Experiential Learning

Good morning, friends! 

What an experience-filled couple of weeks it has been! Last Saturday, the UWP cast ventured into downtown Denver, split into teams, and headed out on a scavenger hunt. We had multiple destinations, and at each destination, we had to take a picture, and fill in some fun information about that place. We walked all over downtown, and later enjoyed dinner at The Cheesecake Factory with 60 other cast members! Needless to say, the waiters were a little stressed. 

The next week was filled with more dance workshops, education workshops, and good laughs. Cast B 2012 participated on our first Community Impact day. We worked near the Hayman burn area, a fire that burned 138,000 acres 10 years ago. We worked with the Coalition for the Upper South Platt to restore trails to help the runoff of water. I was highly impressed with the hard work we put in and the endurance of all the sea-levelers was greatly appreciated! We made 7 water bars, cleaned 150 feet of trail, made 11 steps, and 1 flying V! Such a wonderful day, working in the woods! 

I hope you are all doing well and enjoying your summer! 


Love to all,


Bonnie 

Week 2 Is Underway!

What builds a family?

Toño from Mexico City, Mexico said, "In order to make a strong family, you need to 'be the change you wish to see in the world.'" Ashley from Alaska said, "Conflict builds a family and working to resolve those conflicts makes it even stronger."

Paul Whitaker from the United Kingdom, Senior Vice President of Up with People explained that hard work and dedication is what builds a family. Our reputation is a part of the group. Becoming a family is hard work. There will be tears, and laughter and we should welcome them. That is how we learn. We learn when it gets difficult. Mr. Whitaker said, "It is not out job to make it easy. It is out job to make an experience." We came for it to be different. We came for an adventure. We are here to learn, love, adapt, accept and explore. We won't let anything or anyone derail us.

Today was day 7 of staging. Today was the day we learned all about our future tour cities. Today we learned how to properly coin cables. Today I learned. It wasn't the fact that I was in a classroom environment with students from 19 different countries surrounding me. It was because we are all here to  experience something completely out of our comfort zones. We came to be immersed in a variety of culture, where one night we may be sleeping on a thick, luscious mattress, and another night we may be sleeping on a bamboo mat with 8 other people. We came to make a difference, and that is what I am going to do.

I want to share an experience I've already had here in Denver. This morning, we stopped for a cup of coffee on the way to staging. I ride in a van with a few other students, and we all walked in with our name tags on and smiles on our faces. A man in line asked us if we were touring, and we said we are doing staging in Denver and there will be a show in August. Immediately, his eyes lit up and he said, "I have to tell my wife about this! I've always wanted to see an Up with People show!" I'm sure it sounds like a simple thing to you all, but the fact that this man was already excited about his day because he knew there was an Up with People show made me appreciate that mornings can be turned around with just a couple words! I felt so proud to have made a difference today!

I'm sure this is going to be a small thing compared to some of the experiences we will have along the way, but I know I will never forget this. It started with a couple of name tags, and ended with quite a few happy people, and on a Tuesday! I will greet these upcoming experiences with open arms and I will cherish the memories I make. I will share them with you and maybe they will make a difference, too.

De ja la musica sonar.
Laisse la musique jouer.
Sakana de yo.
Let the music play.

Dance on, my friends.

Bonnie Waller, USA

Bonjour les amis! (Hello friends!)

I thought that since most of you have not had much experience with Up with People, I'd give you a little bit of information.

Up with People started in 1965 as a global education program that brings the world together through service and music. Up with People's goal is that we will leave the program as global citizens with a commitment to community. It provides the opportunity to travel, interact with communities a round the world, perform for thousands, and it introduces us to the professional world. As a cast, we have the power to change lives, including our own, and create a more positive message to bridge gaps between cultures. We will develop cultural awareness, interpersonal communications, and and group development skills. "Up with People prepares students to facilitate positive change in their workplaces, their communities, their countries and the world" (UWP). 

I hope this helps for those of you who had questions!

L'amour à vous tous (love to you all),

Bonnie Waller, USA

Dance with the circumstance.

"Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass. It is about learning to dance in the rain."

I am dancing in the rain. My fellow Up with People (UWP) cast members are dancing with me. We are embracing the thunder and lightning, holding hands and venturing into the storm together. The great thing about weathering the storm is we get to enjoy the rainbow and green grass when the clouds fade. 


These past couple of days have been more chaotic than an elephant stuck on main street! 100 other cast members and I are going to learn a brand new show in 5 weeks, perform it twice, and head out on the road. I think that as "CRAZY" written all over it, but it will be such a fantastic experience. Yesterday, as a cast, we learned a little bit of one song, and I'm a sucker for great choir music, and we sounded... INCREDIBLE! It gave me goosebumps, and that takes a lot!


Today, however, was much more eventful. To start the day off, we prepared our show costumes for pictures that will be previewed before the show. And we were half way told if our costumes would look decent on stage... Hopefully the director approves mine! Later on, we learned about the technical side of things; how the lights work, how the sound works, where the stage ends, etc. After lunch, things got exciting. The most nerve-racking thing so far was the vocal module: there was a "panel" of staff members waiting to hear you sing. That was one of the scariest things I've ever done! But now it's over with and I'm ready to go to bed and do it all over again tomorrow :)


Hope you are all enjoying your summer!


Much love and happiness,


Bonnie 

The First Day of My Journey

Hello friends-


I only have one word to say: exhausted.


Today was the first day of my journey with Up with People. After arriving in Denver, I unloaded my suitcase, strapped my backpack over my shoulders, and headed in to register for my year of travel! Immediately I was greeted by energetic, friendly staff members who directed me where to go. I proceeded to show them my passport and other important documents. After I was finished there, I made my way into the circle of cast members sitting around. I was welcomed by young adults from 19 different countries who were all in the same position I was: ready for a new adventure! 


As the afternoon progressed, more students showed up, and I was introduced to more and more people; students who traveled last semester, students who were children of alumni, students who are just out of high school, students just out of college. I can tell that this is going to be the best year of my life! If I could have bottled up the energy in the room, I'm sure it would power an airplane around the world. Smiles were ear to ear, and hugs were abundant. We learned what side to put our name-tag on, how to properly shake hands, and of course, how to say different names. But most of all, I learned, that just in this one day, I will make connections that will last a lifetime. 


I am so fortunate to have this opportunity. Thank you to all the people who helped me get here! I will keep this blog updated with the exciting things that happen!


Be well,


Bonnie Waller, USA