This is the fourth in a series of spotlights on our summer 2017 student interns. Learning Life’s students this summer assisted with research, curriculum development, outreach, and family and youth events for our Citizen Diplomacy Initiative (CDI). Lorna Strachan, interviewed below, helped with academic literature research, curriculum development, international learning activities with our youth, and more.
Where were you born and raised?
I was born and raised in the Silicon Valley of California, south of San Francisco. My hometown is Santa Clara.
What school do you attend, and what is your year and major there?
I go to George Washington University in Washington, DC. I am a rising senior double majoring in Dance and International Affairs with a concentration in Europe and Eurasia.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I have been a dancer for most of my life, so in my free time I dance and choreograph for my student ballet group Balance as well as for the Dance Department at George Washington University.
Is there a life experience you have had that has particularly shaped you thus far? If so, what is it, and how has it shaped you?
The experience that has shaped me the most in my life so far was the experience of auditioning for and being rejected by college dance programs my senior year of high school. While it was incredibly disheartening, it taught me how to move on from rejection and find new paths that I may not have thought of before. I was able to come to GW and learn about styles of dance I did not know about before and probably would not have been exposed to had I attended a university with a very rigorous dance program.
What are your career plans?
I hope to work somewhere with interest in the European Union, whether it is a consulting firm, a non-profit, a European agency, or some part of the US government.
Why did you choose to intern with Learning Life?
I am passionate about the importance of global knowledge and access to information about international issues, so I was drawn to Learning Life because we get to teach kids and families tools that lead to important values like tolerance and curiosity about the outside world.
What is the most beautiful place you have seen on Earth, and why is it so beautiful?
I have seen lots of beautiful places but probably my favorite is the island of Kauai in Hawaii. Kauai is lush and green, with tall mountains and steep cliffs that lead to soft sandy beaches.
Volunteer Spotlight: Melissa Ordoñez
University of the District of Columbia student, Melissa Ordoñez, interviewed below, has been assisting with nutrition-related curriculum development, and international learning activities with the families and youth involved in our Citizen Diplomacy Initiative (CDI).
Where were you born and raised?
I was born and raised in Costa Rica. My family lives in Heredia, a province of Costa Rica, which is about a thirty minute drive from the capital, San José.
What school do you attend, and what is your year and major there?
I am a sophomore at the University of the District of Columbia, majoring in Nutrition & Dietetics.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I love reading because I like to learn about other people’s perspectives, especially regarding nutrition and personal growth. I also love the outdoors, and going on walks with friends.
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?
Every single event in my life made me who I am today, but if I need to choose experience, I would say having a mom who is a social worker. My mom works at a temporary shelter in the mountains of Costa Rica for kids who are at social, economic and emotional risk. I grew up going with her to her office every week. For her, it was her office, for me, it was my favorite playground: a big property with ten houses, a school, a farm, and ninety kids was definitely the place where I wanted to be after school. Once I was old enough, around 14, I started volunteering at the shelter. That place and all the years I spent there after school and as a volunteer made me realize that I want to dedicate my life to work with and for those in need.
What are your career plans?
After finishing college, I would like to start a private counseling practice. I have a bachelor’s degree in guidance counseling, and also certification as a health coach. I want to guide both men and women to find a happier and healthy lifestyle by loving, enjoying and honoring their bodies and spirits.
I also would like to work remotely, with my clients via the internet, so I can live and volunteer in different countries. I enjoy traveling the world and learning new things from other cultures. We all can learn from our neighbors on other continents. Hopefully Africa is my next destination.
Why did you choose to volunteer with Learning Life?
Learning Life caught me when I heard it was about helping lower-income families connect with the world. Having the opportunity to live in another country opens your eyes in so many different ways, yet not everyone has the opportunity to travel or live in another country, so if that experience can be brought to you, via the internet, that is priceless! I also love to work with lower-income families because I understand their struggle.
What is the most beautiful place you have seen on Earth, and why is it so beautiful?
Hopefully this is not surprising, but my favorite place is that children’s shelter where I spent most of my childhood. The vibe that you feel in that place is hard to describe, but it feels like love, happiness, compassion and forgiveness, to name just a few words. The air there is so fresh and the green colors of the mountains are so vibrant. Also the view from there to the valley is so peaceful and inspiring. Some people even say that if you focus very well, you can see the ocean at the far end of the mountains.
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.
