A World We Dare To Imagine (Part III)

If you see a blind person fall into the water, who is to blame? 

We have the privilege to see and therefore we have the responsibilty to take care of those that do not. 
Likewise, education is a birthright -- every soul deserves the opportunity access and use it. In a documentary called On the Way to School that I watched, I saw Zahira of Morocco trek 13.5 miles, Samuel of India walk over two miles with his handicapped brother in a wheelchair, Carlito of Argentina ride a horse with his sister for 11 miles, and Jackson of Kenya walk 9 miles, including through a safari, all to get to school. Yes, these children live in parts of the world that is not easily accessible, but that does not mean they should have to go through such struggle to recieve education. 

Unlike Zahira, Samuel, Carlito, and Jackson, there are 122 million youth globally who do not have access to education (UNESCO). Poverty, increasing income gap, racial conflicts, violence, and other social issues result from unaware individuals. Education is key to raising awareness to prevent these problems from increasing. 

EduVocation funds teachers and entrepreneurs to go into rural countries where children do not have access to education. There, our members distribute educational videos and materials that locals can use to foster learning, educate parents on how to educate their child from an early age, and/or establish schooling systems to create a sustainable method of delivering education. 

Our organization believes in the domino effect where you teach an individual who will later teach another who will then teach another. Our vision is to see a change, not merely in the literacy rate of young children, but also a decrease in various violent activity. We cannot fight every problem at once but we can start with the root -- education is that root. 

A World We Dare To Imagine

A world I dare to imagine would have no violence, homeless people on the cold streets, children distanced from education and opportunities, individuals of all genders oppressed, corruption, hatred, angry, and negative energy. There are two ways this world I dare to imagine is possible: (1) everyone is brain-washed, removing all abilities to judge and hate one another or (2) individuals are no able to see color. The contrast and availability of options creates emotions such as judgements, envy, hatred, and violence. If one were not able to see color, he or she would not be able to differentiate between different races. Most of the tensions existing in the world derive from what we seen different in one another; if we limit the differences, many of the things wrong would be eliminated.

Another way to better the existing world is to brain-wash individuals. Now, I know this idea sounds crazy but most of the existing problems in the world seem to stem from the way people think. One's personal bias and mentality has been a major contributor towards the racial problems that currently exist in the world. If people stop judging one another, the world would be a better place.

The world I dare to imagine is a happy place with happy people, and happy people are made from happy emotions.

The Blue Sweater (Continued)

Chapter 9 begins with Jacqueline realized the program in Tanzania was not effective at all. Although the program was providing the people with funds, it is was not encouraging others to aim high and holding them accountable for their goals. Later, Jacqueline learns of the massacres in Rwanda, concluding things and people must be so different. As a result, she decided to revisit the bakery.

When in Rwanda, Jacqueline learns that a refugee from Uganda is illegally living there. Jacqueline visits the four women she once worked closely with — Honorata, Prudence, Agnes, and Liliane — in attempt to understand what happened and how each one ended up where they are now. In learning more about the four women, Jacqueline gains insight of human behavior. 

Honorata survived a mass village shooting by pretending to be dead among corpses. She was one of the only adults to survive with seventeen children, who she guided through various refugee camp. Liliane survived in a refugee camp for almost two years and learned a solider had occupied her home illegal upon her return. For this reason, she was forced to move into a slum. Agnes and Liliane are both in pris

on now, accused of being a perpetrator in a major genocide. Whereas Prudence encouraged violence and killing, Agnes remained silent, making her neither a victim nor a perpetrator. Jacqueline learns that characteristics best thrive when one goes through harsh circumstances like the genocide.

After understanding the markets and that one single things cannot alleviate poverty, Jacqueline establishes Acumen Fund. The organization would invest in entrepreneurs who have a vision and ability to solve local problems. Unlike microfinance programs that provided individuals with small loans, Acumen Fund provides hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars to help these entrepreneurs often their goal of helping more than a million people. Since its establishment, Acumen Fund has helped the following organizations and people through their investment: Dr. Govindappa Venkataswamy’s Aravind Eye Hospital in India to support telemedicine unit; Saiban in Pakistan to promote incremental housing for low-income individuals; Amitabha Sadangi’s drip irrigation system for farmers; Sumitomo Chemical in Africa to deliver bed nets; A to Z Textiles in Arusha, Tanzania for bed net-weaving machines; and WHI. 

Through diverse investments with similar values, Acumen Fund is able to address various issues that can help solve crucial problems but can also connect one initiative to another to gain a greater result. Jacqueline says, “…there is no currency like trust and no catalyst like hope”. (273) Providing individuals with resources needed to help them make a difference is the best thing one can do to help others find a way to aim high and obtain their goals. 

As I mentioned in my previous blog, every chapter begins with an insightful quote. My favorite was this from Chapter 8 by George Bernard Shaw: “We are made wise not be the recollection of our past, but by the responsibility for our future.” 

