Coming Home

As another week slips by, I cannot help but count the weeks until I board my last trans-continental flight of the year and land in BWI. As unbelievable as it sounds to me, I have six weeks left until I return to my home in Maryland!

This week has presented a series of conversations about returning to the US. My co-year Ujamaa held a discussion about our responsibilities to home, prompting my thinking on my coming return. Yesterday, my friend Sophia and I were biking along a back country Metchosin road yesterday, on our way to the beach, when she asked me how living in Canada has changed my perception of America.

My answer to this question changes every day. Never-the-less, a few principles in my mind are certain:

America is my homeland. I’m one of the rare Pearsonites who has never moved to another country – let alone another home, and I know my roots are established in Carroll County, Maryland. It will always be where I return between phases in my journey.

I am grateful to be an American, and I realize how I have taken civil liberties for granted – like the right to voice my opinion to the public school board for a year’s term. I return with a new perspective that our “rights” are not unalienable unless we build a community to uphold them.

Most strongly, I return with an impetus to create change. Our state of public discourse is a polarized, fear-filled, isolationist battle. After living at Pearson, I see new opportunity for collaborative community building. I have learned to make decisions by consensus, including peoples’ views from across the world. I have learned the necessity of an active citizenry in participatory democracy, and the importance of engagement with state decisions.

My vision, essentially, is to change the American dream. We can no longer pretend that the United States is the best nation on all fronts, with solutions for everything. We can no longer invest in a consumer culture that is masking social inequity and environmental injustice with materialist consumption. I realize that it may take decades to change the media and the ways of corruption in American politics, and perfect systems are unattainable. But we are in need of systemic change, based upon principled ethics.

Our political mandates need imagination, as former Prime Minister of Canada Joe Clark shared with us last night. I hope that my work in the non-profit sector in the future will fulfill my responsibility to home. I hope this experience will allow me to act as an engaged citizen, upholding UWC values, uniting my community towards a peaceful and sustainable future.

Easter Blessings

May you appreciate the joy and love that surrounds you, and may you have to courage to look for it.”
” written by my dear friend, mentor, sister, second year, all-around inspiration Emmy inspired me to write today.

On Easter Sunday, the hope and joy in my heart are abounding as I think of all the blessings that have come into my life in this past year.

Photo by my beautiful friend, Julia!

As I sit in my host family’s peaceful, quiet library, I am grateful for the loving comfort and resonance of home. I love the feeling of carpet beneath my feet when I wake up in the morning and I know the number of footsteps it takes to reach the door. I love the soft whisper of familiar voices that wake me from a deep slumber. I love coming in to a kitchen where the scent of a home-cooked Sunday dinner fills the air, and a cup of tea is waiting for me at the table. I love the moments before a meal where we gather in silence, giving thanks for the fruits of the earth that are cooked and prepared with love. I love hearing stories of past traditions of older generations that teach me about my heritage. My host family – and my home family – are the people in my life that I always carry in my heart, bringing “home” with me wherever I go.

While Pearson may not have all the same comforts of home, I am so grateful to live in our community. I love when I recognize a friend coming in the hallway by the unique sound of footsteps, the nights when my roommates and I talk about our long days over tea and laughter that makes us fall of the beds. I love when I pick up the phone and hear the voice of someone’s family from thousands of miles away. I love sitting in the day room, gathered around the fireplace, when we forget about schoolwork and just share a moment of life together. I love 7:15 on Sunday nights, when we gather for house meeting with our two parents surrounded by forty wild, passionate, joyful teenagers. I love coming back to my desk to find a note written from a friend. I love seeing our house parents playing with their children on the lawn, bringing me back to memories of childhood. I love room bonding, floor bonding, house bonding, people bonding.

These small instances of love in East House are only a small sample of the beauty at Pearson. So while it is impossible to describe all that I love about this place, here is a try:
I love the purple shooting star flowers that bloom in April on the hills next to the observatory, where I look out to see the mountains and the sea blend in a view that pervades my sense of being like a new force of gravity. I love the tall trees. I love the fallen trees that give a home to new plants, nurturing the next generation of forest life. I love the way the clouds move across Pedder Bay so dynamically that rain, sun, and cloud are all one magnificent force. I love the sound of the birds that wake me in the morning, always rejoicing and singing – and I especially love the rare moments when I hear the click of the Eagle’s call. I love the colors of the sunset sky.

