You work at ISC as Vice President for International Programs. Can you explain a bit more about your role there?

One big part of my job is making sure that our international projects are being implemented at the highest professional level. For example, next month I will be traveling to visit our projects in Serbia and China to see how our programs are doing. I talk to our partners and listen to their concerns and see if they are satisfied with our support. I review the data we are collecting to see if we are achieving the targets we established. I talk with our staff and try and understand what is going well and look for ways to support them better and help them overcome obstacles that they may be facing. Another big part of my job is looking for new program opportunities. In the last year I have done assessment trips to Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines and Burma. On these trips I try and meet as many people as I can to better understand the local realities, needs, and opportunities. I meet with government officials, local NGOs and local activists, business leaders, community groups, potential donors, and other stakeholders. I am looking for a country where the needs match our skills, where there is funding potential, and where we can find good local partners.

ISC has programs throughout the world aimed at creating sustainable communities. How do you handle cultural differences in different countries when communicating and working on environmental, social, and economic goals?

The first step is being aware of cultural differences and taking nothing at face value. We work very hard at taking our time to try and really understand the issues before we get involved. For example, before we launched our program in China we participated in 100 meetings over a one year period with local people and groups to ensure that we were developing a project that was appropriate and relevant. Also, the key to success is our national staff. The vast majority of our employees are from the country where the projects are located. They help us understand the local realities, the culture, and show us how to operate effectively and appropriately. Our local staff are the soul of the organization and keep us grounded in reality.

So much of international education and environmental work relies on air travel and we end up with the unfortunate irony of contributing to global warming (via the huge carbon footprint of long distance flights) while trying to promote green ideas and awareness of global issues. What can we do in this predicament?

It is a maddening conundrum. Most of modern life is set up in a way that makes it very, very, very hard to live in a sustainable way. Travel to new worlds and cultures can offer tremendous insights and personal growth. But that insight does come at a very high cost to the planet. One must look for ways to compensate for that high cost. Look for ways to reduce your impact on the planet in other aspects of your daily life so the pluses and minus balance out.

How has living in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, Rwanda, Gabon, Sierra Leone, and Kenya changed your world view and goals?

Living overseas completely transformed my world view. For the first time I realized that the values, beliefs and attitudes I had were American values, beliefs and attitudes. I learned that there were in fact many ways to live life. There were in fact many ways to approach and understand the world. I lived with people who were surviving on a dollar a day. Their lives were very hard yet in spite of this they typically demonstrated great humor, compassion and generosity. You can’t help but be humbled – and inspired.

How has the re-entry experience in the US been for you? Have you ever experienced reverse culture shock of some kind?

I grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania and had never traveled outside of the US until I left for Peace Corps when I was twenty-four. I lived in Gabon for two years. I went through the normal cycle of cultural shock. But by far the greatest shock was when I returned to the United States. It was really then that I realized how much I had changed during that time. Suddenly the US seemed so strange to me – or at least some aspects of American life. I spent the next 16 years living mostly overseas in a variety of countries. The hardest transitions were always when I came back to the US, however, over time the “shock” became less and less. For me, life overseas was always a good fit. The pace was typically much slower. I did not have a TV and the internet was not around yet. There were just so many fewer distractions that allowed you to really focus on what mattered and engage more with people. Once back in the US, I was always struck by the frenzy of it all and the bombardment of messages on why I should be dissatisfied with my life and how shopping and collecting more stuff would solve that.

In a post that you wrote for Melibee’s blog earlier this year you encouraged readers to take steps to being more responsible consumers and citizens. What have you found best motivates people to follow through on these steps?

Nothing promotes motivation like success and solidarity. First, look for ways to simplify your life. Focus on the big things. What really has an impact? Each month look for a new action you can take to reduce your impact on the planet. Be active and reach out to others who share your passion. Like minded friends and colleagues who can help celebrate the victories and get through those tough days. There are millions of people taking steps to change the world for the better. Search out those stories. For example, I follow SustainableCitiesCollective.com on Facebook. Every day they share amazing examples of how people are transforming cities to be more sustainable.

