As many of my loyal readers may know, when I'm not giving in depth tours of cities or writing epic fictions, I work in peacebuilding. It is a great, noble and worthy cause that I will follow until trumpets sound. And now, as it seems, my efforts in this field have been noticed by organizations for which I have not yet worked.
A few weeks ago, the Pacifica Institute approached me to say that I have been selected to be a citizen diplomat that will travel with them to Turkey. To say I was beyond myself with excitement is a drastic understatement. This news has been building within me for two weeks and now I am at last able to let it burst from my seams. I shamefully have never left the country, and yet now I am presented with the opportunity to travel abroad on a peacebuilding mission. It could not be more perfect.
So what does that mean, a peacebuilding mission? For starters, as a citizen diplomat, I am not representing the US government or going in any "official" capacity. I am not a politician and I do not represent any political agenda, which suits me just fine. Instead, I am going as a diplomat for American culture in order to exchange personal anecdotes with people from Turkey. In doing this, we will be making cross cultural interactions, allowing members of the majority population in Turkey along with many of the minorities, to learn about our Western cultures and for them to teach us about their own. We will be building bridges between our cultures by demystifying our own through personal interactions.
However, none of this will be able to happen without YOUR help. The organization will provide for the domestic arrangements, but I have to pay for the travel costs. By donating $10 towards my Indie-Go-Go website, "Intercultural Exchanges: California to Turkey," you are helping to carry the flag of peace. I really cannot do this trip without your help, dear readers. We only have 28 days to reach the intended goal, but I know that we will be able to get there. Even if you simply share the following link with everyone you know, you are helping to support the efforts of building peace.
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/intercultural-exchanges-california-to-turkey/x/7798533
I'll continue to update you regularly on my progress with the fundraising and we will be returning to our regular schedule of Providence on Wednesday.
Until then dear readers.
Your humble author,
S. Faxon
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