Kelsey Timmerman's Blog, page 57

Peace is…

My friend in Bangladesh asked me to contribute to a publication he's putting together about Peace. Here's what I wrote.

Peace is…

Peace is knowing what tomorrow brings.

Peace is not having to hear, "I'm hungry."

Peace is enjoying the moment and living for the future.

Peace is a child playing.

Peace is a new pair of shoes.

Peace is having enough food for your pet.

Peace is feeling needed.

Peace is not feeling like a burden.

Peace is sitting with a friend in unspoken silence.

Peace is being able to dream.

Peace is laughter.

Peace is hard work.

Peace is a parent watching their child sleep.

Peace is school.

Peace is staying dry while listening to the rain.

Peace is your own toy.

Peace is sharing.

Peace is not having to send your child to work.

Peace is learning a friend in Bangladesh is okay after the floods.

Peace is the journey and the goal.

Peace is what we all strive for individually, but can only accomplish together.

–

What is peace to you?

Share in the comments or on twitter at #Peace_Is

First Year Experience 2011 recap

Standing for 20 hours talking to educators might not sound like the world's best way to spend your birthday/Superbowl weekend, but that's exactly what I did at the First Year Experience Conference in Atlanta. And I had fun doing it. Here's why…

This elevator

Click here to view the embedded video.

Seriously how cool is that? I was on the 25th floor. I'd be lying if I didn't fess-up to pretending I was in a Sci-Fi movie starring Bruce Willis and Jackie Chan. I was just waiting for one of them to crash through the glass wall of the elevator. Yippee ki-yay mother…

My publisher (John Wiley & Sons) rocks!

My book has been out for two years and here they are sending me to Atlanta putting me up in an awesome hotel and allowing me to give out free books. Valerie, the Wiley rep working the booth with me, even had a restaurant bring me key lime birthday pie. Yes, I nearly died from stomach over-expansion after I ate, but it tasted so good.

It's a small world

I've blurbed one book in my entire life – Daniel Seddiqui's 50 Jobs in 50 States: One Man's Journey of Discovery Across America. So the chances that Daniel along with his publisher Berrett-Koehler would setup right beside us at the conference would be pretty slim. But that's what happened…

I read the book before Daniel's parents read it. Here's my full blurb:

Seddiqui gives a voice and hope to a generation of job seekers and graduates. His inspiring can-do spirit is contagious and his quest to get 50 jobs in 50 states puts the PATH in career path, the JOURNEY in journeyman. This is the best book by a bartending Amish-wood-woodworking, rodeo-announcing archaeologist that you'll ever read.

Most of the last sentence made it onto the back cover. I think Daniel's book should be in every high school and college career center, so when a "I don't know what to do with my life" students walk in the door, they are handed a copy. 50 Jobs in 50 States comes out next month.

Did I mention that it's a small world?

Obviously I'm a big fan of Conor Grennan's remarkable new book Little Princes: One Man's Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal. When I wasn't talking about how great Where am I Wearing has gone over as a common reader, I was saying something like, "Do you know what else would be a great common reader? Little Princes by Conor Grennan." At one point someone responded, "He's going to be here tomorrow."

I briefly met Conor and he was complete jerk. I'm kidding. He was a really cool dude. In fact, I said something that sounded a little too "Single, White, Female"-ish, "We're practically the same person." After that his handler whisked him away to an event. We're travelers turned give-a-shit artists, dads at the same stage of parenting (not-so terrible twos), lovers of Nepal, and first-time authors. I look forward to the day Conor and I can sit and have a chat about kids, Nepalese orphans, and his wise choice of sweaters vs. collared shirts. (No ironing! Genius! Why didn't I think of that. I spend half my time in hotels trying to not catch my wrinkled shirts on fire with malfunctioning irons.)

Cool People

I talked with professors from all across the country. It turns out many of them had been conducting "Check your tag" class activities for years. We had a lot to talk about. So much, in fact, I nearly lost my voice. Quite a few of them would say, "Hey, I've heard of this book," and I would have to fight back from hugging them. They're educators and readers, but even more than that they are fire-starters. They try to find ways to light a fire beneath students at the beginning of their college careers.

All-in-all I had a great time and I hope that the conference leads to being able to share the story of the garment workers I met around the world with even more students.

First Year Experience

(I'm at the First Year Experience Conference in Atlanta this weekend celebrating the Superbowl and my birthday. I thought I'd share the page I made for educators considering using Where Am I Wearing as a common reader. )

First Year Experience

In the 2010-2011 school year Where Am I Wearing was selected as a freshman common reader by Elmhurst College, Pfeiffer University, and Wingate University.

