January 19, 2012
Leveling the Playing Field
Why I brought ten incoming college freshmen out of the city and into rural Tanzania
In 2007, the first group of Next Generation Leaders spent their summer interning at OAT. Before Alan and I began this program, we’d been giving away scholarships for quite a while—but the kids we’d support had concerns: Because they came from low-income households, how would they fit in when they got to college? “You have your own experiences,” I’d tell them. “They might be different, but they’re valuable, too.” But I began thinking about how I could level the playing field.
So I decided to take the Next Generation Leaders to Africa.
Not many entering freshmen can say they’ve been to Africa. I remember one of our 2007 students, Jason, telling me about his orientation, where he was sitting next to a student who visited London for his summer break. He asked Jason, “What did you do?”
“I went to Tanzania,” Jason replied.
To which his fellow student responded, “Where the heck is that??”
More than this, though, it gave the young leaders the opportunity to see a part of the world that has so much less than we have, but in a way, they have so much more—like a strong sense of community, especially in Kenya and Tanzania.
I was curious as to exactly what these students would take from Tanzania. What would they say was the most memorable part? To my surprise, it wasn’t the animals. It was the schools we visited, where we did community service. One of the girls in our group had been homeless. Compared to most Americans, she has nothing—yet she looked at me with tears in her eyes and said, “Harriet, I take so much for granted.” The experience of traveling can change how you look at life. It gives you a sense of appreciation, of gratitude. This is the inner beauty of Africa.
I also think there’s something cellular in our genetic wiring: When you’re in Africa, you know you’re home. It’s an amazing thing to feel—the continent is so different, but you feel so very at home.
Where have you felt most at home in your travels? Is it Africa, like Ann Barkley shares in this month’s Traveler Story? Or somewhere else in the world? Tell me about it in an email—or share your thoughts in the comments.
Harriet Lewis
Dear Traveler,
After my mother passed away, I cleaned out the desk I’d used as a child. Tucked away in a drawer, I found stacks of old travel brochures that I’d started collecting when I was nine years old. There I was, 45 years old, suddenly remembering that I’ve been interested in travel from a very young age. I remembered how I used to fantasize about going to Africa to see the wildlife and the wide open land, or to London to see the bridges falling down.
Today, I’ve visited more than 100 countries—and I still fantasize about so many others. For me, travel is addictive; I get a physical thrill when I add pages to my passport. And as my passport grows, so do I—both emotionally and spiritually. By meeting new people and seeing how they live their lives, I see how alike we all are, and I’m reminded that this truly is one world.
I know OAT travelers are also passionate about exploring other countries and cultures … and that’s one of the reasons why I created Harriet’s Corner: I wanted us to have a special place where we could learn from and about each other by sharing stories about the places we’ve been—and the people we’ve met— during our travels.
Since launching Harriet’s Corner, I’ve received emails from hundreds of OAT travelers eager to share stories, pictures, and insights from their journeys—and I’ve been truly moved too see how many of you have embraced the site! So I’m excited to announce that we’ve made some significant changes to Harriet’s Corner … changes that will make the site more interactive and even easier to navigate. Here’s what’s new:
- OAT’s “Community” section—As part of the overall redesign for the OAT website, we’ve created a special section that’s all about connecting with others who love to travel. This is where you’ll find Harriet’s Corner, along with Travel Companions and our new Traveler Discussions forums, which allow you to “talk” with other OAT travelers about the places you’ve been—and the destinations that remain on your “must-see” list.
- Comment on my Journal entries—Our new Traveler Discussions forums aren’t the only place on the OAT website where you can post comments for others to see. After each Journal entry, you can let me—and other OAT travelers—know what you think by posting your comments online. My hope is that this new feature will help facilitate a lively, open dialogue among Harriet’s Corner readers.
I’d like to note here that, while I won’t be able to respond personally to each and every posting, my dedicated team will be monitoring your comments and will address any urgent issues or questions that arise. From time to time, I’ll also choose some of the most frequently asked questions to answer in Travel Talk.
- Calendar of Events—In this section, you’ll find details about the various events we host here in our Boston headquarters. So if you live in or around the Boston area—or are planning to visit—I hope you’ll consider joining us.
Of course, there are some things about Harriet’s Corner that haven’t changed … in particular, the detailed and evocative stories you’ve come to know and love! You’ll still be able to learn from and about other OAT travelers’ experiences—and see their photos—in Traveler Stories; read about Trip Leaders and our community service events worldwide in News & Views from OAT; and join me as I reflect upon some of my Favorite Adventures.
As before, I’ll be adding new content to the site every week—and letting you know via email when an update to Harriet’s Corner pertains to a destination that interests you. (If I don’t already have your email address, you can sign up to receive my updates here.)
Whether you’re new to OAT or have traveled with us before, I hope you’ll become part of the Harriet’s Corner community, connecting with fellow travelers while learning more about our trips. And I hope what you find in these pages will inspire you to continue exploring this world of ours with open hearts and minds, as well as open passports.
Best wishes and happy travels,
Harriet Lewis
Vice Chairman
Overseas Adventure Travel
P.S. Every time you travel with OAT, you help us give back to communities worldwide through Grand Circle Foundation. With your support, we’ve given more than $50 million to support the education of young people and the preservation of cultural treasures and traditions. Thank you! (Learn more about Grand Circle Foundation by visiting www.grandcirclefoundation.org.)