members, Family Travellers, Volunteers for Peace and the Environment

August 25, 2005

Presenting: Robert & Bette Allekotte - Servas Members, Family Travellers, Volunteers for Peace and the Environment

Robert and Bette were among the people I had a chance to get to know at the Canada-US Servas conference which was held in Vancouver from August 5 to 8, 2005. At 53 years of age, both retired recently since they view time as one of their most precious assets.

Through Servas, Robert and Bette have travelled extensively throughout the world and they have been members of the US organization since the 1970s. Throughout their membership they have had an opportunity to create personal connections in a great variety of places. They have also hosted many Servas travellers from many different countries in their home and have passed on this generous spirit of hospitality to their own children as well as to other young people. Here are some of Robert and Bette's experiences:

1. Please tell us a little bit about yourselves. Where are you from, what are your professions, where do you live now?

We are both born and raised in Philadelphia. We enjoyed small town living in Moorestown, NJ for the last ten years. Our girls are pretty grown and so the big house was unnecessary. So now we are retired middle school teachers living in the resort of Brigantine, NJ (just north of Atlantic City).

2. Both of you just recently retired at the young age of 53. I am sure that involved some conscious choices. Why was that decision so important to you and how did you manage to carry it out so early?

We firmly believe that rich people have money while wealthy people have time. We wanted to be wealthy. Bette’s bout with leukemia three years ago reminded us how short life can be, making time even more precious. Also, the provisions of No Children Left Behind have made creative teaching obsolete. The only thing worse than bored students is a bored teacher.

3. You found out about Servas in the 1970s. How did you hear about this organization and what was your first travel experience like?

A friend, Mimi Rosen, took a three-year vacation from teaching in the 1970’s and learned about Servas in Australia. We thought it sounded too good to be true, but the organization has gone beyond our high expectations. We first traveled through Scandinavia, hitchhiking while meeting interesting local people from all walks of life.

4. What other countries have you travelled to through Servas? What kinds of people from what places have you hosted in your home? What makes Servas travel so special to you?

We have made Servas visits in New Zealand, Hong Kong, Australia, Canada, U.S., India, Western Europe, Malta, and Singapore. A visit to Thailand is upcoming. Our listing says that families are especially welcomed. We’ve hosted many Europeans, North and South Americans, Indians and Japanese. Our cultural most distant visitor was a student from Bhutan. Servas allows people to see the places they are visiting from the inside. We come to understand what makes a society what it is: daily routines, wedding albums, leisure activities, meals, and raising of children.

5. Please tell us about your 3 favourite or most memorable travel stories.

I played ancient Japanese drums in a marching band during a Nepeta festival in Japan while my family helped pull a deity through the streets. We sailed and got stuck in the doldrums while exploring the medieval ports of Malta. We admired in the junk art of an unknown, anonymous dump operator in India. We toured Mesa Verde’s ruins with a host/ park ranger during twilight when we were the only ones there.

6. Please tell us about your 3 favourite or most memorable hosting experiences.

The Bhutanese student told us of how his parents grew up in a world without money, bartering only. We’ve visited and hosted some families who have become friends over the years. We see one another’s children grow from a great distance, but we feel like relatives. Servas guests have taken me to museums and architectural sites in my own city which I never knew existed. ( Frank Furness buildings, Barnes Foundation). It’s been a wonderful gastronomical experience as well. Some hosts have prepared memorable meals or suggested great restaurants, and occasionally we cook for our busy hosts. We enjoy living in homes, chatting, trading customs and participating in the day to day lifestyles of caring people.

7. You also work as volunteer interviewers for Servas. Please comment on that role and why you chose to get involved in that capacity.

We interview potential members because we want to spread the word about Servas and make sure members understand how it works. Our mission is to spread peace and justice as we provide memorable experiences through hosting and traveling. People like to talk about their trips; interviews give us a chance to listen and possibly give ideas to potential members. We have enjoyed sharing our experiences at union workshop conferences, parent groups and students who always wonder how we can afford such extensive trips on teachers’ modest salaries. It’s also been wonderful building friendships around the world and watching families grow as we continue to keep in touch, sometimes even revisiting.

8. You also communicate the message of peace to young people. How do you go about that?

Through teaching, we emphasize the understanding and acceptance of cultural diversity, that while geography and climate may make us different, the common bonds make us very similar. If students come to see people as individuals, then wanting to hate or kill them becomes more difficult.

9. Your children have grown up travelling with you and hosting people from all over the world. Please tell us how that experience has affected your children and your family as a whole.

As world travelers, our own children do not take the earth’s resources for granted. Both of our daughters are students of international dance and language, using both to communicate as they travel. We believe they see themselves as international citizens. They are happy to travel independently and love to learn. Their last trip was to the Galapagos Islands.

People ask us if the girls remembered their travels. I know they are more globally aware than the average American child. They certainly are adventurous when it comes to ethnic foods. Months after traveling through Japan, as I was putting our oldest daughter, then four, to bed, she asked me, “Mommy, what does the Buddha’s hand mean? Why is it facing down and sometimes up?” I told her what I knew and the next day we researched it.

Both girls traveled to Japan by themselves to meet us after a teacher’s seminar, where we visited many wonderful hosts and soaked in many small town onsen (public baths). The girls were 13 and 16, which are usually very self conscious ages. The youngest said, “It’s really a shame we don’t have these bathhouses at home, but I guess Americans wouldn’t be comfortable naked in one big room.” Micole, our ball room dancer, has been sponsoring a child in the Philippines for ten years and is supervising social workers this year while applying to law schools. Alana has joined a Mexican folk dance troupe and a hip hop group while majoring in cultural anthropology.

10. You also dedicate your time to help save our environment as members of the Sierra Club. Please tell us about these endeavours and any other volunteer activities you may be a part of.

Servas and Sierra Club have some commonalities. Both stress respect and preservation of the earth for present and future generations. The Sierra Club’s Innercity Outings try to show kids that the outdoors is accessible and fun. Leaving their TV’s, games, refrigerators and air conditioning back in Philadelphia for a few hours or overnight camping can be eye opening for all of us. To earn their “ticket” home, they collect up trash as we walk. We try to teach kids to get along as they explore their planet. At the end of each excursion we gather in a circle and tell the group our favorite part of the trip. They learn greater respect for themselves, one another, and their home. The Sierra Club’s motto is,” Take only pictures; leave only footprints.”

11. What are your plans, now that you have all this free time on your hands?

Now we plan to live in Brigantine and have time to be volunteers for Servas. We are active in the communications, key persons and membership committees, trying to increase our numbers and partnerships with like-minded organizations. We welcome family, friends and Servas members to our home at the beach. Bette is adjusting to our new environs. We will still lead Sierra Club trips and try to bring a more active chapter to Atlantic County. Rob is involved in the writing and production of middle school musical theater and Holocaust education. We still plan to travel. We’re heading cross country in October followed by a trip to Southeast Asia. Servas will definitely be a part of those trips.

Thank you both, Robert and Bette, for taking the time to tell us about your international experiences and connections as well as your local activities. We wish you all the best for your upcoming travel plans to Thailand and all your other endeavours.

www.textronics.com

For more travel articles, advice, photos, interesting interviews &
the opportunity to win a cruise on the Amazon River
visit my website at www.travelandtransitions.com.

Presenting: Mary Jane Mikuriya - Servas Traveller and Committed Local Volunteer in San Francisco

August 25, 2005

Presenting: Mary Jane Mikuriya - Servas Traveller and Committed Local Volunteer in San Francisco

When I first met Mary Jane at the recent Canadian-US Servas Conference in Vancouver, her youthful radiance struck me. I thought she might be in her early fifties, and then she revealed that she is 70! No wonder - here is a woman who exudes optimism, who always has a smile on her face. As a long-term member of Servas in the United States, Mary Jane has travelled the world, and by being a host she has brought the world into her home - in fact in almost 30 years she has opened her home to around 300 travellers from all over the world.

Starting with her childhood during WWII, growing up with a mother from Austria-Hungary and a father from Japan, Mary Jane's intercultural sensitivities got sharpened very early, and her commitment to social justice started when she was very young. Today she is involved in a whole range of causes in San Francisco and her time and dedication are making a difference - Mary Jane builds peace one person at a time. Here is a dynamic woman with a truly interesting story:

1. Please tell us a little bit about yourself. Where are you from, what is your profession, where do you live now?

I was born and raised in Pennsylvania. My parents were college educated but were looked down upon by the locals as foreigners. My father was prevented from becoming a citizen due to the federal 1924 Asian Exclusion Act until the early 1950 when the law was changed.