In the following video you'll…

Learn why Pfeiffer University selected Where Am I Wearing
Watch what Kelsey has to tell an auditorium full of freshman about getting kicked out of his first college class & being undecided
See a synopsis of Kelsey's global quest
Hear Kelsey's advice on how we all can be glocals (local & global citizens)

Connect ideas & people

Email hi@kelseytimmerman.com to…

Arrange a Skype visit with Kelsey
Have Kelsey visit your campus
Organize a Skype session with garment workers and your students

Fun Stuff

Read the first chapter of Where Am I Wearing?
Request a free copy from the publisher
Discussion sheet
Reading Guide (Coming soon)

Note from Kelsey

When I was on the trip that would become "Where Am I Wearing?" and even during the writing of the book, I never imagined how the book would be used. Middle schools, high schools, churches, and book clubs have used the book. But the most rewarding usage for me has been when the book is used as a freshman common reader.

[image error]When I was on the trip that would become "Where Am I Wearing?" and even during the writing of the book, I never imagined how the book would be used. Middle schools, high schools, churches, and book clubs have used the book. But the most rewarding usage for me has been when the book is used as a freshman common reader.

In the 2010-2011 school year three schools Elmhurst College, Pfeiffer University, and Wingate University selected Where Am I Wearing? as a their common reader and brought me onto campus. I spent a few days on each campus meeting with freshman and talking to a wide range of classes and groups about globalization, the garment industry, underwear, being a freshman, global poverty and how we can be responsible glocals (global and local citizens).

Essentially, the book is about what I did after college and how college inspired my curiosity to ask, "Where Am I Wearing?" I never never got a job because of my degree in Anthropology, but I've put the knowledge I gained in college to use in my own way.  Being able to share my experience with college freshman who are at the "What am I going to do?" stage has been so rewarding, and it is such an honor to share the stories of the workers I met in Bangladesh, Honduras, Cambodia, and China .

I enjoy interacting with students in any way I can, including Twitter, Facebook, Skype, or discussion boards like Blackboard.

What students and faculty are saying

Deb Burris (Director of First Year Experience / Chair Dept of Communication and Journalism, Pfeiffer University):  "EXACTLY what we hoped for in a Freshman Reader." (that's Deb introducing Kelsey in the video above)

Martin Hughes (Professor, Calvin College): "…so relevant and interdisciplinary…we packed the auditorium. He really knows how to relate to today's college students, and he gets them to reckon with important yet difficult issues perfect for a common reading program!"

Melody Loya (Professor, W. Texas A&M University): "Kelsey is relaxed engaging; approachable, available, and just plain fun. "

Alzada Tipton (VP of Academic Affairs Elmhurst College): "I've never attended  a presentation that I enjoyed and respected more. An exceptionally effective blend of humor and humanity: Kelsey has the rare gift of being equally talented at getting the students to laugh and to think, and it's very effective at reaching students where they are and getting them to take some steps down a path to where they could be. I really appreciate that Kelsey was willing to share with students his own college experience and to give them some advice…in a completely genuine and real way that made them take it much more seriously, I am sure, than all the advice droned at them by professors and administrators in the first two weeks of their college experience.[image error]

Jacob Franchino (student Rutgers University): I really appreciated getting to see the personal side of this issue completely stripped of politics. Where Am I Wearing affected me in a personal way.

Hilary Broms (student, Monmouth College) : " I do have it "made" and I have never once thought about who made it for me. It is crazy to think about where I am wearing.

Kasey Zapatka (student Point Loma University): It has truly influenced me and I wholeheartedly agree, that they are "no longer just clothes".

Colleen Boyd (Professor of Anthropology, Ball State University): "…fills in blanks I could not, since it puts names, faces and compelling stories to the (global economy).

Bryce Sneed (student, Wingate University) – "I'm not a fan of reading but I just can't seem to put this one down. I have come to realize that the struggle of what we americans think is right and what people of other countries think is right is very hard."

In Egypt Lester Holt plays Rambo and fails, Anderson Cooper films himself being punched in the face

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Lester Holt is Rambo

The scene: A 76-year-old, American women is trapped in her apartment in Cairo as the halls and streets crawl with armed thugs. She is armed with a cane, a knife, and a rolling pin (I'm not making this up). Previously she wanted to stay put so her place wouldn't be looted, but now, with the escalating violence, she wants out.

Enter Lester Holt, the voice of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, a man equally comfort in an apron and a flak jacket, able to segue from human drama to women's fashion flubs in the blink of an eye.

Hold on grandma! Lester is coming and — even though the media is being targeted by Pro-Mubarak thugs — he's bringing his camera crew?!?!?