I love all the small things of life, like sending letters. I like camping when I wake up to the sunrise and the smell of campfire on my clothes. I like the excitement of Christmas morning and blowing out birthday candles. I love sitting around the breakfast table and sharing stories. I love dressing up for church on Sunday mornings. I love the deep breaths I take after a long, soothing cry. I like when body language speaks from the heart; I like making eye contact with someone who sees through my soul. I like the creases of books and the scent of old bookstores. I like gliding my pen across my journal, when words flow from my hand. I like finding random things in common. I like stories of hard-fought romances; I like watching family members reunite in a loving embrace at the airport. I like dancing to Disney music and singing hymns in my sleep. I like breathing, feeling loved, being free.

I hope this Easter reminds you of the divine miracles that surround us all each day. May you see the beauty of creation spring forth, and always see the small stuff that you love!

I Will If You Will

So, did you turn off your lights on Saturday night?!

This past Saturday, March 31, people all across the world celebrated Earth Hour: a time to show your commitment to small actions to combat climate change. This year’s theme was “I Will If You Will,” inspiring cooperation for a collective action of millions in over 135 countries across the planet. Earth Hour is a time to remind ourselves how we depend on fossil fuels to power every aspect of our lives – a fact that needs to change for human civilization to sustainably continue. Like a “New Years Eve” for the earth, Earth Hour is a time to join in community and share your year’s intentions for living more simply and sustainably.

As Earth Hour was founded by a PC alumni, it was time for Pearson to join in the celebration! A few months ago, at a village meeting, we proposed to voluntarily turn off our lights for an hour and received unanimous support. Then, this Saturday, the service leadership team painted up our faces and ran around campus at 8:30, announcing the time had come! Earth Hour had begun!

We decided that the best way to gather the community for an hour “off the grid” was to create some old-fashioned fun: games in the woods and singing around a campfire. At least forty students sat around a campfire for over two hours, and we learned songs in all kinds of languages in accents! For the first time in weeks, it felt like we could truly be together without the pressures of the outside world or academics bearing down on us. We unleashed our creativity and laughter, freed of technology and the bounds of outside media. I loved seeing people light up with joy singing songs from their childhood. It reminded me of my best memories at summer camp, the pure simplicity of genuine bonding around the flames.

On Saturday night, seeing the community support for the event, I felt a renewed hope that we will be the generation to innovate creative solutions to change our environmental impact. It takes people like my co-years and first years at Pearson, people with a heart for change and a love for the environment, to join together and make a difference. This year, as my Earth Hour resolution, I am committing to sharing my love for nature with more youth and spreading the wisdom I have gained from Pearson.

Check out our pictures, and join us next year for Earth Hour in your time zone! (Photos credit to Niklas from Denmark)

It’s a Great Day to be a Wildcat

I have been waiting for this day for years and years – the day I finally know the college I will be attending.

Since I was young, my father has given me a love for the college search process. I could recite the list of Ivy League schools by the time I was in fourth grade, though ironically, I decided to never apply to them. As I narrowed my search over the years, I learned to value the importance of a college education and finding the right place for me.

Fast forward to last summer – when I was on the phone with my mom on a late July evening. It was that conversation when I realized my dream school – Middlebury – could be out of my financial reach. I remember being filled with momentary despair and hopelessness, prompting me to call my second year from New Mexico, Katie. I knew she would be attending Middlebury in the fall, so I asked for her advice with finances and the college search.

Katie’s advice during that phone call put me on the path I am today. She recommended I look at a small school in North Carolina called Davidson, commonly known for its all-star performance in the March Madness basketball tournament. At first, I was reluctant to take my eyes off the schools I had already selected as my top choices. Within a few hours on the Davidson website, however, I was enchanted by what I read: a small intellectual community united by a strong honor code and a mission to change the world through civic engagement. The next day, I shared my findings with my mom, and we decided to take a road trip.

My initial summer visit was not the perfect “love at first sight” experience that I had felt with previous school visits (though I did have an amazing bonding road trip with my mom!). However, the beauty of the campus and the friendly small-town atmosphere was enough to convince me to pursue my application. I completed my essay and application by December 1st, submitting an additional application for the Belk Scholarship. At that time, I had no idea of the journey that awaited me in the up-coming months.