The Blue Sweater: Bridging the Gap Between Rich and Poor in an Interconnected World by Jacqueline Novogratz

Chapter 1 begins with Jacqueline recalling an incident regarding a blue sweater. The blue sweater was given to her by her uncle and later donated to Goodwill. She later ran into a little boy wearing the same blue sweater. She says, "Our actions - and inaction - touch people we may never know and never meet across the globe". Her statement, especially regarding inaction resonates with me because I also believe that we may hurt others or the planet simply through our inactions. Our carbon footprint is an ideal example; when we fail to take actions to reduce our carbon footprint, we contribute to and accelerate the process of global warming. 

In the later chapters, we witness Jacqueline's journey  as she transitions her career into the African Development Bank to serve as an ambassador to African women in Côte d'Ivoire. In the office, Jacqueline's colleagues do not like her because of her position; they feel that because she is a foreigner, she was given the job. On the edge of quitting after falling very sick, Jacqueline realizes she has to understand herself and the women more deeply before attempting to make a difference. She soon understands, the women have to be given accountability. 

Jacqueline is later introduced to an opportunity to help start a credit program for women in Rwanda. After arriving in Kigali, Rwanda, Jacqueline spends time in the Kigali markets, understanding the reasons why the women would want to borrow money. For the most part, women needed money to start their businesses and generate income. Establishing a self-sustainable business allows the women to have accountability of their capital and power to make important decisions for their success. Jacqueline aids a group of women in setting up a bakery, helping them develop a sustainable business plan for the course of two years. After coming back to the US, Jacqueline decides to apply for the Stanford Business School and gets accepted. Achieving higher education will help her gain a stronger foundation to aid others build businesses around the world. 

Chapter 8 ends with a dialogue from a Buddhist monk in Cambodia who says that one must move forward with, both, compassion and intellect; moving forward with merely one will not give one the desired end result. Compassion and intellect are two very strong qualities of a leader, and people need leaders to move forward. One of my favorite things about the book is that every chapter begins with an insightful quote related to the chapter. 

San Francisco

I went home this past weekend. Although born in San Francisco, I haven't always lived there. I spent 
6 years in Texas and then moved back to San Francisco. 

Every time I touch ground in San Francisco, there is a sense of magic happening. The fresh crisp air 
and slight breeze, both, contributing to create the magic. There are many more things that contribute 
to the magic: Neapolitan pizzas, quality boba, views from piers, the varying diversity of people and 
food along Market Street, and much more. Many say California is a diverse state but in fact, San 
Francisco is the most diverse city on the west coast. San Francisco is a mini New York City, I would
say. Although seven by seven miles in size, the city is home for hundreds of thousands from all walks 
of life. 

For the past years that I've spent in San Francisco, I have not yet discovered why I call San Francisco 
home. Is it because it offers opportunities or because my loved ones live around the area? I've been 
intrigued by this question for quite some time. What defines home, the people, place, or things? 
Luckily for me, San Francisco holds a special place in my heart for all reasons.

Growing A Farmer (2)

As Timmermeister continues to describe the variety of items and animals available on his farm, we gain more insight on how things such as raw milk, meat, cream, and vegetables are produced.   "Almost all of the food I produce -- as detailed in the following chapters on vegetables, fowl and pigs, as well as the previous chapters on honey, fruit, and dairy -- goes into the seasonal dishes I serve every Sunday" (178). The farm may have started off as an experiment to understand various aspects of farming for Timmermeister but as he expands his farm, he gains understanding of the various processes and difficulties in obtaining what later appears on a plate. For example, selling milk is not easy, it requires a license and a process of pasteurizing; he learns that he had been illegally selling raw milk to his neighbors. However, with the growth of the farm, we see him find an ultimate destination: Sunday dinners.

I love how the book is tied together with the Sunday dinners or Cookhouse dinners, as Timmermeister puts it.  For this reason, Chapter 15, The Table, was one of my favorite chapters in the book. We see that Timmermeister tries to only use items produced on the farm as part of his recipes for Sunday dinners. Knowing that most of the items are seasonal, he establishes variety by making slight alterations in the ingredients for the recipes on the menu. Through these dinners, he is able to share the knowledge and process of growing or creating the food on the table.

"Food is what brings us together" (308). We often take good food for granted. We may remember the good and bad memories we had over a meal, but we often forget the meal itself.  This book provides a good foundation for understanding where and how that meal came to be; some of it is interesting and the other may be a bit disturbing but overall, it is enlightening journey.

But Don't Runaway!

An investigation of life as a pilot

New York. Paris. South Africa. Moscow. Singapore. Tokyo. San Francisco. And the list goes on. You may think traveling the world and meeting individuals from different countries would be the life to have with no negative consequences. Unfortunately, this life of travel brings many pilots and other aviation personnel misery as they find themselves dwelled in a routine that separates them from their loved ones for a prolonged period of time. The trade-offs in any given profession are large. I focus my article on the life of pilots. From schooling and training to flying and traveling, the life of a pilot entails a journey of discoveries, dedication, and passion, but also, longing and exhaustion. 

