4 Hours until Tokyo, but Memories that will last a Lifetime

Three and a half weeks spent back in the United States seemed to fly by in the blink of an eye. It was a lovely reunion with family, friends and teachers, and mentors marking the longest I have been in the United States since I was stationed in Germany nearly five years ago.

Lovely spending time with Family! Including with my niece, Eliana, and nephew, Solomon

The journey was filled with cherished moments such as meeting my four-month-old niece Elora, spending time with my dear grandmothers, and spending a very wonderful day in the Sandhills of North Carolina where I visited Lloyd Navarro’s new homestead and helped him plant a tree by the Southern Pines Peace Pole. I also had the opportunity to attend and share my journey at the Downtown Rotary Club of Greensboro, where I spent time with members of my wonderful Rotary family such as the District 7690 Scholarship Committee led by Lynn Thompson, my dear mentor Mike and his wife Mary Anne Conrad, and even the district governor, DG Van Lankford. The return home was a powerful reminder of the supportive community of family, friends, and Rotarians in my life, reinforcing and strengthening my resolve for the path that lies ahead.

My time with family was truly priceless. Not having the opportunity to visit friends and family for so long made me really appreciate my time with them. I had the chance to spend time with around 38 close friends, mentors, and family members many of whom I had not seen since college graduation. Time with my grandmothers was particularly precious as I found myself having greater maturity and foresight to ask questions about their childhoods and journey. I drove across North Carolina both to alleviate the inconvenience for those who do not have time off before beginning a Rotary Peace Fellowship, but also as a pilgrimage of sorts to see a bit of the State of the Long Leaf Pine that I had not seen in more than a decade. From the stunning views of the Blue Ridge Parkway to the almost otherworldly beauty of the wetlands around Wilmington filled with Pitcher plants and Venus Fly Traps, I was reminded of the unique beauty of our state and that one certainly does not need to even leave the state or travel abroad to see incredible natural beauty. A trip to visit the Navarro homestead would further drive this message of the beauty of our state forward.

Peace Pole in Southern Pines

Being constructed in 10 acres of nearly pristine pine forest, the homestead of Leslie and Lloyd Navarro embodies respect for the environment. With a strong commitment to environmental preservation and the implementation of permaculture agriculture techniques, the homestead creates a serene connection with nature. We worked a bit on the Walipini (a partially underground greenhouse whose name means Place of Warmth in the Aymaran Andean indigenous language) and walked the forests surrounding the house appreciating the Sandhill’s unique flora and the beauty of nature.

Lloyd and I share a selfie by the tree before heading in for some lemonade

Following this, we had the opportunity to visit a project related to my focus area of focus of Peace and Conflict Resolution. Constructed beside the popular food truck venue of Red’s Place in Southern Pines, a Peace Pole was erected by Rotary. We planted a flowering Plum Tree, and I learned of Rotary’s tradition of Friendship Trees originating with former Rotary President Paul Harris. While there, we also had the opportunity to join fellow Rotarians from the Sandhills for a lovely lunch. Lemonade never tastes as good as after a morning under the Carolina sky and summer heat!

Two days later I had the opportunity to visit the Rotary Downtown Club of Greensboro weekly meeting at the Weir Jordan House. I had a wonderful opportunity to see many lovely Rotary faces both whom I had already met and whom I was meeting for the first time. I shared snippets from my journey, and enjoyed learning a bit more about what the club is doing in Greensboro including supporting initiatives such as Out of the Garden (food distribution for needy families including Afghan Refugees), initiatives supporting home repairs, and so many Happy Dollars! The highlight of the evening though was reconnecting with Mike Conrad, who has guided me both professionally and personally for seven fulfilling years.

Dinner with the Conrads

Alongside his wonderful wife, Mary Ann, we shared a delightful dinner filled with meaningful conversations and sharing cherished memories. The visit to the Rotary club and time with the Conrads left me inspired and energized as I embark on my upcoming journey.

The remaining week was devoted to final visits to friends, finally a bit of time with my wonderful parents, who had supported me throughout the entirety of my visit, and of course preparing for my departure. While certainly much too fast, it had been a wonderful time back in North Carolina, one in which I was reminded of the incredible community I have in the United States, blessings, and why I am embarking on this mission to promote peace.