Thanks to the generosity of the Belk family, the Belk Scholarship is one of the only remaining full merit scholarships to a top US liberal arts university. When I learned I was a semi-finalist for the award, one of 50 out of the over 850 applicants, I didn’t let myself get my hopes up or feel very confident about my chances. It felt like an impossible task to stand out from the crowd, to communicate my vision for my college experience, to share how hopeful I am to return home and pursue my passion for change making.

Miraculously, the phone interview went smoothly and I felt at ease sharing my responses to some truly thought-provoking questions. Within days, I found out I was a finalist – and I began my preparation for a journey to Davidson, North Carolina at the end of March. Though I was also simultaneously in classes and preparing for One World, I always had Davidson at the back of my mind. Each day, I did more research about the school, and over weeks the conviction in my heart grew. I felt like I had found where I could belong, thrive, and live in community. Davidson felt like the right fit for me, and I hoped that my visit would confirm my hopeful belief.

When the time for the interview weekend finally arrived, I was filled to the brim with excitement and energy. Before I knew it, I was walking among the towering Davidson oaks, admiring the beauty of a campus surrounded by wilderness. I was meeting amazing people that I immediately felt connected to – especially my wonderful hosts and current Belk scholars. The Davidson community felt so alive, warmed by the North Carolina sunshine, and filled with loving energy! No matter where I turned, there was someone to help me or send a smile my way.

In addition to the overwhelming feeling of community, I was amazed by the stories of individuals I met. I connected with some truly inspiring people that have pursued projects across the planet to contribute to global thinking on current issues. From water politics in Bolivia to anthropology research in Nepal to outdoor education in Asheville, North Carolina, Belk scholars and alumni are making change in countless areas of the global community. They are people who are dedicated to using their talents and abilities, their educational opportunity, for the betterment of society. Above all, they have open hearts and they truly care for the needs of those around them. I felt so grateful to share the weekend and learn from them, and I am even more grateful that I will be joining them next year.

I know this is only the beginning of my college life, the next phase of my education, but I feel it has already been a life-changing journey. Suddenly my dream to study environmental studies, focusing on religion and ecotherapy, has become a reality. While it was difficult to say “no” to top colleges like Middlebury, Amherst and Swarthmore, I have come to realize that community – not reputation – is the most important part of the college experience. Now as I look ahead to the next two months at Pearson, I feel my only remaining task is to keep dreaming and learning from Pearsonites about how we can create peace and a sustainable future. Keep posted for the adventures to come!

A Show of a Lifetime

Hello world, I am back.

In the past ten days, I have been through a whirlwind of an adventure. From three performances at the Royal Theater to two days of packing and preparation, followed by a week of travel and an AMAZING interview weekend at Davidson College in North Carolina. Add two more days of travel (thanks to unexpected flight cancellations and an overnight in Portland) and two days of five exams -

and here I am, happily exhausted and sitting by the East House fire, thinking how it feels so long ago that I was in this same position after having come back from the Royal Theater on Saturday night, March 17.

In a word, One World was transformational – for the community, my friends, and myself. I felt a remarkable sense of unity develop within our campus community, beginning in the days leading up to the show as we scrambled for the last rehearsals and supported each other in perfecting our acts. By the time we had our dress rehearsal, our first performance on the Royal stage, we were so excited to share our work with the Victoria audience. I felt an uplifting morale building through it all; the dress rehearsal went almost flawlessly, a promising sign for the day ahead.

And what a journey of a day it was. I began the morning with a walk in the woods to center and ground myself, as I knew the day ahead would be demanding. Through all of my acts, I envisioned the energy and peace of the forest. It was a perfect visualization for my spoken word piece with Hulwa, which took a new life during our final two performances! While our previous rehearsals often felt too rushed or dramatized, during the actual performance, our true voices rang through as our hearts opened beneath the spotlight. I felt so grateful to have had the opportunity to stand beside Hulwa and share our passions with an audience of over a thousand people – how much we care for nature and for each other.