Can you describe your speaking presentations with Melibee? What is it that you like about having these dialogues?

I have spent 20 years researching issues around sustainability. I have had the opportunity to live and work in many parts of the world and I have seen the trends and evidence unfold before me. Unfortunately, few people are aware of the root causes and issues that are, and will, impact our lives. I have a knack for boiling complex issues down to their essence and presenting these ideas in visually compelling ways. There is a growing awareness that we are on a path that is completely disconnected from the real world. Many people have an intuitive sense that we can do better. I enjoy helping people connect the dots and help reaffirm that there is a better way. Your gut is right. I enjoy being able to help paint a picture of what life could be like if we made different choices. It is all completely up to us. We don’t have to wait. We don’t need some miracle breakthrough in technology. It is all about us as humans and how we want to live our lives. What is important?

After a presentation before a high school class in Maryland I had several boys come up and give me high fives; I was pretty jazzed that I could present in a way that resonated with them. At universities, I often have students and professors come up to me after the event – they often vigorously shake my hand and thank me profusely for the messages I offer. It is profoundly satisfying to imagine that I could touch even a few people that way. With each new person committed to change, we get that much closer to the tipping point for real progress.

Thank you to both Michael and Maria for sharing their conversation!  If you’d like to learn more about Michael’s presentation, please visit this page!

Today’s post is by Melibee’s Vanessa Shaw.  Vanessa’s thoughtful gift ideas come from a true global citizen!  Warning:  You will be tempted to purchase everything on this list  (or not – you’ll understand why when you read on…)

It’s December, whoa!  How did that happen?  I only realized that its holiday shopping season when I went out and saw 9,482,858,945 other people waiting in line to pay. I’m not much of a holiday shopper.  Maybe I’m a bit of a Scrooge when it comes to Christmas.  I’m not a fan of the shop-til-you drop, spend, spend, spend and give people a lot of stuff they don’t need tradition.

I love to travel.  Therefore, to increase my travel budget, I shop less.  I’ve reduced my personal belongings to the essentials.  I’ve let go of a lot of things and acquired lots of experiences. The things I do have, I’m less attached to and more willing to share.  What do I want the people in my life to buy me this December?  Not much.

Photo credit: Vanessa Shaw

I encourage you to consider these 4 Ways to give to the global citizen in your life.

1. Give Information

The globetrotter in your life probably has a hunger for acquiring language skills.  Know someone reading up on China a lot lately?  I’m sure they’re dying to learn about the 80,000 symbols in Chinese and expand their language skills beyond “Nǐ hǎo.”  Anyone planning a trip to South America? Do you know the difference between between vosotros and nosotros?

Online language learning with monthly subscriptions is a big industry now.  Popular sites include Babbel, Fluenz and my personal favorite for learning Spanish is Bueno, Entonces (Caution: lots of adult humor!).  You can also check out this free service from Livemocha.

Afar is a collaborative travel guide, awesome magazine and website.  Gift a subscription to their magazine or donate to the Afar Foundation that grants international travel scholarships to students who would not otherwise be able to explore our world.

Perhaps the traveler in your life would be more interested in giving their time.  Then the Workbook for Finding and Planning a Volunteer Experience Abroad from Zahara Heckscher and Mary Wells is a great option for only $8.99.  There are a lot of ways to volunteer abroad.  This guide helps you make sure you go with a good organization and get the most out of it.

Vanessa volunteering at Christmastime with Cross-Cultural Solutions in Perú.

Did someone you know recently return home from a stint abroad?  Perhaps you want to gift the Beyond Abroad: Innovative Re-Entry Exercises crafted by the Melibee Global team (less than $29!).  This guide supports travelers in the transition back home and turning their experience abroad into successful reintegration.

When in doubt, check out these recommended books.