They get within spittin' distance of grandma before they are told to turn back; it isn't safe for journalists. Lester returns to his "secure balcony" and delivers the news to grandma.

Here's an idea, send your grip, camera guy, or Egyptian (!!!!) translator who could easily blend in with the crowd to get grandma, instead of trying to capture your heroics on camera.

There's been a lot of amazing reporting coming out of Egypt, some of it from Lester. At its finest, it's powerful, important work. At its worst, it's Lester Holt going Rambo.

If Mary Thornberry was my mom or grandma, I'd be pissed. She's not and I'm still pissed.

Anderson Cooper is Rocky

In related news: The only thing disturbs me more than watching Anderson Cooper being punched in the face is realizing that AC is taping himself being punched in the face instead of blocking the punches. Not that Anderson's career needs any help, but, let's be honest, a few punches here a detainment there can make a career. Journalists in situations like this should do whatever they can to not be the story.

Freedom from the Little Princes!

Thanks to all who helped take one of the suggested actions in support of "Little Princes" by Conor Grennan and to "free" my blog.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Cool people on "Little Princes," Nepal and Conor

Isabelle's What to Read Next blog – she was invited to an event by Conor's publisher and met him

Joanne Brokaw encourages us to be like Conor and show up.

Joe Simpson's amazing Nepal photo album on Facebook

Karen Duffy's review in the Dayton Beach News-Journal:""Little Princes" is a tale of determination, courage and love that will not leave you unchanged.

Now back to your regular scheduled blogging.

"Little Princes" on the Nate Berkus show

Visit Conor's blog to get his behind the scenes take on his appearance.

The 3 most sacred words a traveler can utter: "I'll come back"

I was held hostage by Nepalese monks. The weapon they used against me was hospitality.

They forced four meals down me a day. The first time I tried to leave, they consulted their scrolls and decided that the date wasn't a good one for departure.

I was blessed by a bulletproof monk and may or may not be bulletproof myself now. (Note: if I am bulletproof I've totally wasted my superpower not fighting crime.)

Khenpo Sange, the head lama, sat next to me on my flight from Bangkok to Nepal where I planned on trekking, but instead got a really infected foot and held hostage. Khenpo invited me to stay near the village of Pharping (south of Kathmandu) at his lamasery, which was part orphanage.

When anyone asks me my favorite travel experience I think about playing Aerobie with the saffron-clad boy, about their smiles and laughs, as they ran after the disc. I remember the farm sounds rising up from the valley below, the baritone chanting that woke me in the morning, and the smell of the campfire cooking our lunch. I remember the tiny sandals piled up at the door to the room that acted as the dining hall.

Nepal was a wreck in 2001. The Royal family had been murdered by one of their own and Maoist rebels were moving in on Kathmandu. When the bombings and fighting escalated Khenpo Sange, after holding me hostage with hospitality for three weeks, decided it would be best if I left. So I did. But not before promising to come back and do a stint as an English teacher.

"I'll come back," I said. But I haven't. A decade has passed since then. My guilt grows by the year.

I'm reluctant to make such a promise any more to the friends I meet traveling, but I've said those three words since Nepal. I said it to the lobster divers of Nicaragua. I said it a friend in Bangladesh. But I've said it to myself many, many times.

I'll come back with malaria medication and Norma's neighbors won't have to die.

I'll come back and help this girl who earns 25-cents per day collecting recyclables. I'll put her through school and give her the chance she deserves.

"I'll come back." The words haunt me. They are the three most serious words a traveler can tell someone.

Now I have this dream of revisiting Khenpo Sange's orphanage with Annie and our kids. While Annie and I teach English, Harper and yet-to-be-born-son-who-we-won't-name-Voldemort will toss the same Aerobie that I brought so many years ago.

Conor Grennan went back

The main reasons why I'm so passionate about Conor Grennan's new book Little Princes and why I'm allowing the Little Princes to hold my blog hostage:

1) Conor went back again and again. The subtitle of his book is "One Man's Promise to the Lost Children of Nepal." Conor kept his promise to the orphans of Nepal, and I've yet to keep mine.

2) I love Nepal.

3) I'm a dad and can't imagine making the difficult decision to send my child away because it was the "best thing for her," only to learn later that I gave her to a child trafficker.

Little Princes is at the convergence of my "I'll come back" promises as a traveler, my love for Nepal, and my love for my own children.

And Khenpo Sange, if you're reading this, I'll come back. I promise. Or to put it in the words of legendary rock-n-roller Bob Seger, "If I ever get outta here, I'm going to Kathmandu!"

