International Potlucks for a More Peaceful & Tasty World
Following on a successful inaugural international potluck in April, Learning Life will hold potlucks periodically to bring together our DC families and volunteers to learn about food and the world.
The first international potluck on April 30, conceived by student members of the George Washington University chapter of our Citizen Diplomacy Initiative (CDI), and co-organized with Learning Life, brought together 27 CDI volunteers and family members to taste and learn about food from Peru, Morocco, the Middle East, and China, among others. The potluck also included a group discussion around the questions “why is there so much social division (racial, religious, national, etc.), and what can we do to help overcome these divisions?”
The second potluck, held in June, discussed the challenges families face raising kids in today’s world. July’s potluck considered participants’ experiences of school lunches given a photo album we viewed featuring common schools lunches in selected countries. August’s potluck will occur on Sunday, August 27 — the first anniversary of Learning Life’s CDI — and will look back at what we have accomplished in the first year. Beyond August, future potlucks will feature invited speakers talking about refugee crisis and immigration, world health, countries and their cultures, and more.
Interested observers are welcome to all our potlucks. Our international potlucks generally occur on occasional Saturday or Sunday afternoons in Washington DC. Please contact us at email@learninglife.info if you would like to join us at an upcoming potluck, and/or if you would like to present on an interesting world topic. We ask adult attendees with experience abroad to make or buy a foreign dish they like, and to be prepared to explain the dish’s ingredients and country of origin.
Intern Spotlight: Hannah Merrill
This is the third in a series of spotlights on our summer 2017 student interns. Learning Life’s students this summer are assisting with research, curriculum development, outreach, and family and youth events for our Citizen Diplomacy Initiative (CDI). Hannah Merrill, interviewed below, is assisting with curriculum development, evaluation research, and international learning activities with our youth, among other things.
Where were you born and raised?
I was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, but have spent the majority of my life in Iowa City, Iowa, and the Chicago suburbs.
What school do you attend, and what is your year and major there?
I am a rising senior at Georgetown University, where I am a double major in French and Economics with a minor in Arabic.
What do you like to do in your free time?
In my free time, I enjoy eating my way through Washington DC (Mediterranean, Ethiopian, Korean barbecue, etc.), doing yoga, and hiking.
Is there a life experience you have had that has particularly shaped you as a person thus far? If so, what is it, and how has it shaped you?
Studying abroad in France was a particularly formative experience in my life. I lived with a host family with five kids, so not only was I completely immersed in the language, but I also got to see how family dynamics in France compare to those in the United States. For example, the kids would come home for lunch on school days, and the family spent at least an hour eating their meals together whereas in my American family, we never came home for lunch, and spent twenty minutes eating because we’re always on the go.
Adjusting to life in a foreign country forces you to step out of your comfort zone, but is so rewarding in the end. I fell in love with the city I lived in, Strasbourg, made friendships that will last a lifetime, and came back with incredible memories.
What are your career plans?
After graduating, I would love to do some kind of fellowship like Fulbright to have more experience working abroad and interacting with different cultures. After that, I plan on going to law school to pursue a career as a lawyer.
Why did you choose to intern with Learning Life?
I chose to intern with Learning Life because I wanted an experience working with a non-profit, and the work that it does really interested me as someone specializing in French and Arabic. Its mission to create global citizens resonated with me, because I strongly believe that in today’s globalizing world, connecting with other countries and cultures is especially important.
What is the most beautiful place you have seen on Earth, and why is it so beautiful?
The most beautiful place I have ever seen is the French Alps (see adjoining photo), a mountainous region bordering Switzerland which I visited during my semester abroad in France. I have never seen such incredible views. The mountains covered with snow were some of the highest I have ever seen, and the little French town where we stayed that served as a ski resort was so enchanting with its cute little boutiques, restaurants and cafes.
Intern Spotlight: Claudia Merlos
This is the second in a series of spotlights on our summer 2017 student interns. Learning Life’s students this summer are assisting with research, curriculum development, outreach, and family and youth events for our Citizen Diplomacy Initiative (CDI). Claudia Merlos, interviewed below, is assisting with curriculum development, international learning activities with our youth, among other things.
