Reflections on the Meaning of Being a Scholar
Trip Start
Aug 02, 2009
1
11
Trip End
Ongoing
Almaty, Almaty Qalasy, Kazakhstan
Thursday, May 20, 2010
In Almaty, few people have ever heard of Rotary International. After all, in the entirety of Kazakhstan, the ninth largest country in the world by territory, and where 15.4 million people live, there is only one club, and a relatively new club at that. Thus, when people here ask me what I am doing in Kazakhstan and I explain that I am here with the Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship, I invariably launch into an explanation of Rotary, of the Ambassadorial Scholarship, and of volunteering itself. While most people here understand the word volunteering, they cannot understand the concept of it. They cannot understand why someone would give their time, resources, and skills to other people for free. They do not trust volunteers, expecting that volunteering is simply a new ploy to take advantage of them in some way. Thus, I describe Rotary to my friends, family, and those who I meet in Almaty as the largest non-profit service organization in the world, active in more than a hundred countries and made up of hundreds of clubs. I explain that Rotary's mission is to help communities develop at the local, regional, national, and international levels. Every club should have local and international projects. Rotary hopes to promote peace and prosperity throughout the world by building a vast network of communication and by spreading the common value of helping where and however each person and each club can. Those with whom I talk who have heard of Rotary often know it as a businessman’s club, or an "old man’s club," that rich businessmen join in order to make connections and rise even further. I explain that actually, Rotary includes both women and men. Many club and district presidents are, and have been, women. I also explain that Rotary is an international family of people who believe in the same values, in making the world a better and a happier place. I explain that Rotarians live by the motto, “service over self,” meaning thinking first about others and how to better their lives, before thinking about themselves. In Almaty, I try to explain the concept of volunteering as an effort to give what you can to those you can when you can, of taking possession of one’s life and one’s community and making it as you believe it should be for the benefit of all. I explain that I volunteer because in helping others I actually derive great pleasure, I learn a lot, I have fun, I meet people, and in doing all of this, I make my own life better. If those around me rise in living conditions, I myself rise.
I explain the Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship as an effort to promote communication, understanding, and peace between two places. I explain the pillars of the scholarship: (1) promote little pockets of peace, (2) be an ambassador of good will, and (3) promote cultural exchange. I like to explain the scholarship as being an ambassador of American culture. I am in Kazakhstan to learn about life here, to discuss life in America with those who live here, to write home during my year abroad to share my experiences and all that I learn with those at home, and then to return home and encourage discussions and make speeches about Kazakhstan. I like to describe the purpose of my scholarship as building bridges of communication and understanding between Kazakhstan and the U.S. I also emphasize that Scholars from many countries travel to many other countries in order to weave the world together with these bridges of communication and understanding. I encourage them to consider becoming an Ambassadorial Scholar, and if they are interested, to apply to the local Rotary club, or if they are just interested in volunteering locally, I encourage them to contact the local Rotaract club.
Given my experiences this year and the year leading up to leaving for my scholarship year, I would encourage other Scholars, and anyone living, studying, or serving abroad for an extended period of time, not to worry, despite the challenges, despite not understanding what is going on in the host place, despite set backs, and despite rejections. I would recommend that Scholars do significant research about the place they are going, but keep an open mind, realizing that research is only others’ impressions. I would recommend that outbound Scholars do brainstorming about the service projects they could do in the place where they are going and think about how they can integrate themselves into the local society. But I would also encourage them not to form to rigid a plan, as that plan will likely change. I would encourage them during their year abroad to take courses at their university that are only available in that country or that region of the world. Such courses not only will give them a better understanding of how their host region operates, but they will also have the opportunity to add quite a lot to discussions. I would highly recommend not taking too many courses so that they have more time for volunteering, meeting people, and communicating. I would encourage them to spend a lot of time walking around their host city during the first month or so of their stay so that they can see what work needs to be done, so that they can meet people, and so that they can get a feel for the people and the place. I would encourage them not to feel lonely even when they are alone. I would encourage them to listen to people, to hear what the people are asking for from them. I would warn them that they will have to learn how to say “no,” as they will not be able to do everything that everyone they encounter asks of them. I would encourage bringing some classic American games, or finding stores in their host city where they can by such games, as these are great icebreakers and a great way to share American culture. I would encourage them to have an open mind and think outside the box. They should have one general theme to their volunteering so that they do not have too many focuses. They will be able to do more and be more effective by focusing on one type of project. I would encourage them to contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate soon after arriving, especially the Cultural Division, to start brainstorming ideas for volunteering and to find out what the society needs that they can provide.
I hope to continue to stay involved with Rotary for the rest of my life. I hope to encourage students to try for the Ambassadorial Scholarship, and I hope to promote the continued funding of Ambassadorial Scholarships among Rotarians. This is such a valuable program for acquainting Americans with new places and new ways of life, and for offering a real live example of an American to help those in other countries form their image of America without relying solely on the image presented by Hollywood. Hopefully, one day, I will become a Rotarian. If I do not, I hope to collaborate with Rotary in my future service projects. I will continue to serve for the rest of my life. It gives me such inspiration, it is such a wonderful challenge, and it feels so good to volunteer that I know that it will always be an integral part of my life. I am hoping to travel a fair amount in my work. Hopefully I will be able to help start Rotary, Rotaract, and Interact clubs in the places where I travel. At the moment, I will do whatever I can to help Rotary and to help future Ambassadorial Scholars.
-- Lastly, on a side note, I would like to alert everyone that I will be home June 4. I am planning on going to the District 5300 Conference in Nevada June 11. My sponsor club, the San Marino Rotary Club, is hosting a welcome home party for me June 27. I would be extremely happy to visit any other Rotary clubs that would be interested in hearing about Kazakhstan and Central Asia, or in hearing any of the talks that I have made in Almaty presenting the research I have done during my year studying abroad.
