Lonesome George Party

 We had a great night learning about Lonesome George.  We made turtle candy, painted turtles, made turtle pins, watched a DVD about Galapagos and ate turtle cake with ice cream.

Daniel, Christina and Nikki show off their George turtles!

A Message from Michelle

Michelle Vaeth is the Head of External Relations for Global Oral Care Products for Proctor and Gamble in Cincinnati.  She had this to share with delegates at the first Orientation meeting in the Cincinnati Area.  I thought you would enjoy her words of wisdom.

The world really is the best classroom.  Even though I’ve visited more than 30 countries on 5 continents, I’m still a student.  Travel has been instrumental in helping me grow in my career and as a person.  In my job, I have the privilege of leading and shaping communications for a global business—communications that reach the eyes and ears of billions of people around the earth.  Had I not had the opportunity early on in my career to travel and learn from cultures, communities and most importantly the people in those communities, I absolutely couldn’t be doing what I do today.

I think there is a difference between being a tourist and being a traveler.  Both are good, fun and important.  I happily call myself both – even within the same trip!  It’s much easier to be a tourist.  Take in the sights, snap pictures in front of famous monuments and pos as many of them as possible on Facebook so the rest of us back home feel like we’re there with you!  But if that’s as deep as it goes, you’ll be missing out.  Be a traveler --- immerse yourself and really, truly learn the way of the new culture your’re exploring ad brings a sense of it home with you in your head and your hear, not just on your camera – those lessons you learn will serve you throughout your life.

After learning about People to People’s mission, the very rigorous selection process you have all been through, and the incredible itineraries you’ll be experiencing, I know I’m in a room of really talented young people who already are or soon will be amazing travelers.But I also know firsthand that there’s lots of things that can get in the way of making this happen! Let me explain …

It’s hard to be a good traveler.  I wasn’t always one.  In fact I was a pretty naïve, unprepared one in the beginning.  My first “real” international trip was to Mexico City in 1999.  I was traveling on business for P&G, and was excited to have my first passport in hand.  I was also over packed.  As I struggled to force my overstuffed carry-on into the overhead compartment, a very kind gentleman stepped in to help me.  After he lifted and strained to stuff the bag in in one place, he looked at me with a knowing eye and said “Muchas ropas!”  Yes, sir, I had a lot of clothes.  And shoes! That bag, plus the one I’d checked, plagued me for the entire trip --- causing me extra headache and sweat in the Mexican summer heat, and distracting me from taking in the rich sights, sounds, and people around me.  Lessons learned: Travel light.  You’ll see more.

For my next trip, a vacation to the UK anf France with my sister just a few months after my Mexican luggage fiasco, I had the packing strategy down.  My new nemesis?  Jet Lag.  Oh, I heard of jet lag, and even thought I was a pro at managing it --- I’d been to California, after all (from Ohio – 3 time changes).  No. I really didn’t comprehend until I was actually on the plan to London that my cramped little economy seat was going to be my bed for the evening.  Except this bed came with the temptation of a tiny TV screen that would allow me to watch movies all night long.  Wow!  That seemed like the best thing ever until we landed in London and I hadn’t slept a wink.  It was 8:30 in the morning, a brand new day and the hotel room wouldn’t be available until 5pm.  I was doomed.  Apparently, my sister and I went to see the Tower of London and Buckingham Palace that day --- I’ve see the pictures.  But I have absolutely no memory of it.  Lesson learned:  Don’t let anything distract you from really, truly experiencing the world as you explore it.  Sleep on the plane.  The movies will still be here when you get home.

Over the next decade, my travels brought me everywhere from China to Greece India, to Turkey, Ethiopia to Singapore and countless places in between. After my rough entry into this new life as a global citizen, I eventually discovered the traveler within… and along the way there have been many lessons to learn from both the good and the bad I’ve seen and experienced… and there always will be.  I expect you’ll find this to be true too.  Here’s a few lessons I’ve learned along the way that have been the most valuable to me.

Check Republic, 2003.  I thought I was a travel pro at this time, but really I was only part way to finding the traveler within.  I had tagged along to Prague with my sister and brother-i-law to attend my brother-in-law’s childhood friend’s weeding-- an American man who was marrying a Czech woman.  It was my first time in Prague, and I couldn’t wait to get out into the city and drink in every sight there was to see.  Bur, first I had to attend this wedding in the Czech countryside.  An all day (and night) affair where I would know virtually no one, not event the bride and groom.  I was prepared for sheer boredom.  To make matters worse, at the reception I was seated next to a kilt-clad Scottish gentleman who wored for Kimberly Clark – Kimberly Clark!!!  An arch-rival and competitor of my employer, P&G!  The animosity was palpable and I looked for the nearest escape route – there was none! Flash forward: 12 hours and 2 roasted pigs later, my new Scottish friend and I were leading our fellow wedding reception guests in hearty renditions of show tunes on the dance floor.  I had the time of my life that day, in the middle of nowhere Czech republic.  Lesson learned:  Let go of preconceived notions of what “fun” will be, and be open to the new, the unexpected.  You’ll likely find friend there.