My mother lost her citizenship because in the 1920s when my parents were married, a woman who married a foreign man would loose her citizenship, no matter if she was a birth right citizen or a naturalized one. This was not the case for men. Thus, my mother was naturalized twice. This law was eventually changed in the 1930s. Citizenship and human rights became an important issues in my life.

As a first generation American, with a mother from Austria-Hungary and a father from Japan, you can imagine the stares we received as a mixed race family with a 5' 10" Caucasian mother and a 5' 6" Asian dad. You can't imagine how we were treated growing up during W.W.II with a German speaking mother and a Japanese speaking father.

As a child, I was familiar with discrimination in society. When a very blue black Kenyan and a Japanese American from the Relocation Camps could not find a place to rent in the Philadelphia-Trenton area, they came to live with us. And there were others that stayed with us over the years, but that was before the 1964 Civil Right Act disallowed discrimination.

Although I wanted to be an engineer like my dad, I realized after my second year in college that this would not be possible. In the 1950 women were not considered for engineering jobs. So when the Russians launched Sputnik, the United States launched a recruitment drive for math and science majors to become teachers.

That is how I was recruited into the education profession where I have worked for over 35 years. I had many roles related to education in public and private schools, at the university level and with the US Department of Education -- teaching, educational program evaluation, gender equity/civil rights/ de-segregation-integration, grant writing, budgeting and administration. Today, I am retired, but still work part time as a Title I math tutor to enable low achieving children to become successful in their regular classrooms.

I live in San Francisco which has a rich history of civil right activism and provides many opportunities to support peace and social justice issues. My life is enriched by my many volunteer activities.

2.You have been a Servas member for many years now. How did you hear about this organization and what was your first travel experience like?

As a teacher you have a large block of time to travel in the summer. One summer, I visited Denmark and had the opportunity to have home hospitality though the Meet the Danes arranged by the Danish tourist bureau. I was impressed by the experience and all during my sabbatical trip round the world, I kept searching for home hospitality opportunities.

It was not until 1977, when a cousin from Austria visited me here in San Francisco, told me how she was traveling around the US for 3 months with 5 others and visiting Americans using Servas. I was delighted to discover such an organization existed and joined Servas immediately -- first as a host and then as a traveler.

My first travel experience with Servas was as a host. Because I have a history of having people stay in my home, having Servas visitors came easy. It is only a two night stay and a good conversation. Being a host brings the travel experience into your home. My first visitors were a couple from Denmark, who helped me better understand what Servas represents. Because Servas was started in Denmark under the name Peace Builders and later changed to the Esperanto word Servas to serve, I realized that the purpose of the organization was to build peace one person at a time. That was for me!

I have had over 300 Servas visitors in my 28 years in Servas and have learned so much from their questions about who I am, what I believe, what the USA is or is not, and how much more there is to learn. There are many ways to travel and see other places. One of the best ways to travel is through the open wide ranging conversations with a travelers whether it be in their home or mine
.
3. Please tell us a few stories about some of the international visitors that have stayed at your home or travellers you connected with, and tell us how some of these experiences have opened your eyes..

The Russian Connection:
One of my visitors was a teacher in Russia and wanted to see inside a San Francisco public school. I arranged for him to visit a second grade class. The students enthusiastically welcomed him. He pulled up a bill out of his wallet and showed it to the class. He asked the class who the man was. Many hands went up and he discovered that they all thought the person to be Abraham Lincoln, because he was on money and had a beard. But, no it was Lenin who was also famous but in Russia. And where is Russia? Here on the map was Russia and here is San Francisco. I came away with a conscious awaking about my cultural lens. As I look at different situations as I travel, I may not perceive them correctly. I need to reflect, discuss what I think I perceive and ask for clarification.

Discovering antique quilts at Esprit, of all places:
A Servas visitor from Australia, was an artist who wanted to see the wall hangings at Esprit, a women's clothes designer and distributor. I said I did not think they had quilts but would call to see if we could visit them. Much to my surprise, the company headquarters was filled with antique quilts, the company provided a catalogue of their quilts which could be purchased and there were open visiting hours. No, there was no publicity about this display and the company preferred word of mouth. When we visited, I did not know as we walked through the large brick walled building whether to look at the fabulous quilts or at how the company headquarters was organized. I realized that these quilts were made by women and were such designs as white on white squares that would be seen at the Museum of Modern Art a hundred or so years later. I realized that my visitor had shown me part of San Francisco that I was completely unaware of, but thanks to her I learned about them. When the company was sold, the quilts were donated to a museum for all to see.

Learning about Tajikistan:
One of my most recent Servas visitors was from Tajikistan. I must say I did not know anything about this country or even where the country was on the map. So I went to the World Fact Book developed by the CIA. Yes, the CIA which offers very current country specific information freely on line. I learned that it was in Central Asia and formerly part of the Soviet Union. When the Soviet Union left, there was no structure of government. Tajikistan was destabilized by civil war which has resulted in tremendous personal losses, economic crisis, deep poverty and other social problems. Tajikistan had the lowest per capita GDP of all the 15 former Soviet Republics.
Muborak, my guest said that many have left Tajikistan for safety and economic reasons and they send money home. For those that remain, the economy is very poor--the teachers receive $2 per month, the physicians $5 per month and the public servants do not always receive their government pay checks. Under these conditions, bad things are happening.

Muborak is a sociologist who was here in the US to give her third presentation to the UN on the (mis)treatment of women and children in Central Asia. She and her team of women investigators have interviewed over 1000 abused women and 5000 abused children. There is no government agency to support women's rights and children's rights in these countries, hence Muborak is bringing this information to the UN to encourage UN action to support the UN Millennium Goals for women and children.

Insights about Zimbabwe:
In Spain, I met a Servas host from Zimbabwe. She has always lived in that county, which used to be call Rhodesia. She is 78 years old and her retirement pay has not kept pace with inflation. She said her retirement pay is equivalent to 2 slices of bread. I asked how she survived. She says that she has joined some other retirees and they share their skills and creativity. She is responsible for fruit and vegetable dumpster diving and brings home the discards from the fruit and vegetable market. They can always make soup for their group and survive.

From Servas members, I learn of events that are not published or talked about in the media. I value how Servas has provided me the opportunity to learn what is happening in other parts of the world that are not available in the press or on TV.

German-Jewish encounters to make peace with the past:
During Servas Gatherings, Travelers report where they have been and what they have learned. Over the last 5 years, several older Jewish US travelers originally from Europe decided to face their concerns with Germany. They reported having wonderful German Servas hosts and realized their hosts were not alive during the Nazi Era. When they returned to the US, they surprised themselves with the realization they had made their peace with their anxiety surrounding Germany. What a relief! What a gift! They had made their peace with Germany. Can you hear their surprise and thanks to Servas? What a wonderfully powerful possible solution to reducing long held negative beliefs and fears -- to visit the hosts in country of concern to see if your concerns are still valid.

4. Please tell us about your 3 favourite or most memorable travel stories.

My father died in 1986. I felt as a US Servas Board member that I had to attend the Board meeting in Seattle. I decided to drive and take two weeks enroute and one week after the Board Meeting. I took my two interracial children, then 5 and 6 years old, and our Chinese American teenage baby sitter who had never been out of San Francisco.

One of our visits was in Bellingham, WA. There we stayed with a single 80 year old Servas host who welcomed all 4 of us Servas Travelers. She was an amazing woman who when she got a divorce had gone into the Peace Corps for 2 years, upon returning to Bellingham met her next husband. When he died she joined the Peace Corps again. Now at 80 her last husband had died so she joined Servas because she missed the conversation with internationally minded travelers. During our first day, there she took us to the Methodist Church's children's beach picnic. This is the first time that these elementary school children from Bellingham had met mixed race children. The blond children would touch my African American daughter's dark skin and very curly hair. The mothers were welcoming but curious about our host and how she had such unusual guests. It was an experience for me since I had not realized there were such racially isolated communities in my own country. My host was pleased to share her guests, the type of people she had worked with in the Peace Corps, and and we were pleased to see that we could be part of her community education project.

When I returned to San Francisco, I felt that my grieving over my father's death had changed to acceptance. It was if a long time had passed. I now understand the power of travel for healing the psyche and for helping in important transitions in life.

5. You are also an interviewer for Servas and that has given you some unique insights. Please comment.

I am an interviewer for Servas Travelers. We have certain requirements and expectations for Travelers.( See www.usservas.org for the forms and directions.) One of the requirements is to complete a Letter of Introduction which asks 5 questions. Before and during the interview there are two questions that separate appropriate travelers from the freeloaders. One of the questions has to do with what the potential traveler does to promote Peace and the other asks about the purpose of your trip.