While being on stage was a remarkable experience, I felt equally amazed witnessing my close friends shine through their acts as I sat in the audience for the second act. It felt like I knew the secrets behind the celebrity performers – I knew how hard everyone had worked, and how amazing it was for them to be on stage! Ping pong theatre, for example, was even more hilarious when I knew how shy and humble the performers truly are. I was so amazed to see my roommate Rutendo tell originally composed stories of what it means to be a child of Africa, then watch her smile so enthusiastically during her dance act of township jive. I was moved to tears by my co-year, Dylan, as he performed a spoken word poem that powerfully breathed America’s search for a true identity. It was such a surreal moment to see Dubkeh, a dance choreographed by my dear Palestinian co-year Ghadeer, and realize how rare it is for such a diverse group of people to celebrate a culture of a region filled with conflict.

As my friend and co-year AJ reminded us, One World is one of the last times we will be able to share an experience with people of so many different background and cultures. When I think about singing a Maori welcome song in my national costume beside my best friend from Malawi and 159 of the most incredibly talented and inspiring people I know, I am simply speechless.

I will never forget the moments before I went on stage, when I received wishes for good luck by all those around me. I will always cherish the memory of our celebration dinner between performances when we shamelessly wore our stage makeup and celebrated our accomplishment together. Most of all, I will remember the countless hugs I shared when the curtain fell for the last time. While the world may be plagued with conflict, One World reminded me that the creativity and bonds of humanity are stronger than any challenge we may face. If one hundred and sixty youth activists can produce a life-changing performance of international music and dance in one month, there is truly hope for this world. Thanks to everyone who participated in and supported the show for a remarkable experience!

Check out the video of choir here:

Up next…

My lovely readers,
In the voice of our stage managers, allow me to say,
“Blog post about One World – stand by, coming up next!”

Right now I am traveling to Davidson College in North Carolina, so I am waiting for things to settle down before I set my mind to writing. There is quite a story to tell from that spectacular Saturday spent in the Royal Theater.

In the mean time, here is a sneak preview: 
Ping pong theater, tear-evoking slam poetry, learning the art of African hip shaking, back stage high fives, my roommate the child of Africa, and the secret to creating peace and a sustainable future with one crazy, awesome, inspiring show.

Stay tuned – more to come. Happy spring, everyone!

One World Mania

The time has finally arrived. The show is about to begin. And I am excited to announce:
One World 2012 is this Saturday at the Royal Theater!

One World is an annual show of international music, stories, and dance that Pearson College is performing for an audience of thousands at the Royal Theatre. I am amazed by the communal creativity and effort put forth for this show; a collection of over twenty acts, the show is choreographed, directed, and run by Pearson students. Our passion is woven into each act – from spoken word acts to Ukrainian Dance. One World is a chance for us to connect with the local community of Victoria, as we give thanks to all those who support our school’s mission.

For weeks, I have seen my classmates frantically running to the Max Bell theater, gumboots in hand, saying, “I’m late for rehearsal!”. As a member of three acts, I have spent more evenings singing in choir rehearsal than studying, and my Sunday afternoons are spent wrapped in the busy, frantic, excitement of full show runs. The beauty is that we are all in it together, bonding through the moments right before we go on stage, when we fix each others’ costumes, when we support each other through the nervous excitement.

Right now, it feels like a whirlwind: the craziness of a storm before the rain settles and the sky clears. However, I know that our work this week is for the benefit of the college and our community. My driving motivation is to share the energy and joy that Pearson has given me with our audience. One World is a very powerful show, as my father and step-mom remind me with their memories of last year’s performance. “That One World show is amazing!”, my dad reminds me, and motivates me to create a lasting impression this year. When I perform “Reunion,” an original spoken word poem, with my classmate Hulwa, I will be thinking of my family at home as I speak about Maryland. I will also be thinking of my host family, and I am so grateful they will be in attendance this year.

I feel renewed with excitement when I consider just how amazing it is that we put together this show in a matter of weeks. Watching today’s dress rehearsal, my friends and visiting co-years from UWC-USA, Sara and Jane, shared that our acts were heartfelt and impressive! But as our director, Libby, reminded us, we have lots of room for improvement. I know it will be a stressful week with my priority given to (nearly) perfecting each act. We will “dance in our sleep,” as my teacher Adriana recommends.

I know I will feel a mixture of sadness and gratitude when the final curtain comes down on Saturday, and we take our final bow. One World is a definite landmark in the closing of my Pearson journey – and I am ready for it to finally arrive. So, dear readers, hang in there for an update next week!