Schooling Through Money 

Becoming a pilot takes more than just dedication. Pilots are required to go through a series of steps to obtain the license they want. For example, a common path is to obtain a Private Pilot Certificate, then Commercial Pilot Certificate, and finally, a Flight Instructor Certificate. Depending on the type of job you wish to obtain, this process can be three to five steps. In addition to paying for certificates, you will have to pay for flight sessions, uniform, and any required gadgets. Becoming a pilot does not merely require knowledge of flying, but adequate understanding of laws of motion, meteorology, aircraft systems, engines, and navigation ("Becoming an Airline Pilot"). Therefore, flying lessons are equally as important as prior classes. 

At the end of the schooling period, a pilot will have an average debt ranging from $50,000 to $100,000 ("Becoming an Airline Pilot"). Essentially, expenditure on two years of pilot school is equivalent to that spent getting a four year college degree. However, if you stick through the plan, you will be out of school and working in two years, which means these costs can be recovered with time and interest of course! 

It is important to note that some airlines may require their candidates to have a bachelors degree, in any major at all ("The Truth About The Profession"). These are normally airlines that receive a large number of applicants. For the most part, the amount of flying experience you bring forth will give you an upper hand when applying for positions. 

Taking Off 

The excitement of starting a career overjoys everyone. With a fresh new license in hand and hundreds of flying hours as experience, you are now ready to take over the world. Literally. Depending on your experiences and credentials, you may or may not qualify to fly long, international flights right off the bat. Don't worry! Whether you are flying domestically or internationally, you will have the opportunity to travel and discover new cities. For a passionate traveler, this is a dream come true: getting paid for flying to various lands of joy. 

Although starting pay may be around $40,000-50,000, after flying for 10 years, pay can be expected to increase to nearly $300,000 ("Becoming an Airline Pilot"). Because you are now responsible for the lives of everyone on the aircraft, there is a great sense of liability that comes with flying a plane. This liability can result in loss of money if a lawsuit is involved. Therefore, stress levels may be high when you are new to the business.  

Additional stress may drive from long or back to back flying hours assigned to you. Now, unlike during training, pilots can't decide when and when not to fly. As it is said, "rain or shine, the show must go on". So flexibility is not really a thing at first. To gain flexibility, you must achieve seniority and that comes from years of flying experience. In fact, as starting pilot, you will less likely be working for a carrier of your ultimate choice due to the lack of experience. 

Mid Air

Mid-life crisis hits everyone. For pilots, this might be a little too hard. Around this time in your career as a pilot, you may be thinking about establishing a family -- if not, you are certainly thinking about settling down or getting a break. After all, the adventurous life can become exhausting at one point. 

At this point, you may want venture into a less stressful and commitment-requiring industry or stick it out and retire with the airline you've been working as that will result in a sweet bonus.  

Studies show most pilots are in business because they have a passion for flying. This passion may get in the way of relationships as you will constantly be away from home and your family. For example, you may miss Christmas with your mom in Seattle, a friend's wedding in Hong Kong, or your child's first day of school in Florence. Due to the lack of complete control over your work schedule and travel destinations, you will have no other choice.
As a result, divorce rates are amongst one of the highest in the aviation industry (Oppenheim). Time is not set in stone for pilots. During the mid-years of their careers, pilots are working more and more hours to gain experience and move up the tier-ladder of carrier companies. Despite as great as flying around may seem, the lack of a set schedule and time may become a barrier in relationships for pilots. You may have to make travel your spouse at this point. 

Landing Smoothly

Regardless, working as a pilot comes with large perks for those that absolutely love flying. Whether working for a small airline or a large airline, having the opportunity to travel to new places and old, as part of the job, is rewarding. At first, traveling may be exhausting but once accustomed to the routine of flying, vacationing, sleeping, and flying, making vacation out of each hold or break between flying becomes easier.  Imagine establishing a group of friends in various parts of the world. That would be very cool! 

At the end of the day, it depends on what you make out of the experience (Halbfinger). The journey of becoming and being a pilot may be a curse or a blessing. Some people can go an entire lifetime traveling and meeting new people, and others will require a break. Therefore, you may travel 100,000 miles but not have earned a single mile of happiness or you may travel 1,000 miles and earn tremendous happiness; the result is in your hands, for not every movement from point A to point B is a journey and not every journey required travels of miles.

References

"Becoming an Airline Pilot | Pilot Training | Latest Pilot Jobs |." Becoming an Airline Pilot | Pilot Training | Latest Pilot Jobs |. N.p., n.d. Web.

Halbfinger, David M., Matthew Wald L., and Christopher Drew. "Pilots’ Lives Defy Glamorous Stereotype." The New York Times. The New York Times, n.d. Web.

Oppenheim, Lance. "Home Is Where the Parking Lot Is." The New York Times. The New York Times, 05 Sept. 2016. Web. 

Unknown. "The Truth About The Profession." The Truth About The Profession. Weebly, n.d. Web. 

Pictures from: 

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