There's still time to help free my blog

I'm letting the Little Princes take my blog hostage until 100 people report in the comments of this post or report back via facebook, twitter, or email that they've done one of the following:

1) Buy little Princes from Better World Books, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, your local independent bookstore, or wherever. A portion of all sales go to support Next Generation Nepal;

2) Donate to Next Generation Nepal;

3) Like Next Generation Nepal and Little Princes both on facebook and then tell all of your friends about it;

4) Blog about Next Generation Nepal.

5) Ask your librarian to carry Little Princes.

And without furtherado, ladies and gentleman, Bob Seger:

Click here to view the embedded video.

The Little Princes strike back

Day 3 of the Little Princes hostage crisis.  Between here and facebook and email and twitter about 40 of you have come to my rescue.  Now, how to find another 60 people to do one of the following and report back in the comments?

1) Buy little Princes from Better World Books, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, your local independent bookstore, or wherever. A portion of all sales go to support Next Generation Nepal;

2) Donate to Next Generation Nepal;

3) Like Next Generation Nepal and Little Princes both on facebook and then tell all of your friends about it;

4) Blog about Next Generation Nepal.

5) Ask your librarian to order Little Princes.

On Monday, the day Little Princes is released, I'm going to share why the book is so important to me personally. It has to do with monks, orphans, a foot infection, and another hostage situation.  Until then, here's Conor talking about NGN's important work.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Ask your librarian to get "Little Princes"

Dear Harriette,

I wanted to tell you about a book that I would love to see the library have – "Little Princes: One Man's Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal" by Conor Grennan. I hope it's the next "Three Cups of Tea." I've followed Conor's blog for years now. Basically, he was traveling around the world and decided to volunteer at an orphanage in Nepal. When be realized many of the children were victims of human trafficking, he decided to do something about it.

If you're cool like me, you are on a first name basis with your local librarian and have her email address. I shot the above email to Harriette this morning. It's another great way to spread the word about "Little Princes." If you do so, report back and will count it as one of the 100 things that need to be done to rescue my blog from the Little Princes.

Also, GIVE ME LIBRARIES!

The Little Princes are holding my blog hostage

I'm not sure I've ever been more excited about a book than Conor Grennan's Little Princes, which comes out next week. I want to support it in every possible way I can and I hope you'll help me.

Conor went to Nepal to volunteer at an orphanage. When he learned that many of the kids were trafficked, he decided to do something about it. He setup Next Generation Nepal that sought to reconnect trafficked children with their parents.

I've been following Conor's blog, Conor's Mildly Thrilling Tales, for years. We were both part of the BootsnAll blogging network when I stumbled upon him. Conor's writing is hilarious and powerful, self-deprecating and witty. My only complaint is that he doesn't update his blog enough. I'm not sure he'll remember this, but a while back I sent him a note saying, "Dude you should write a book." Well, he did.

And now I want everyone I know to do everything they can to support Conor, Little Princes, and Next Generation Nepal.

Here's Conor on writing Little Princes…

But in writing it, I realized it was more than just their story. It was the story of how somebody like me, somebody with no relevant skills whatsoever, no deep passion for volunteering, no profound desire to make an impact on anyone's life but his own, found himself sacrificing his comfortable way of life to try to improve the lives of these young children on the other side of the world.

That became perhaps the most important element in the story for me. I am desperate for readers, especially younger readers, to see what getting involved can do. How it can change your life so completely, and in ways you could never imagine. How volunteering, whether it is in an impoverished third world nation or in your hometown, requires only that you show up. Don't worry how little of your time or resources you may have to offer—just offer it, and see what happens.

The fact is, volunteering is no longer a fringe activity—the world gets smaller every day and we have a responsibility to understand what it looks like. It's not how the other half lives, it's how the other 90% live. And I believe that each of us has a responsibility to know what those lives look like, even if we only give one single day of our life to discovering it. Because it could have been us.

In support of Conor, his amazing book, and his awesome work, I'm letting Little Princes hold my blog hostage until 100 people commit to one of the following:

1) Buy little Princes from Better World Books, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, your local independent bookstore, or wherever. A portion of all sales go to support Next Generation Nepal;

2) Donate to Next Generation Nepal;

3) Like Next Generation Nepal and Little Princes both on facebook and then tell all of your friends about it;

4) Blog about Next Generation Nepal.

In order for your action to count, you have to report it in the comments of this post on my blog or on facebook. Until 100 people commit to at least one of the above, I'll be blogging each day about nothing other than Little Princes, Conor, Nepal, and child trafficking.

This is an important book and cause. And I 100% guarantee that you'll love Conor's writing. Here's a sneak peek and here's Conor talking about Little Princes.