Kenya, 2007:  By this time was very travel savvy… I’d already been to more than 20 countries on 4 continents and I thought I had it all down:  the packing, the jet lag, the letting go of preconceived notions of what to expect… I was in my element.  The world truly was my oyster.  It was my second time to Africa, my first visit to Kenya.  I was there on business, working on programs to help disadvantaged girls stay in school in rural areas outside of Nairobi.  After a full amazing, incredible day of working at the schools with w brilliant Kenya team, my colleagues and I packed into our P&G-hired car, and the driver took us back to Nairobi.  We were just outside the city center only a few miles from our hotel, when a man ran out into traffic and placed his hands directly on the hood of our car.  Our driver slammed on the brakes, and we came to a stop.  Suddenly, my car door opened, and a pair of hands reached in and grabbed the bag on my lap – the bag that my passport may or may not have been in- for a split second, I couldn’t remember.  I reacted- wrongly. I fought back.  The fact that I ultimately won that fight and that we managed to get that car door  shut and speed away unharmed isn’t the point – the point is I knew better.  I’d been told to always lock my car door.  I hadn’t.  I’d been told never keep my bag on my lap where it was visible to those outside the car.  I had. I ‘d been told that if someone ever did try to steal my bag, for God’s sake, let them have it.  I didn’t.  that episode could have had a very different ending.  Lesson learned:  Bad things can happen in good places.  While you immerse yourself in all that the world has to offer, stay alert, be safe, be smart, and listen to good advice.

Namibia, 2007.  Namibia has a very special place in my heart.  I’ve spent more time there than any other country outside the US – I lived there for a combined 3 months in 2007 alone.  It’s an inhospitable place… temperatures soaring past 120 degrees during the day, and plunging into the 30’s at night.  Such is life in the Namib Desert, I learned – For the most part, I would camp in the OHangwena region, near the Angolan border, while working there.  It’s a place where multiple tribes and cultures exist on top of each other, and sometimes clash.  It’s very, very hard and grueling to get to.  Leaving from Cincinnati, it will take you 4 days to reach this far corner of the earth.  3 days of flying, followd by a half day or driving by truck on a road, and another halof day of swashbuckling through the bush with no road.  There are not hotels, and a least at our campsite, not TV, no internet, no electricity, and no bathrooms.  It doesn’t get any more off the beaten path… in some ways, its also cultural immersion to its greatest degree.  Thee is an ancient rribe that lives in the bush there… called the San.  They are the original inhabitants of most of Southern Africa, and once numbered in the missions.  Today, there are les than 60 thousand in all of Africa.  They are a beautiful, gentle people, tring to marr an anciet culture of nomaic hunting and gathering with an increasing presence of a amdern, thechnological world.  Trapped in between.  I had the priviledge to get to know a dozen of so San children during my time in Nmibia while working at the school near their settlement.  I think of one little girl every day even still.  Her name is N’gobe, and she was around 5 yrears old when I met her.  I taught her the names of the plantes in our solar system during that visit.  She taught me that kids of any culture crave and need affection, and want to learn.  They desperately want to have the opportunity to learn.  Lesson Learned:  Off the beaten path, far away for the bright lights and big cities, you might just discover what really, truly connects all of us around the world.

I can’t tell you what that is.  I know you’ll discover it as you become ttavelers.

I wish you tall the best in your People to People ambassadorships.. safe travels and HAVE FUN.

Hi from Christina

Finally joined the blog--I am excited about our trip!

Trivia Question #1

Who was the Dog King? How did Galapagos get it's name?

to win the fabulous prize...send me your answer by email to
ginny.volle@gmail.com   If you are correct, you will win!

Richard s

P2P Japan 2010

School production of "Crazy For You"

Family trip to NYC
(Statue of Liberty in background.)

First Orientation Meeting

Save the Date:  December 11, 2010

Princeton High School,  10-1pm

We'd love for you to come and join all the delegations for a kick-off meeting.  Those delegates unable to attend we will be posting information on this site so that you may share in the fun.

Welcome to the Delegation!

Are you getting excited about traveling to Galapogas?  I know Molly and I are.  We can't wait to go to the Middle of the World,  hike the rain forests, picnic in the volcano, sail and snorkel the clear waters, visit the Giant Tortoise Breeding Center, take pictures of the green sea turtles, penguins, marine iguanas and of course the butterflies!  Have you ever hike through a lava tunnel? We haven't yet!  We will have a blast as we experience so many "firsts" and learn about this amazing part of the world.

To get started on this adventure, we thought it would be fun for each  to post 3 pictures that show  something about ourselves.  To do this, you will create a new post with your name as the Title and then click on the third icon from the right to "add image".  You can add all three images at one time.  Be sure to give a short description of the picture.  You can share pictures of your family, where you live or go to school, what you like to do or where you've traveled.  It can be pictures of your pets or  just about anything that helps us to learn  more about you.  Oh yes, the picture needs to be one you take - an original not one from the internet.   The objectives of the exercise are to share something about you and to get familiar with our blog site.  Can't wait to see what you post!
Ms. Ginny and Ms. Molly