Oh, and how could I forget! One of my favorite cross-cultural resources – Cultural Detective.  If you want to get a bit of help in understanding any culture (whether your own, someplace you have been before, or someplace you are going to visit soon) this is an amazing online learning resource that gives great insights and education about cultures.  I guarantee you’ll learn a thing or two even just by spending one hour with this tool.  It is used by business professionals around the world.  Read their blog for information on a free 3 day trial!

2. Give something Green

The more I travel, the more I realize how interconnected we are.  And it makes me think about the environment and how I can reduce my impact.  Die-hard travelers are masters at only using/packing the essentials and efficient items.  Check these out!

• The quick-dry towel, dries quick, packs up easily and lasts forever.
• The Versalette from {r}evolution apparel is a single clothing item with 20 different ways it can be worn. Made in the U.S., the fabric is recycled, the buttons made in New York from wood grown sustainably in Vermont and sewn with a whole lotta love in North Carolina. The founder´s main goals aren’t to make money–they want to educate shoppers to be more conscious consumers.
• These bar shampoos, bar conditioners and toothy tabs from Lush are less taxing on the environment, produce less waste and are easier to travel with (carry-on luggage friendly!).
• Everyone needs a re-usable bag.  I’m serious.  If you don’t have one, get one for yourself and everyone else in your life.  I personally like ChicoBags.
• The gadget geek will appreciate this solar-powered-travel-size charging station.
• Travel (unfortunately!) is quite taxing on the environment.  Here is one option to give back and reduce our footprint – the CarbonFund has carbon offsetting vouchers that can be gifted.

3. Give your Time

By all means, this is the best gift you can give me!  Time with the people I care about.  For the people in my life, to make the effort to spend time with me, go for a meal, or a show, you couldn’t make me happier.  If you really wanted to make me melt, then plan to go on a trip with me.  I’m a traveler who has stamped my passport on solo-trips many times.  To have a companion with whom to share the adventures?  That’s as good as it gets for me.  I guess Mariah Carey was right, all I want for Christmas is you…and a fabulous vacation. (Note: With this option you give to yourself at the same time – Bonus!).

If traveling is not in the cards for you, then give away your flight miles!  Maybe they are going to expire?  Then give them to me (errr… I mean someone in your life) – I promise, they will not go to waste!

You can always try to gift an item that inspires sharing time with friends (or making new ones!). Perhaps a new cookbook (Check out this one that is chock-full of cultural information alongside the recipes!).  A deck of cards and book of games from around the world is a perfect excuse to invite people over and make new friends.

4. Give your Thoughtfulness

Just write a card.  Don’t write an e-mail or an e-card.  Don’t buy a Hallmark card and sign your name.  Sit down with a pad of paper and write a nice note.  Put yourself out there and say some nice things.  Do all the stuff that the Dalai Lama, Gandhi and all the other wise folks have told us.  Don’t hold back, make sure the people in your life know how much you care and make the time to say it.

Photo credit: http://www.gagdonkey.com/cartoons/the-best-things-in-life-are-free/

If all I got this holiday season was a note from each person in my life with a few sweet words and quality time with them, I can’t imagine needing anything more than that.

Maybe I’m not a Scrooge after all, perhaps I’m just trying to find the heart of the matter when it comes to holiday shopping.  That’s why I work with Melibee.  We are not here to send you more of what you don’t need, bombard you with stuff you can’t benefit from or provide resources at unreachable prices.  Melibee is a community of people and we work hard to do things a bit differently.

We help keep you connected to the reasons why you travel, the lesson that we can learn from other cultures, and how we can share more.  Globetrotters, travelers, global citizens, interculturalists or however you identify yourself – I think you will agree:  travel brings us closer to knowing what really matters to each of us.  Let’s keep that in mind during December and have our actions and gift giving match that.

To those who celebrate this time of year – Happy Holidays from all of us at Melibee Global!

About the Author: Vanessa Shaw has been in the intercultural field for ten years.  In the past she has worked with international volunteer organizations and study abroad programming in higher education.  Currently she is the Community Manager for the Intercultural Communication Institute, the Melibee Global blog editor and an English teacher based out of Madrid, Spain.  Follow her updates on Facebook, Twitter and her personal blog.