Where were you born and raised?
I was born and raised in Washington, DC.
What school do you attend, and what is your year and major there?
I am a graduating senior at Trinity Washington University in DC, studying human relations, which is a combination of psychology and sociology.
What do you like to do in your free time?
In my free time I enjoy spending time with my family, getting in a good workout at the gym, or playing soccer.
Is there a life experience you have had that has particularly shaped you as a person thus far? If so, what is it, and how has it shaped you?
A life experience that has helped shaped me as a person thus far is having grown up in both El Salvador and the United States. I lived with my grandparents in El Salvador from age 4 to 7. I have only gone back once since, but I have acquired a good amount of knowledge and experience of both American and Salvadoran culture by living in a Salvadoran home, where we speak Spanish only and regularly eat Salvadoran food, but also participating in American culture outside home through school, work, soccer and volunteering.
What are your career plans?
After college, I plan to do local and international volunteer work with other non-profits then I hope to work as a human resources officer for both for-profit and nonprofit organizations. Further in the future, I plan to open my own nonprofit organization that helps lower-income Salvadoran families.
Why did you choose to intern with Learning Life?
I chose to intern with Learning Life because I wanted to explore my career options as well as network and improve my communication skills.
What is the most beautiful place you have seen on Earth, and why is it so beautiful?
The most beautiful place I have been to on Earth is Shenandoah State Park in Virginia. Walking up to the highest peak at sunrise or at sunset to see the mountains, trees, the cities far away and their lights, while breathing in the pure air, it’s really breathtaking!
Intern Spotlight: Temilola Afolabi
This is the first in a series of spotlights on our summer 2017 student interns. Learning Life’s students this summer are assisting with research, curriculum development, outreach, and family and youth events for our Citizen Diplomacy Initiative (CDI). Temilola Afolabi, interviewed below, is helping with our events, research on U.S. racial inequality, curriculum on world geography, human rights, youth activism and the United Nations, among other things.
Where were you born and raised?
I was born and raised in Baltimore County, Maryland.
I am a sophomore at the University of Maryland-College Park. I plan to major in international relations, with a minor in international development and conflict management.
In my free time I enjoy taking photos of my friends and family. I love the freedom of expression that photography gives and use my camera regularly to document cultural events on campus. I also enjoy keeping up on current events, especially those dealing with international relations.
Is there a life experience you have had that has particularly shaped you as a person thus far? If so, what is it, and how has it shaped you?
Joining the University of Maryland’s African Student Association (ASA) my freshman year significantly impacted my life thus far. I grew up in a predominantly white community, therefore, I was not exposed to much cultural diversity. ASA exposed me to a new community of diverse students, forging new friendships, and deepening my cultural awareness.
What are your career plans?
After I graduate from UMD, I plan on working with the Peace Corps for a couple of years, and ultimately work for the military doing counterterrorism.
Why did you choose to intern with Learning Life?
One of the things I plan on doing in my future career is working with children and liberated child soldiers in developing countries. Because Learning Life works with lower-income families in different parts of the world, I knew it would be a great first step in gaining experience in the field of international relations.
What is the most beautiful place you have seen on Earth, and why is it so beautiful?
I have yet to travel outside the USA, but the most beautiful place I’ve been to in the United States is Bellingham, Washington. There was one specific port that overlooked the bay and the scene of evergreen trees lining the water with low-hanging clouds was one of the most majestic scenes I’ve ever seen.
Following on a successful inaugural international potluck in April, Learning Life will hold potlucks periodically to bring together our DC families and volunteers to learn about food and the world.
world. July’s potluck considered participants’ experiences of school lunches given a photo album we viewed featuring common schools lunches in selected countries. August’s potluck will occur on Sunday, August 27 — the first anniversary of Learning Life’s CDI — and will look back at what we have accomplished in the first year. Beyond August, future potlucks will feature invited speakers talking about refugee crisis and immigration, world health, countries and their cultures, and more.