I am amazed the number of travelers that feel that they are not involved in Peace activities because they think that peace activities are organized activities. Perhaps another way to ask this question is what volunteer work do you do. Then the applicant can tell you how they volunteer in a center for handicapped, tutor adults in reading, or staff a hot line crisis center. One Servas traveler who worked with homeless youth in San Francisco was taking a Servas trip to the Vatican before he went into a monastery. During the trip, he stayed with a Servas host who took him sailing on the Adriatic and as a result of this visit, the traveler decided not to join the monastery but remain helping homeless youth as a form of service to God. He wrote in his travel report how Servas Changed his life.

What I see that Servas travel is a good help for people making a career change. When the dot-com bust occurred in San Francisco, the unemployed dot-com workers who had put in 16 hour days decided they needed a different kind of life and used Servas to visit hosts who were in their field of interest, say Environmental or women's rights. For me interviewing for Servas has opened my eyes to many wonderful, concerned, dependable, interesting people who want to make a better world.

As a Servas traveler I am impressed with the hosts dedication to helping others. In Germany, I stayed with a host who spoke Russian and Slavic languages. Under the European Union, the undocumented non EU immigrants were jailed. She would go to the jail and translate for the prisoners. In Thailand, my host Jurunee asked where I would like to visit. I said the We-Train Women's Project which provides vocational training for women, emergency housing for women and their children, a clinic for women with AIDS and care for orphan babies. My host and her 4 year old daughter took me there and we toured the facility together. As a result of the visit she said that she would donate her daughter's out grown clothes and collect children clothes from her friends for this Women's project.

6. You also dedicate your time to promoting social justice and peace. What kind of initiatives are you or have you been involved in?

Justice is very important to me. Know what injustice is and how it can hurt, it is important to speak up and be counted. San Francisco is a very expensive city and some working poor have to choose between food and housing. Each winter, the Unitarian Church hosts 90 working poor men for 6 weeks. The mayor's office provides the beds, the food bank supplies the food and the Unitarians provide the housing and cook the breakfasts and dinners and clean up after. I find that I like to work the early shift from 5:30 AM - 7:30AM to cook breakfast. It is a humbling feeling to know that minimum wage and living wage are not the same. It is for that reason that I support the Living Wage Coalition through petition drives, advocacy and money. There are many causes that need our support and I feel that volunteering is a wonderful way to be connected to our fellow men.

A Vietnamese young man joined a Vietnamese gang. He was a college-bound student, who earned a bit of money working for me. One day he called to say he would not come to work, he was in jail. What was he doing in Jail? He and his gang got into a fight. He was not supposed to be in jail more than 24 hours as a juvenile, so I called the Asian Law Caucus for help. They arranged to have his release. Within two years, Coung's best friend was killed in gang activity. Yet, Coung could not quit the gang. I helped him distance himself from the gang by counseling him how to graduate in January instead of June, taking night work at a hotel, and leaving the area. Coung is now working on his CPA, has a good job and has made a success of himself, sadly, he can never return to San Francisco. He calls me on Mother's Day for a chat. Why? Because I was his mentor and helped him change his life. We all need mentors in our life to become the best we can be. Just think about the people who were important in your life. When is the last time you talked to them and told them how they had helped you?

7. When you are not volunteering for a good cause, how do you spend the rest of your time?

Actually I spend about 30 volunteer hours a week on Servas Administration, as the Vice Chair and International Representative of US Servas, Chair of several committees, interviewing new members and in the leadership of local Servas Activities. However, due to term limits, I will be off the board and have more time for a personal life. I work about 70 days a year tutoring and organizing parent meetings. Good thing I find work rewarding.

When I am not working for Servas or in schools, I am baby-sitting my grand son or organizing family events. I enjoy preparing dinners and hosting US State Department visitors for the International Diplomacy Council. I like to listening to books on tapes while cooking for a crowd. I look forward to socializing more and attending the theater next year when I will not be on the Servas board.

8. What are your upcoming plans, travel and otherwise?

I love to travel. In the near future, I look forward to traveling to Brazil, visiting Cappadocia in Turkey and arranging home exchanges in Florence, Barcelona, and Vancouver. Who knows I may sign up to teach English in another country.

9. You are amazingly youthful for your age. Please share with us the secrets of how you stay so young. (I just have to ask....;)

I feel youth is a state of mind. I feel young perhaps because I know so many good people. I believe that the Laws governing human happiness and fulfillment are: Give to live; Share to enjoy ;Serve in order to unfold.

It's been great, Mary Jane, to hear your life's story up to now, a true example of someone who has triumphed in difficult circumstances and chosen to share her home, her energy and her time to make this a better world. I hope I have a chance to visit you some day in San Francisco and see you in action.........

www.textronics.com

For more travel articles, advice, photos, interesting interviews &
the opportunity to win a cruise on the Amazon River
visit my website at www.travelandtransitions.com.

Mony Dojeiji and her 5000 km Walk for Peace - Part II

August 24, 2005

Mony Dojeiji and her 5000 km Walk for Peace - Part II

Here is part 2 of Mony's story who went from being a Microsoft sales executive to completing a pilgrimage on the world-famous Camino de Santiago, which made her decide to complete a 5000 km long Walk for Peace for 13 months through 13 countries. Click here to access part I of her fascinating story.

8. From Italy you continued on into the Balkan countries. Please comment on your pilgrim experience there.I believe that Croatia was a particularly unforgettable experience for you. Please tell us about your experience in the other Balkan countries.

We walked through Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia/Hercigovina, and Serbia/Montenegro. Our experience in Croatia was the most intense. The people here embraced us totally. We were in the newspapers and on television. Their hospitality and desire to help us was incredible. Our message seemed to resonate especially strongly here, in a country recovering from their own war. It was also there that Alberto and I separated. He walked ahead to Medugorje, in Bosnia/Hercigovina with the agreement that I would only be a few days behind him. Medugorje is a village in Bosnia/Hercigovina where it is said that the Virgin Mary appeared to five young children about twenty years ago offering messages of peace at a time when the country was strife with war. The messages of peace continue to this day with a new message announced every month. Alberto wanted to arrive for the next message while I couldn’t walk that fast. We ended up being separated for over a month with no way of contacting the other. We only managed to speak twice during that entire time. He called me once to let me know that he had arrived safely. And I managed to finally contact him, after days of failed attempts, the evening before I was about to arrive in Medugorje.

Circumstances seemed to conspire to keep us apart. I fell ill a few days after we separated with an infection of the lymph nodes under my arms. I was told I may need surgery to drain them since they were badly infected and the doctor didn’t know if the antibiotics would be strong enough. In the end, they did work but I needed over two weeks to recover from it and to regain the strength to walk again. I was taken care of and welcomed by an incredible community in Brodarica where the priest of the local church took me into his home, brought me to doctors and medicine, and where the nuns there oversaw every step of my recovery. They appeared as angels in my way to help me at a time when I was alone.

That experience of being looked after and protected on my way gave me the confidence to continue walking alone. For Alberto as well, it was important for him to know that he can walk without me. We always felt more confident together knowing that a couple would be accepted easily and given accommodations. It was more difficult for people to trust in a young man walking alone and give him accommodations. His experiences were not always easy but he found angels along his way, just as I did, who stepped in and helped him when he needed it most. It was a valuable lesson for us being apart and one that reminded us that we enjoyed walking together but we didn’t need to do it. We would always be taken care of.

9. After the Balkan countries you went through Greece to Turkey. Please comment on this portion of the trip. What made the Turkey portion unique and different?

The Turkey portion was unique for several reasons. Physically, we were walking in Turkey in the summer, in temperatures of well over 40 degrees Celsius every day. We started walking at 5:00 in the morning so that we could finish by 10:00 at the latest, before it became too hot. The heat sapped all our energy and left us feeling drained most of the time. Emotionally, we had also started our romantic relationship. It had started at the end of Greece but intensified in Turkey. As in every new relationship, it brought out the best and worst in both of us. Culturally, we had left the Christian world and entered fully into the Muslim one. All of these factors combined made us turn more inwards, to focus more on ourselves and to only see only the negative in our situation. As a result, we attracted more negative experiences that directly reflected our beliefs. Because of judgments that we had about the Muslim world being more conservative and un-accepting of two single people walking together, we didn’t seek help in mosques, nor did we try to engage people as we did earlier in our walk. We were walking along the touristy Turkish coast, and felt that people saw us more as tourists than as pilgrims, and didn’t really care about our message or what we were doing. We felt they were more interested in our dollar value than in our true intentions. So of course, we attracted exactly the situations that reinforced those beliefs. It was an incredible lesson in watching how our thoughts and beliefs directly influenced what we attracting into our lives. It was exactly as we had been saying all along – we had the power to change the world through our thoughts and intentions. Once we saw what was happening, we could step away from it and try to heal the prejudices and misconceptions that we had about this world. It was when we did this that our experiences totally turned around and we were finally able to see the true heart of the Turkish people.

