India 2011?

So at work I have the opportunity to apply for a 30 day volunteer trip abroad. There are a few locations to choose from and one of them is India....a place I have wanted to go for a long time now. I am handing in my application essay today in hopes of getting selected but it goes through store level, regional level, and on to global level before selections are made. I will find out at the end of this month. If selected I still have to raise money for my plane ticket but I will cross that hurdle when I get there. Squeezing my thumbs and crossing my fingers for this wonderful opportunity. The following is the essay I am handing in today. In the essay, I had to explain why I want to go and what I would do when I return.....

“For it is in giving that we receive...” - St Francis of Assisi

This quote truly expresses much of the way that I have lived my life and it continues to guide me in my pursuit for a life of purpose. It is not describing giving as a way of receiving something back physically but it is about giving to others and receiving the reward of seeing them truly, positively impacted by what you have done. I see the option of volunteering with the Whole Planet Foundation in India as a wonderful opportunity to perform this kind of giving. As a Whole Foods Market Healthy Eating Specialist and Nutrition Educator, I have the privilege of helping guide and support others in making choices for a healthier lifestyle. Providing information and seeing the way that food can impact the lives of others is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done.
In reading what The Miracle Foundation Organization is all about and what they are doing in India, I would feel extremely privileged to take part in this year’s pilot program. I have always had a strong interest in volunteering abroad and my heart yearns to share love and give hope to women and children in need. Not only do I want to give to others but I have a passion for travel, I love experiencing different cultures, and I believe in having the true authentic experience when visiting another country. My travel desire is not to visit tourist attractions, fancy restaurants, five star hotels, or to lie on the beach drinking cocktails; I want to travel with a purpose. This purpose is a purpose to help others, a purpose to experience other cultures , and a purpose to give of myself, whether that be through nutrition education, food, music, recreational activities, or just comforting words and touch.
Upon my return from a trip of this nature, I would love to share my experience with Team Members and the community through a presentation of pictures, words, and items I bring back with me. Just as it is a passion of mine to inspire and empower others to nourish their bodies with quality foods, I would love to inspire others to learn about, respect and give back to other communities and cultures. Another aspect of my presentation would most definitely have to include traditional Indian foods and cooking techniques. Food is such a huge part of my life and how I experience culture. It is extremely significant in the portrayal of culture and human experience, largely contributing to defining family traditions and rules, companionship and family roles, and sharing and community. What a better way to share a cultural experience than with the help of food.
In close, I would like to share a poem that I wrote last month as part of an assignment. I recently finished getting my TEFL certification to teach English as a foreign language. An activity in one of my lesson plans is for students to write a poem of their own called “I am.” With prompts for the beginning of each sentence such as: I am, I believe, I feel, I hope, etc., the following is the poem that I wrote so that they could see an example of a part of who “I am.”

“I am...a nurturer”

I am… a nurturer
I wonder… what others need
I hear… soft whispers in the wind
I see… wounded hearts
I want… everyone to feel loved
I am… a nurturer

I pretend… that nothing hurts me
I feel… others pain
I touch… the lives of others
I worry… when I can’t give enough
I ask… for a guiding hand
I am… a nurturer

I understand… this world is a big place
I believe… I can make a difference
I dream… of touching the lives of many
I trust… in love
I hope… to give others what they need
I am… a nurturer