His book, “Green Deen: What Islam Teaches About Protecting the Planet” tackles two huge subjects. The reader will walk away feeling empowered and informed about how faith and our planet are connected and how we each must take responsibility for leaving this planet better than how we inherited it. Ibrahim likens it to cooking at your home and expecting someone else, magically, to appear and clean all of your dishes after each meal. If YOU don’t do it and let it pile up, you are leaving a huge mess for someone else. Essentially, we are poised to leave a huge pile of toxic garbage for the next generation to clean up – and we clearly shouldn’t be doing that to our precious planet.

After hearing Ibrahim speak to a group of interfaith community members and students,  I was truly inspired by his words and how he relates spirituality to four key environmental issues: 1) Waste  2) Watts (Energy)  3) Water and 4) Food.

One of the most powerful moments in his presentation is how he addresses the importance of access to safe and clean water on our planet.  He stated, “When you are asked about terrorism, talk about water.”  He repeated, “When someone talks to you about 9/11, ask them if they’d like to talk over a glass of water.  Ask them about how the water tastes.  Ask them where it comes from.  Inform them that Islamic law actually forbids the sale of water (which is increasingly privatized around the world) because it is a resource that should be free to everyone on this planet. Tell them about how many people live without safe and clean drinking water each day and how many must walk miles to get what would amount to us drinking a dirty glass of water in the morning. Tell them about how people can’t bathe regularly because of lack of access to water.”

This is one example of how Ibrahim addresses the realities of what is happening to our planet and how he believes that all faith communities should be playing a leading role in addressing it.

Please enjoy the conversation that I had with Ibrahim after his presentation:  (And if you are interested in having him present at your organization, campus, or conference – please contact me at info@melibeeglobal.com)

Click here to view the embedded video.

Melibee Global is giving away a signed copy of Ibrahim’s book – “Green Deen!” All you have to do to be eligible is to comment on this page about your thoughts on Ibrahim’s words from the interview above.  What resonated with you?  (Comment by April 7th – a winner will be chosen randomly!)

Nicolas Kristof on top of a train in Africa while in college (Photo from NY Times)

Based on search data, Melibee readers have been anxiously awaiting this announcement!  Nicholas Kristof of the New York Times has once again invited video or essay applications to his “Win a Trip” Journalism Abroad contest.  If you haven’t read about it in a previous posting on the subject, here is a short summary:

Kristof, the NY Times Op-Ed reporter, brings a university student (and a 2nd winner – read below for the new contest rules) on a 10 – 14 day trip abroad to report on human rights and health issues. Past contest winners have met with presidents and war lords in Africa, experienced health crises first hand, and been mentored by Mr. Kristof along the way.

This year Mr. Kristof adds a new twist to the contest – not only is he inviting a university student the chance to experience a life changing trip abroad with him, he is opening it up also to anyone over 60 years old.  Apparently, he had received letters from people who had obtained their first passports later in life and they wanted a chance to participate, so Kristof wisely listened and acted.  Mr. Kristof is not sure where this year’s trip will take he and two winners yet, but wherever it is may be, needless to say it will be an incredible opportunity, particularly for budding journalists!

Here is this year’s announcement from the New York Times.  What I love most about Mr. Kristof’s contest and this piece of writing is that he recognizes that only one student and one “student of life” will win his formal contest, but that doesn’t stop him from instructing everyone about how to create your own adventure abroad.  He names several worthwhile organizations to volunteer abroad through and cites the value of the experience.  Kudos to him for encouraging us all, young and “old” to challenge ourselves to break away from the safety of what we know and to see what else happens in this world, even when it is difficult to comprehend.  And perhaps most importantly, he takes on the task every day of ensuring that we do know about others’ struggles and how we can be more mindful of our sisters and brothers around the globe.