10. Please comment on the final portion of your route. How did you get to Jerusalem? You also referred to a unique coincidence (that maybe wasn't so coincidental at all) related to the 12 gates of Jerusalem. Please comment on some of the other "coincidences" you experienced on this trip.

The final portion of our trip was into the Arab world. We walked through Syria, Lebanon and Israel. The Lebanese-Israeli border was the only border we could not cross on foot. It was physically closed with land mines and barbed wire blocking our way. We had to take a plane from Beirut to Cyprus, then to Tel Aviv. From there, we took the train north to Haifa to begin our walk again. We were deeply frustrated by this because we really felt the message of peace needed to cross at this specific border, site of so many hostilities and conflicts. But it wasn’t meant to be. From Haifa, we continued along the coast, then cut inland towards Jerusalem.

Our entire pilgrimage was a series of synchronicities, coincidences, and people arriving when we needed help. We do not believe in coincidences, but that all has a Higher Purpose which often eludes us, but that is always for the greatest good of all involved. We arrived in Jerusalem on December 24, 2003, Christmas Eve, completely unplanned. We walked to the old part of the city, which is surrounded by high ancient walls. We knew there were twelve gates, not all open, and decided to simply follow the road that led to the first gate on the way. We found ourselves in front of a huge arch called Bab Al Khalil, the Gate of Khalil. An Arab friend we had met during our walk had told us that the name Khalil meant Albert in English (or Alberto in Spanish). So after thirteen months of walking, we entered the Old City of Jerusalem through Alberto’s Gate! We were also fortunate enough to be able to go to Bethlehem that very evening and to be in the city where it all started. In a way, we were coming back to the beginning.

We also had another unusual coincidence during the last leg of our pilgrimage. During the entire walk, we always carried signs announcing what we were doing. In Israel, our signs said the word Peace in English, Arabic (Salam) and Hebrew (Shalom). The very day that we put on the signs, the letters started to fall off as we were walking. We tried to paste them on again, but it didn’t work. It was as if we weren’t meant to carry this sign to its final destination. It was a difficult thing to accept because for me especially, I felt this was where the sign was most needed. But upon later reflection, we realized that the outward message of peace had served its purpose. It had touched those who needed it. But now it was time for us to go inward, to focus on the inner journey of peace, to bring that energy into Jerusalem with us. We realized that the only way to bring peace into such a troubled area was not to shout it from the rooftops, but to live it in our everyday lives, in our actions towards the people who are like us and unlike us. The work of peace is an inner journey, people changing themselves and their attitudes and beliefs about their neighbors and the world they live in. They can then come to the world from this place of peace, acceptance, tolerance and openness. When they can be that peace that they wish to see, is when they can affect the most incredible change. When they can see the other point of view, when they can forgive themselves and their neighbors for their mutual acts of atrocity, when they can truly listen and have compassion for the other, that’s when true peace can be created.

11. Please tell us about your experience once in Israel. What places did you visit, what thoughts went through your head?

We really didn’t venture very much outside Jerusalem itself. We were only able to enter Bethlehem on Christmas Eve because the Israeli government had given permission to allow tourists and pilgrims to enter on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Normally, the city is barricaded and access is limited or completely restricted. We felt very fortunate to have been able to enter. Likewise with the West Bank and Gaza. There was no way to enter. We also wanted to experience first-hand what life was like here. In Bethlehem, we had the Palestinian experience. In Jerusalem (and on our walk from Haifa to Jerusalem), we lived the Israeli experience. It’s easier to understand the Palestinian experience because it’s what we’re most exposed to in the media.

There is no question we felt the hopelessness, the helplessness and the pain of the Palestinian people. But what most opened our eyes was the Israeli experience. I was accustomed to seeing only one face of the Israeli people, that of the aggressors. What we saw was that they were also victims of their choices, hostage to their fears, allowing those fears to rule every aspect of their life. Young men and women, most under the age of twenty, were walking around with machine guns patrolling squares and open areas. On the trains, on the buses, machine guns were in full sight. We couldn’t walk into any restaurant, shopping center or public place without being submitted to a search of our bags and metal detectors. Even walking into a McDonald’s, we had to clear security. In the old city of Jerusalem, police with full body armor patrolled the streets. I kept thinking, this is not normal. They’re putting on a face of normalcy on a situation that is clearly not normal. Like their Palestinian counterparts, they were living in terror and under the constant pressure of being blown up just by going about their daily lives. They’re equally convinced that all Palestinians want them dead, as of course the Palestinians think of the Israelis. Their political choices reflect this deep fear and paranoia. One journalist described the situation as ‘shoot and cry’ and then ‘vote and cry’. It seemed an apt description. For the first time, I felt the pain and sadness of the Israeli people and understood that they only allowed their leadership to act as it did not out of a desire for revenge or to obliterate the Palestinian people, but out of the deep terror that if they don’t defend themselves and attack first, they will be killed. As in many situations, their aggression was masking a much deeper fear.

What gave me incredible hope, and what the media does not report on, are the ordinary people, Israelis and Arabs, working for peace together. There are many Israelis and foreign observers putting their lives on the line, acting as human shields to protect Palestinians as they go about their daily lives. There are so many peace organizations working to bring about change at every level, social, political, cultural and religious. We read stories of ordinary people defying stereotypes and getting to know their neighbor, often united in their losses, in their grief, but also in their hopes for their children. There were daily protests by mothers, grandmothers, and all those who have lost loved ones and were seeking change. Young Israeli reservists refusing to do military duty and facing imprisonment and severe sentences. This is the face that most people do not see and what left such a deep impression on us.

12. What are your 3 most significant memories from this 5000 km Walk for Peace?

It’s difficult to choose only three, but I can summarize the impressions that stand out most in my mind. I think often of the kindness and generosity of ordinary people in every single country we walked in, people who didn’t speak our languages, but who through their simple acts of humanity touched us and helped us on our way. Often, they were people who had nothing and yet shared all that they had. I am touched when I think of the look in peoples’ eyes when they heard about what we were doing, and the emotion and the hope that our walk seemed to inspire in them. We know we touched many people simply by walking past them, and often by putting the power to create change in their world back in their hands, reminding them of their innate power and the significance of what they see as simple acts.

Above all, I can’t help but marvel at the incredible synchronicities of this entire pilgrimage, the people showing up just when we needed them, circumstances revealing themselves to make our path easier. This is not to say that all our experiences were easy and that we didn’t pass any difficult moments. We did, but in every experience was hidden a marvelous lesson waiting to be revealed.

13. How has this experience transformed you personally?

I trust more in the goodness of people. I am more patient with myself and others. I don’t see people quite as separate from me as I did before. I see our similarities, our hopes, our dreams, more than I see the differences in our languages, cultures, and religions. I find I’m not so quick to judge others, having been judged myself often as many things – a wanderer, a poor vagabond, an idealist, a dreamer, someone naïve who doesn’t understand the real world and the complexities of peace. I have more faith and trust in the unknown, whether you call it God, the Universe, the angels. The label doesn’t matter. It’s all the same creative, loving energy that guides each of us to our higher purpose, when we open ourselves to it. I have more confidence in the world and in ordinary people making change happen. I see our world changing for the better. There is a higher consciousness that is growing daily of ordinary people like you and me choosing to live lives with meaning and to contribute something positive to the world. Despite all we see on television, which only presents a part of the story, I have more hope for the future.

14. What has happened after you finished your walk for peace? Today you live in Spain. Please tell us about your life in Spain. What do you enjoy about your new home town?

After our pilgrimage, we came to Spain for Alberto’s family to meet me, and then to Canada for my family to meet him. We married in 2003 and had our daughter Sylvana in December of that year.

We are still trying to live the lessons of our pilgrimage in our everyday lives, in how we deal with people and situations. We try to look for the light in every person, not their dark. We know we create situations so whenever something happens that we don’t want, we look at ourselves and not at others. We try to let life unfold as opposed to controlling it, forcing it or rushing it along. It’s difficult to do this in a ‘normal’ world and often we forget everything we’ve learned, but that remains our intention. Fortunately, we live in the deep south of Spain in an area that’s very laid back and where people are open and friendly. The pace of life here is more relaxed, there’s more focus on quality of life as opposed to pursuit of success and material wealth. It’s small enough that we can walk everywhere for all our needs – shopping, banks, doctors, pharmacies. We only just bought a car so that we could travel outside the city and explore the beauty of Andalusia and the rest of Spain and Europe. There’s a focus on family and community which we really appreciate. Families go out with their children everywhere – restaurants, cafes at all hours. It’s common to see strollers with children sleeping in them at midnight. Children are a part of the family’s life and of the social experience. Children learn to adapt to the family’s lifestyle, not the other way around. We’re learning a great deal from this way of life and are adapting very easily.

15. Following this monumental Walk for Peace, what are your plans for the future? How do you intend to integrate this experience into your life from here on in?

We are currently writing a book of our experiences and hoping to have it published late this year or early next year. Our intention is to share the many lessons that we have learned from our pilgrimage with others in the hopes that they are inspired to pursue their dreams and passions. In a way, a pilgrimage is a way of life, it’s not something that ends. It has no beginning or end. It is a continual journey of self-discovery and transformation. And that’s what life really is, for those who choose to embrace change as part of their life. So our pilgrimage continues. We continue to accept and heal. We continue to shed and embrace. We continue to grow and learn. We are attempting to create peace in our world by being that peace in our daily lives, and are trying to bring that into the life of our daughter, so that she is surrounded by that positive energy and grows with the absolute knowledge of her power to change herself and her world, and the confidence to face her fears squarely and follow her dreams and passions.

Mony, thank you so much for your time in describing to us this fundamental transforming
experience that took you from a high-powered corporate position in Canada through 13 countries to a more tranquil family life in Spain. We wish you all the best for finishing your book!

www.textronics.com

For more travel articles, advice, photos, interesting interviews &
the opportunity to win a cruise on the Amazon River
visit my website at www.travelandtransitions.com.

Presenting: Valma Brenton - Owner of "Sailing for Women" - International Entrepreneur, Professional Sailor, Empowerer of Women

August 23, 2005

Presenting: Valma Brenton - Owner of "Sailing for Women" - International Entrepreneur, Professional Sailor, Empowerer of Women

In my search for interesting people I recently decided that I needed to focus on finding more women that have done interesting and unusual things. So off I went and searched on the Internet and sure enough, I stumbled across a website called www.sailingforwomen.com, and I figured that the owner would probably be a woman herself and might have an interesting story to tell.

Bingo. Valma Brenton sure has a very interesting resume which includes international travel, managing businesses in Chile and Tazmania, working as a private investigator, divemaster, aquaculture specialist, writer and photographer, to mention just a few of her credentials.

The common thread through all these diverse experiences is that Valma is a woman who loves to take on challenges, she has had a love of the Ocean ever since she can remember, and she dedicates her time to empowering women, teaching them sailing and self-awareness skills to help them become vibrant, successful and self-confident so they can create their own miracles. Without further ado, here is Valma Brenton:

1. Please tell us a bit about your personal background and your work experience.

I was born in Chester, England and immigrated to Canada with my parents when I was just 3 months old. We traveled from England to Quebec by boat. My mom told me she is not surprised that I like to travel so much she said that we traveled to and around Canada by boat, train, car and many other methods from the east coast and to the west before I was a year old. We eventually settled in Gibson’s Landing which is on the Sunshine Coast near Vancouver in British Columbia. I was raised there.

When I was 16 I got itchy feet and started to travel oversees. My father was living in Britain so I headed over there and then on to Europe. I eventually completed school in between my travel adventures. Fashions and trends were about 4 years ahead of where I was living. I found it so exciting to see all of the different trends, foods, cultures and people and thus really acquired a taste for travel. I am like a sponge full of curiosity and really enjoy learning new things.

My father is a Private Investigator and whenever I would travel to Scotland to visit him I would work in the field with him. We always had good fun and some amazing adventures together. I still visit him every few years and head out on a PI adventure. We always end our day with a pint of beer afterwards and share the stories of the day. The experience I gained working with my father in his business helped me understand more about business, people and behavior. I was able to transfer this to many other areas in my life. My life is like a river flowing with magical adventure, freedom, curiosity, creativity and recognition.

My years of curiosity and adventure have lead me on a path of exciting career opportunities with a broad range of industry experience up to executive management levels, including research, project management, sales and marketing, operations, public relations, finance, business startup and development. I am enterprising and a resourceful individual.

My strengths are in identifying and analyzing opportunities, formulating strategies and implementing an action plan. Well-developed analytical, planning, project management, thinking outside the box and motivational skills have enabled me to achieve repeated success in a variety of business situations.

I have a varied business background with experience as a Private Investigator / Security Consultant and Business Administrator both in Canada and the United Kingdom. For twelve years my career has expanded into the aquaculture industry in Canada - British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and internationally into Tasmania, Curacao, Scotland and Chile at a Business Startup / Development, and Management, Operational, Sales and Marketing and Research level. Eleven years prior, I worked in the West Coast Commercial Fishery and Charter Boat industry on the British Columbia coast as a Captain, Divemaster, and Marine Engineer and in Sales and Marketing. I hold a Fishing Master IV International Captain’s license, CSC 2 Small Craft Masters training, International Occupational Scuba Diving License, Canadian Yachting Association Sailing Instructors Certifications and a Boaters License.

Over the years I gained a passion for writing and photography and became a successful author and photojournalist specializing in fisheries and aquaculture-related subjects. I have published numerous research publications of which appear in scientific journals and government scientific updates. Other feature articles and photography has been published in magazines, newspapers, books and art galleries.

2. You have a great deal of entrepreneurial experience and started several ventures, more recently a company called Future SEA that you are still involved with. Please tell us about your entrepreneurial endeavours and your philosophy.

The company Future SEA Technologies Inc was just an idea. Myself and two partner’s one of them being my husband founded the company. What a whirl wind of excitement, growth, learning, traveling and opportunity. At one time we had almost 40 employees and operations in Chile, across Canada, Tasmania and Japan. I got a lot of juice from being on the frontier and the leading edge of new environmentally friendly technology for the aquaculture industry. Working with other people to solve their problems and add value to their lives as well as their businesses. Not to mention being on the water and working with all varieties of ocean and fresh water fish. I was trained as an animal behaviorist by Dr. Kees Groot which crossed over to people through the PI work and training with my father in Britain.

I think for me my philosophy about business is to get clear about what I want, have a dream and dream BIG. I always believe that I can do it if I believe that I can. I envision what I want to produce and then start to manifest and create it. I ask the Universe for what I want and then make space for magic to occur. I believe that it is up to the Universe to provide me with the opportunities and connections along with the money. We raised over 10 million investment capital into our business. That was an experience just on its own.
I think that this 13th century poet and mystic says it all “Let the beauty we love be what we do” Rumi

3. You have also lived and managed businesses in other cultures in places like Chile and Tazmania and are fully bilingual in Spanish. Please tell us about these cross-cultural experiences.

I really loved traveling and working in these other areas. Especially working and traveling in Chile. This was so exciting for me because it was like being on the frontier. Every one in Chile is an entrepreneur. Ideas are always flowing and their creative ways to make money. I like being able to come up with an idea, take some action, get some feedback and make a course correction until it comes out right. In Chile we just frickin did it. Here in Canada there was always so much paperwork and the work was always in convincing someone of the idea first. I guess that is what I loved about Chile…we just tried it on a small scale…tested it, modified and then made it happen. I also know from my experience that no matter what language or religion or belief system that the people had, we were basically all the same. We are the same make-up physically, have the same needs for survival…we all had different perspectives based on our cultural and other upbringing. I love seeing things through different eyes.

I think that I have been successful in working in these other locations because I am adaptable, flexible, curious and open to learn new things and in new ways. I am always curious about the people, culture, land and always try to speak in their native tongue. Even if that meant making a fool of myself. I gained respect for at least trying and eventually succeeded. I am always on the look out for new opportunities and look for the good in people. Treating them with respect and being open to see things their way. Having gratitude and being grateful for every moment and situation was also a big PLUS.

4. You purchased HERIZEN ™ Sailing for Women a couple of years ago. Please tell us about the history of that business, and why you decided to purchase it.

HERIZEN™ was started by Trish Birdsell-Smith back in the late 1980’s. She had a passion for supporting women to be better sailors and raise their awareness about the differences between men and women’s way of learning. After I came back from Chile a few years ago, I was working on another large project here in Canada. One day I had a vision that I was suppose to teach. I was not sure what that exactly meant and asked the Universe to explain. I got a response that it was to do with women and sailing.

One day I saw Trish…we chatted and she mentioned that she was going offshore for a few years. I asked her what she would do with the business and she mentioned selling or folding. My vision came to me suddenly and I said “What about me?” She was excited and figured I would be the best fit…at the same time wondered how I would do it with such a busy schedule of travel. Well, one thing led to another and within a few months – December 15, 2003 I was the new owner of the company. I have not regretted it and am so pleased that I can add value to so many women’s lives. Bringing experience, passion, vision, creativity, transformational processes to help women to really gain the confidence in sailing and assisting them to transfer this to many other parts of their lives is important to me.