I’m delighted to introduce today’s guest blogger, Katie Bell, Director of the Green Passport Program.  I asked Katie to share the challenges of environmental issues, particularly when they intersect with our collective interest in increasing study abroad and travel.  Essentially, the question posed to Katie was: “How do we reconcile this?”

This fall, I set up a Green Passport table at my institution’s International Opportunities Fair.  I bought a green table cloth, made a “Green Passport” sign that I fastened to the table with ribbon, sprinkled some candy on the table as an enticement, and set up my laptop in the middle of the table with the Green Passport’s homepage displayed.  I didn’t have any fancy brochures, or a big poster, or a huge banner, or pens to give away, but I had an amazing resource for sustainable travel at my fingertips: the “Green Passport.”

At first students walked by without really looking.  Instead, they made a beeline for the tables with fancy brochures and handouts, pens, and better candy. But gradually a few students shyly began to wander over and ask, “What’s this Green Passport thing about?”  I was delighted to tell them all about the Green Passport.

I told them that the Green Passport is an idea and promise.  It’s an online place where students planning to travel abroad can take a pledge, promising to minimize their impact on the environment while traveling, because they share the belief that our natural resources are worth protecting, preserving, and respecting. (Feel free to read more about climate change including: The EPA’s Climate Basics,  NASA’s Information on Effects of Climate Change, Health and Environmental Effects, and International Impacts of Climate Change.)

Most of these students hadn’t considered this idea before.  Some seemed genuinely interested.  A few students actually signed up, took the pledge, and became an engaged participant on the Green Passport website and network.  For me, this fair represented a good start, but also revealed the work that needs to be done.  We need help from the entire international education community to engage our students and help them to think about traveling and living in a more sustainable way.

As study abroad numbers increase, and more and more students are undertaking international experiences,  international education administrators are looking for ways to raise the subject of sustainability and travel abroad with their students. (Air travel represents approximately 2% of human-generated carbon emissions:  Here are tips to ‘green’ your flight). Simultaneously, colleges and universities around the country and world are taking a hard look at their own environmental impacts, and many institutions are creating sustainability standards and reduction goals. How can we bridge the gap and bring internationalization and sustainability together?  The Green Passport Program can help.

The Green Passport is driven by its members: you and your students. It’s only as helpful as its users help to make it.  It’s a social networking website, so members can join groups, share photos, videos, stories, blogs, ideas, tips, and other resources about greening your travel.  Did you include a few slides about sustainability in your pre-departure orientation? Share them!  Do your programs abroad have water filtration systems, instead of relying on bottled water?  Upload pictures of them!  Taking the lead at your institution by creating and maintaining a group on the Green Passport is a great way to share ideas and resources.  You can help build Green Passport momentum on your campus!

Based on conversations with colleagues at conferences and meetings, most people don’t know where to start with sustainability.  They feel lost because they don’t know enough about the science involved in global warming and climate change.  They’re not sure what people can do to minimize their impact on the environment while traveling.  There’s only one way to find out: set aside an hour in your already hectic day, close your door, turn off the ringer on your phone, and start researching.  Have questions?  The Green Passport community can help.  Post your questions, share your ideas, upload helpful links, and read articles.

If you’ve read this much of this blog post, hopefully it means that you want to do something.  Your students want to do something, too.  They need your help to get started.  What are you waiting for?  There’s a Chinese Proverb: “Talk doesn’t cook rice.”  Roll up your sleeves, and get to work.

Katie Bell, Guest Blogger

About the Author: Katie Bell has been Director of the Green Passport Program since spring 2009, and is also Assistant Director of the Center for International Experience at Yale University.  She earned her B.A. in Art at the University at Buffalo, and her M.A. in Higher Education Administration, with a focus in social and comparative education, at Columbia University.  She studied abroad in Aix-en-Provence, France, during her junior year of college, an incredible experience that has profoundly impacted her professional goals and aspirations. In addition to being an avid traveler and environmental advocate, Katie enjoys reading, exercising, warm weather, driving fast, using her time efficiently, and spending time with her husband in their new house.