5. What programs does HERIZEN™ Sailing offer and what makes your sailing school unique?

HERIZEN™ offers unique sailing and self-awareness courses for women of all ages. We offer retreats in the Gulf Islands in BC, Canada as well as amazing Live Aboard Sailing Adventures for both women and couples in the British Virgin Islands. We offer Canadian Yachting Certification programs and provide seminars on sailing and personal awareness. We also offer training aboard clients sailing vessels from 24 to 60 feet.

6. You had an accident some time ago and sailing helped you in the recovery process. Please tell us about that experience.

I had an accident on the boat many years ago. I suffered with a disorder called Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy and a spinal injury. I was unable to walk properly and lived in pain for many years. I found that sailing really assisted me to gain balance both physically and mentally. Single-hand sailing forced me to have to shift my body and way of thinking from the right to left side of my body and brain…constantly finding a balance between the two. This helped me gain the muscle strength in my legs, my hands and my thinking patterns. Being on the water helped me be in touch with my inner self, being present to each experience and having gratitude for my BEING helped me let go of resistance I had about shifting old belief systems. I gained back my confidence and took the Helm of my Life.

7. You commented on the "magic of the ocean" and that sailing is a really good sport to promote what you call "whole-brained thinking". Please tell us about the self-development aspects of your sailing programs.

One of my driving needs is magical adventure and freedom. I find that being on the ocean is amazingly freeing. The open expansiveness, the changes each moment in the water, the sky, the wind, the clouds. All of my senses are heightened and tested. My physical and mental balance is shifted constantly with the movement the sail boat makes from side to side. Sailing is like a circle. One side of the boat is the right side of the brain and the other side is the left. A sailboat is always moving from one side to the next…tacking constantly. In sailing we utilize the left brain for skills, analyzing, understanding and we also need to use the right side of our brain for the creative, artist and intuitive connection to sail with the wind and keep our sails full. We constantly shift between both sides to keep the boat balanced. Whole Brain thinking.

I am a balanced person using my whole brain.

HERIZEN™ programs provide training in meditation, yoga, breathing techniques, skill development, mindfulness, how to create confidence and maintain it. I find many women say they are right handed but use their left hands to do the work. They get confused and believe that they are not very good at developing some of the skill sets…like tying knots for example. Once they understand what is going on for them and we show them how to burn a pathway to make it easier for them they are relieved and then do believe that they can be good at developing the skill.

8. In your courses you also use techniques such as yoga and meditation. Furthermore, you are trained in a field of energy medicine called "consegrity". Please tell us about the wellness aspect of your programs.

My belief is that everything is energy. I also believe in the law of attraction. If I am clear about what I want and focus on that as opposed to what I do not want…I can create anything including wellness.

I also believe that I am not alone and that we are not separate. Each of us has the ability through our DNA in each cell of the body to heal and repair ourselves. As a consegritist I am not the healer, I am just holding a mirror and if I am open and do not have a specific outcome and listen closely I can connect with someone’s inherent wisdom or all knowing part of who they are. I can mirror back to a person what their inherent wisdom says it needs to do the healing. By being totally present for my clients I can assist them in expanding their awareness. If they can expand their awareness, boxes, and perspectives around what they think they know. This will then allow them more choices. If we have more choice, there is more opportunity, life is healthier and filled with more abundance.

9. Please tell us about the people that take your sailing courses. Where are they from, what age range do they fall into, why do they take your programs?

Women from around the world have been taking HERIZEN™ Sailing for Women programs since 1989. The average age group is between 40 and 65. We have had clients as young as 16 and old as 79 years. Women are attracted to our unique programs for a number of reasons. Some want to become more fun and skilled sailing partners, others want to take the helm confidently, get over the fear of the water or being yelled at, women like to sail and learn from women, many women have always wanted to learn to sail…it was a dream and now they have the time, the money to learn and they also want to have a fun adventure.

10. You use the term "inner sailing" to refer to an awareness process, please explain. We encourage mindfulness. Being in an awakened state or a state of aliveness which requires conscious participation.

We each have a whole brain. Most of us have been conditioned to believe the we are predominant as either left or right brained. Much of our society has been utilizing the left brain rather than the creative, all knowing and intuitive right brain. Sailing is like a whole circle. If you slice it down the middle you get two sides that mirror each other. To stay balanced the boat moves from one side of the circle to the other. This is like our brain….we are more of a whole person if we are moving in and out of both sides of the brain both physically and mentally. The inner sailing refers to the self-awareness of my body, my mind and my spirit. How I am part of my environment and the Universe. Sailing has a technical aspect and also an artistic or intuitive part. I note that once women learn the technical aspect. especially in a way they can understand…for example the why of how things work they naturally can connect at the intuitive level and make good sailors. They just need to get in touch with the all knowing part of who they are. I teach many of the processes that assist a person to get in touch with this part of who they are. Ideally, their higher self. Believe in themselves and their dreams will come true.

11. How do your sailing programs help women build self-confidence and gain a greater sense of awareness and empowerment?

We encourage mindfulness. Being in an awakened state or a state of aliveness which requires conscious participation. We have practices which have the client take time at the beginning of each day to come fully into the present moment, they create a solid framework for a mindfulness practice. The HERIZEN™ Way is unique in how it supports women to get in touch with their all knowing part of who they are. Sailing again is an excellent vehicle both physically and mentally to assist in this process. Understanding how a woman uses her male and female aspect of who she is, breathing techniques and ways to learn to stand in her power. We utilize meditation and teach women to clear the mind chatter and utilize success building techniques to help them reach their objectives. Often it really comes down to confidence. I find many women have the skills they just do not have the confidence on how to use and apply them. What I focus on expands. Where my attention goes, energy flows and results show.

12. How do your sailing courses help couples improve their relationships?

We offer a couples course that introduces them to "inner sailing where awareness of body, mind and spirit" together with respect, appreciation and understanding of the difference between men and women's ways of learning, promotes more effective communication, teamwork and makes sailing together more fun. The confidence gained in each other can enrich their relationship far beyond the sailing experience. We each have a male and female aspect of who we are. I find that if my clients have a better understanding of these differences and when each are coming from which aspect they can more effectively communicate. Making for a more fun, carefree and understanding relationship. The intention is to assist each of them to recognize these differences and use them to their greatest advantage rather than working against them.
For example: a male or yang aspect can be outcome oriented where as the female or ying aspect will be more process oriented. Another example is a male or yang aspect can figure out something by doing it whereas the female or ying aspect would figure it out and then do it.

13. You have a vision for the future. Where do you see your business going in the next few years?

As we connect HERIZEN™ is expanding. The operating company is now changing and the new name and programs will be announced shortly.

My vision or destination is:

- HERIZEN™ presents dynamic self-awareness adventures around the world for women, promoting growth and a strengthened faith in self.

- HERIZEN™ adventures are designed to show women circumstances of seeing themselves being confident, successful, vibrant and creating their own miracles.

- Our goal is to champion women through this unique transformational experience to allow for the personal experience of a higher self.

- HERIZEN Tm is the fastest growing personal success and wellness through self awareness Adventure Company in North America.

- My personal mission is to travel and create an enlightened world by spreading the light of consciousness.

Thank you, Valma, for taking your time to share your philosophies and experiences with us. We wish you all the best for your upcoming endeavours.

www.textronics.com

For more travel articles, advice, photos, interesting interviews &
the opportunity to win a cruise on the Amazon River
visit my website at www.travelandtransitions.com.

An Interview with Helga Smith: Servas Traveller, Marathon Runner and Conqueror of Mount Kilimanjaro

August 22, 2005

An Interview with Helga Smith: Servas Traveller, Marathon Runner and Conqueror of Mount Kilimanjaro

I had a chance to meet Helga recently at the Servas Conference that I covered in Vancouver. Once you read Helga's story you'll realize why she has been included in a recent book called "Women Who Rock", featuring the stories of women who have made outstanding contributions to business, sports or community endeavours.

Originally from East Germany, Helga escaped to the West in 1963 and came to New York City a few years later. Without much help, she raised three children, completed a university degree and successfully established herself in the United States.

Helga has volunteered for a variety of non-profit organizations, inspired others to get active by running marathon races and climbed Mount Kilimanjaro to raise funds to help African women start their own small businesses. Here is Helga's fascinating story:

1. Please tell us about your background. Where are you from, where did you grow up?

I grew up in a country that does not exist anymore, East Germany. Life was not much fun after WWII and it did not improve when the communists took over in 1948. Since I lived close to West Berlin, there was the constant reminder that life can be different. In those of us, who were not willing to resign ourselves to the limitations of the communist regime, it fostered a rebellion and the urge to throw off the chains.

2. You left East Germany in 1963, 2 years after the Berlin Wall was erected. Please tell us about your escape from East Germany.

When the Wall was built it became nearly impossible to leave the country. If caught, the penalty for escaping from East Germany at the time was 6 years in prison. But I was single with no binding obligations, so I was willing to take a chance. I scouted out several possibilities and finally got onto a train which passed locked thru East Germany, stopped in East Berlin to let on foreigners and went to West Berlin before being locked again for the second passage thru East Germany to West Germany. I hid in the train and saw the border police passing by inches away from me. Destiny must have been on my side because the police did not detect me and I made it to West Berlin.

The beginning in West Berlin was not easy since I had nothing, knew nobody and the official help offered was barely enough to get one outfit to go on a job search. Well, I did get a job, found an apartment and basically was on my way.

3. A few years after you left East Germany you came to the United States, to New York City. Please tell us about the first few years in the United States.

Now that I was free to make my own decisions, the opportunity arose to come to the United States. The fact that I did not speak any English did not deter me. Indeed, it did make it a bit more difficult, but challenges are there to make us grow.I took a job as a domestic, learned English as quickly as I could, made friends and a year later started working in an office. Soon after, I married an American and we had three children during the next five years. By that time my husband decided he did not want a family after all and I was single again. Life became challenging once more. To feed the children, I had to go on welfare for a while. But I also attended school, and as soon as I had an associate degree I started to work again. This time I took a job at a major financial institution and stayed with them for more than 20 years in a variety of positions. Along the way I acquired specialized computer skills that allowed me to support my children thru college. My daughter graduated from Harvard Law School and works for International Development. My son attended Fordham University and lives in New York with his Ecuadorian wife. Both of them are recognized and respected graffiti artists, famous for murals in their neighborhood, the City and around the world.

4. How and when did you hear about Servas? What countries have you traveled to through Servas? How many people from what countries have you hosted? In your opinion, what is special about traveling through Servas?

My children were still teenagers when on a Sunday afternoon hike I met a “little old lady traveling with a knapsack”* who told me about Servas. It sounded interesting, but I did not have the time or money to travel myself, so I decided to become a host and let travelers come to me. Several years later, having hosted dozens of people from many different countries, I became really eager to travel myself.

If it had not been for Servas, I do not know whether I ever would have had the courage to visit other countries on my own. But once I started, it quickly became a fascination and my urge to travel was dampened only by financial constraints and the brief annual vacation employees receive in the US. During the 20 years I have been a Servas member I have hosted hundreds of people and traveled to more than 50 countries, visiting Servas people whenever possible.

There are 15000 Servas hosts in 135 countries, and even though it may not always be feasible to stay with them or they may not be available at the time, every visit is enriching in some way. Every traveler coming into my home has something special about him or her and I will always make an effort to have a meaningful encounter.

Vice versa, when I visit people in other countries, I like to find out what their life is like, what are their concerns, what do we have in common and how can we relate and help each other. In doing so, I believe that we are fostering understanding and tolerance. Often we are inspired and motivated to take actions in peace building on the grassroots level. A network of Servas members worldwide helps in that effort.

* (Sandy Cherry was listed in the host list with that quote. She lived in California, and I met her years later at one of our national Servas meetings in Boston.)

5. Please tell us about your 3 favorite or most memorable hosting experiences with Servas.

One of my earliest encounters began in California where I met a lovely young woman from Australia who was somewhat reluctant to come to 1980s crime-ridden New York, or so it was perceived as in those days. I encouraged her to visit me and of course she loved it. Short after, she wrote to me that her parents also wanted to come to New York and asked to find a place for them to stay. Naturally I invited them into my home, even though they were not with Servas. They were in the States for the first time and instead of doing the usual sightseeing in New York, they visited a relative of a friend of theirs in the hospital, because he had nobody else who cared about him. I was very impressed by their humanitarian action and selflessness.

During the first year as a host I was not sure of what precisely hosting entailed. An elderly gentleman came to visit who had just discovered Servas and thought it was a marvelous invention. He obviously had his own agenda that had nothing to do with the Servas spirit. After smoking up my apartment for three days, I asked him whether he was going to stay with anyone else in New York. His answer was, that he liked it here and that he felt just like at home. I did not have the courage to tell him it was time to leave and he stayed another three days.

For the Millennium Forum in 2000, Servas hosts in New York were asked to volunteer hosting UN delegates of NGOs who often do not receive enough funding. I was privileged to host Muborak Sharipova from Tajikistan who knew nothing about Servas. As a sociologist, Muborak had lived the Servas spirit all her life, becoming a member of Servas was just a logical extension of what she was doing all along. We now have a close relationship and I am happy to help her in more ways than one whenever she comes to New York.

6. Please tell us about your 3 most memorable or favorite travel experiences with Servas.

While preparing for a trip to Japan, I had planned on visiting some of the travelers who had stayed with me in New York and had kept in touch. But I also wanted to visit places where I did not know anyone and therefore picked from the Japanese host list. A family was listed with two children that I thought would be interesting to get to know, so I e-mailed them to ask for hospitality. The very next day I received a reply: Don’t you remember? We stayed with you in 1992! They had not been married then and needless to say that I visited them in Kyoto and learned about the situation of young Japanese professionals that may be very different today from what the outside world thinks about the “typical” Japanese family.

After hosting several travelers from South Africa and becoming friends with them, I decided to visit that country. Days before my departure I learned that my friend’s mother had passed and she asked me to come to the customary Hindu memorial instead of exploring the Garden Route at leisure. So I went to the SA airline to change my ticket, explaining that a member of the family had died. The airline immediately gave me the necessary ticket without charge. When I told my friend how accommodating the airline had been, she asked what would I have said if they had asked which member of the family had died? I answered that she was like a sister to me and I felt part of her family, which is exactly how I was treated in her community.

Recently I attended the Vancouver bi-country Servas conference. Having lived in New York most of my life and never having been north of San Francisco in the States, I decided to start at that city and travel over land to Vancouver, stopping by to visit Servas people along the way. One of my destinations was a farm in Chehalis, Washington State. Cheerfully Lorna taught me about Wwoofers (Willing Workers On Organic Farms), healthy living, and picking blueberries for three days. Even though she was born here and had little exposure to German culture: while working, Lorna was singing German folksongs that I could hardly remember, even though I had grown up in that country!

7. You are an avid Marathon runner. Please tell us when you got started running and how that came about. What races have you participated in and what do you like so much about running?

Until I started running I was never athletic, in fact I hated sports all my life. At some point in my mid-fifties I realized that sitting in front of the computer ten hours a day was not doing my body too much good. So, when my daughter began training for her first marathon, I started running short distances with her. Of course I also watched her first race and it seemed like fun.

Then a somewhat bizarre incident happened: a friend of mine announced that she was going to kill herself when she turned 60 because she hated old people and did not want to become one of them. We were unable to change her mind and in frustration and protest I decided to do something more positive with my life: I was going to run a marathon. So I trained to be able to finish the first marathon and my daughter ran together with me. I was 59 years old at that time. It was exhilarating and like many runners I got hooked.

So I trained properly for the next marathon that I ran fast enough to qualify for Boston, the oldest and most prestigious in the country. My daughter had also qualified and we again ran together, two days before she left for her 4-year assignment in Egypt.

To run a marathon requires training the body to push boundaries, otherwise a person can get seriously hurt. So I would participate in little races that are abundantly offered every weekend in New York. Seeing my displayed race numbers at the office has inspired numerous young people to become physically active as well and some of them are now also marathon runners.

The New York Roadrunners Club organizes many races throughout the year, most of them for one worthy cause or another. As long as I am physically well, I participate in those that I enjoy and a cause I support.

8. You also perform volunteer work in New York City and, among other things, you dedicate your time to running with blind people. Please tell us about that experience and other volunteer projects you may have been involved in.

In New York there are abundant opportunities to volunteer. The organization New York Cares alone has scores of projects every week. I have helped with Habitat for Humanity, God’s Love We Deliver, company sponsored projects, and so on. Since I am still traveling extensively, at the moment I do not regularly volunteer for a specific cause but pick assignments from the list and help out in soup kitchens, parks maintenance, race activities, neighborhood associations, etc. I also train with physically challenged, especially blind people, who would not be able to enjoy this sport on their own. It gives me great joy to help others doing something that I came to love myself.

9. A few years ago you decided to climb Mount Kilimanjaro to raise funds for a charity dedicated to small business loans. Please tell us how you came up with the idea and how you selected the cause. What was it like to climb Africa's highest mountain?

My daughter and I like to do things together, be it traveling, running, hiking, etc. When one of us mentioned climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, the other immediately said that would be fun. So we decided to climb the rooftop of Africa. While preparing for the event, it occurred to me that I did not want to do this just for myself. There are lots of races, bike rides and other events organized for some good cause: why can’t I climb a mountain and let someone else benefit from my efforts. So I choose the organization FINCA* (Foundation for International Community Assistance) that gives small loans primarily to woman in countries where it is particularly difficult for women to start businesses. From my friends, colleagues and people I met at various activities I raised $10,000 that were distributed to the women in Tanzania which is where Mt. Kilimanjaro is located.

Having heard that it was possible for an average fit person to climb the highest mountain in Africa, I felt ready for this challenge. Mt. Kili is the only free-standing mountain in Africa and going up consists basically of strenuous hiking in high altitude. The mountain is almost 20,000 ft high and the distance from the entrance gate to the top is nearly 60 miles. Most people take at least 6 days round trip, with the day of the ascent being the most difficult part. It is important to go slowly enough to give the body a chance to acclimate and to drink lots of water. Only about half the people attempting to climb the mountain are successful, many underestimate the difficulties and fail to pay attention to their body’s ability to adjust.With 120+ contributors on my fundraising list I had plenty of motivation to go all the way and luckily my daughter was willing to share this exciting event with me. We both managed to climb all the way to the top – one of the most difficult things we had done so far but also one of the most exhilarating. Every successful climber was thrilled about the experience and the satisfaction of having accomplished it showed in their faces.

10. You have also joined an activist group called the "Non-Violent Peaceforce". Please tell us what they do and why you are considering working with them. What else is in your plans for the next few years?

The Non-Violent Peaceforce trains people to put themselves “in harm’s way”, that is, people are deployed into places where an outside group can act as a buffer to diffuse a potentially violent situation. NP works with the United Nations on peaceful solutions and conflict prevention in hostile environments. I do not know whether I will be chosen as a team member, but it seems a worthy cause to support and I am willing to participate in their actions. NP also works as election overseer and other less potentially dangerous events.

Plans for the future? Aside from more traveling, involvement with Servas and other NGOs, nothing in particular comes to mind at the moment. But that may change any day…

Thank you, Helga, for your sharing your stories of courage. You obviously love challenges and we wish you the best of luck for whatever you choose to get involved in.

www.textronics.com

For more travel articles, advice, photos, interesting interviews &
the opportunity to win a cruise on the Amazon River
visit my website at www.travelandtransitions.com.

Mary Jane Mikuriya - Servas Traveller and Commited Local Volunteer in San Francisco

August 17, 2005

Mary Jane Mikuriya - Servas Traveller and Commited Local Volunteer in San Francisco

Well, if leading a positive life and dedicating your time to worthwhile causes keeps you young, Mary Jane is the perfect poster girl for this lifestyle. When I first met Mary Jane during the Canada-US Servas Conference, I thought she might be in her late 40s, early 50s. Once I got to know her on a more personal level I found out that she is 70! She didn't mind sharing her age, and her youthful energy and positive spirit captured me.

Mary Jane is a trained administrator and throughout her distinguished working career she has managed projects worth up to $16 million. She also has substantial experience as a grant writer which she has put to good use for various non-profit endeavours over the years. Her most important causes include peace and social justice which she supports in various ways.

"Faithful Fools" is a San Francisco street ministry for the homeless, and it is coordinated by members of the Unitarian and Catholic churches. The organization holds fundraisers and provides training to candidates for community ministry in how to work with local homeless individuals. It also offers a program called "witnessing", a concept used by the Quaker religion to acknowledge conscious concern. Individuals get to pratice being present with homeless people for either 2 days or a whole week to walk in their shoes to truly understand what it is like to not have a home. It is a purposeful empathy program, designed to make people understand what this group of people are going through on a daily basis. Her group also participates in memorial services that acknowledge the names of people who died in the street, who would otherwise have left this planet barely leaving a trace.

Throughout the years, Mary Jane has had a chance to dedicate herself to various causes. She has also been part of the Iraq War Awareness Initiative that allowed people to meditate and reflect on the Iraq War. Mary Jane has participated in a Quaker-organized event that shed light on the cost of the war in Iraq. This event featured a pair of army boots for each American soldier who has died in Iraq. In addition it showcased hundreds of women's and children's shoes that make the civilian loss of life in Iraq tangible.

In addition, Mary Jane has hosted hundreds of people as a Servas member and she will be sharing some of her interesting travel and hosting stories in the near future. One of the most significant initiatives she has been involved with included Holocaust victims that were staying with German families in order to make peace with history.

Mary Jane is a bridge builder and dedicates a great amount of her time volunteering to a variety of causes that are dear to her heart. In the near future she will be shedding more light on all her volunteer endeavours and hopefully divulge the secrets of her youthfulness.

www.textronics.com

For more travel articles, advice, photos, interesting interviews &
the opportunity to win a cruise on the Amazon River
visit my website at www.travelandtransitions.com.

Pablo Chufeni: Servas Traveller, a Bundle of Energy and Creator of International Youth Language Exchange Programs

August 17, 2005

Pablo Chufeni: Servas Traveller, a Bundle of Energy and Creator of International Youth Language Exchange Programs

The first impression of Pablo Chufeni is that he's just a bundle of energy - Pablo just radiates optimism and enthusiasm. He is from Argentina, in his twenties, and works in a variety of professions, including as a professor teaching theatre, and as a TV producer. He got his first work experience at a local program of a developing bank, working with poor teenagers. Beyond these varied work activities, Pablo dedicates a huge amount of his time as a volunteer for Servas, and as you will find out soon, he is working on setting up a number of exciting international youth initiatives for this organization.

Pablo originally discovered Servas through his uncle. He has had an opportunity to travel to the Netherlands, to Belgium, France and England, and he credits Servas for making these travels possible since he would otherwise not have been able to visit these countries. Servas allowed him to travel cost-effectively and gave him the opportunity to really get to know these places.

Upon returning from these trips, Pablo decided to create a local Servas chapter in Rosario, Argentina's second largest city. Today there are 15 very active Servas members and the group has already hosted 2 national meetings with people from 5 different provinces.

Pablo told me of his experiences in Montevideo where he met a young Brazilian woman who wanted to study Spanish. Pablo thought that Servas offered a phenomenal international network of open-minded people, and somehow this network could be harnessed in productive ways. He ended up designing a program for youth to study abroad. This young Brazilian woman ended up staying a whole month in different Servas member homes in Argentina while a teacher gave her free Spanish language lessons. She also had a chance to take tango lessons, a real introduction to Argentinean culture. This was enhanced by a scholarship at a theatre arranged by Pablo, which normally would have cost $700. In return for this experience, Argentina sent a young Servas member to Brazil to study Portuguese.

This initiative has now expanded, and in addition to Brazil and Argentina, Pablo is setting up free youth language exchange programs in Mexico and Uruguay, and he is currently working on expanding the Servas language learning and cultural exchange experience into Canada and the United States. All in all, this program will be able to offer free learning programs to 18 to 30 year old Servas members in 4 languages: Spanish, Portuguese, French and English.

In addition, Pablo is also working on organizing the first International Servas Youth Meeting in the Southern Hemisphere. The event is called "Patagonia 06" and will be held during the 3rd week of January of 2006. Servas members from all over the world will be invited to share their experiences of how to enhance the organization's effectiveness for promoting peace. Pablo also intends the event to make Servas more dynamic and more accessible to young people. He feels there are so many possibilities of harnessing this international network of like-minded people for the peaceful development of the world.

Patagonia 06 will be hosted in the well-known Argentinean resort town of Bariloche and it will be an extremely affordable event: The conference program including accommodation and meals will only cost US$160.00. This low cost will allow young people from all over the world to participate.

On a more local level, Pablo hosts "diversity meals", dinners that are intended to get more young people involved in Servas. So far he has hosted 4 meals with 4 participants each, and 6 of these people have now become active Servas members, another example of the success of local outreach programs.

Pablo's imagination never rests. In addition to his current projects he is already thinking of combining Servas travel with farm work experiences as well as international job shadowing and internship opportunities. Very soon you'll hear from this whirlwind of positive energy himself, how he develops all these creative ideas and finds the time to implement them in his spare-time.

www.textronics.com

For more travel articles, advice, photos, interesting interviews &
the opportunity to win a cruise on the Amazon River
visit my website at www.travelandtransitions.com.