Finding Inner Peace

This post is dedicated to KF, KD, SF and CA, in hopes that they'll find inner peace soon, too.

I felt compelled to write this post not only because of a recent event I attended at Caracas' Peace Monument last Saturday, but also because of a conversation I had later that day with fellow Rotarians and not-so-peaceful moments in the lives of some of those around me.

In the last few days, I have been tired, cranky and frustrated at times. This was not the overall feeling of the days, but the tired/cranky/frustrated times seemed to overpower the other feelings. I was overwhelmed by the early starting times (7AM) of my classes, the amount of material, the expectations of me. Stress took over and I began to wonder if I was going to be successful this year.

Yesterday and today I had a little bit more down time and had time to reflect on the events of the last few weeks. As I mentioned, last Saturday I took a tour at the Peace Monument (Monumento a la Paz) in Colinas de Bello Monte (a part of Caracas). The monument was started by Dr. Farid Mattar in 1963 using rubble from the city of Caracas. Over the years, the monument has expanded considerably, and each part of the monument has a different meaning. However, each rock is placed “in the name of every Venezuelan child that will be born.”

It truly is a "peaceful" place with lush gardens and a spectacular view of El Avila (the mountain to the north of Caracas). Please take a look at the International Free Planet Foundation website for the full story and some beautiful pictures.

View from the entrance

One of the first gardens

The first path

Do you see a face or a tree?

It felt like walking through a jungle!


El Avila

Even the contemplative have to relieve themselves somewhere!

A lower level


Reflecting while sitting at a table made from rubble.



Rotaract President Andrea and I helping each other balance and "creating a peaceful bond."



El Avila

After the tour of the premises, there was a round table discussion about peace and how we can go about promoting peace in our lives. Several participants discussed different local programs designed to reduce conflict and tensions in areas of Caracas and the world. October 2 marks the start of The World March for Peace and Nonviolence, a worldwide movement for peace that will last until January 2, 2010. There will be events and marches in a wide array of countries, because

"The moment has come for the voiceless to be heard! Out of agonizing and urgent need, millions of human beings are crying out for an end to wars and violence. We can make that happen by uniting all the forces of pacifism and active non-violence worldwide." (http://theworldmarch.org)

After the discussion, I went to Rotary Club Las Mercedes President Pedro's home, along with his wife Gina, and niece Andrea (President of Rotaract), all three of whom had attended the event. We had a scrumptious lunch and settled into the living room for an after-lunch chat with their daughter. I got more out of this conversation than I ever thought that I would.

At Pedro's home.

We began by talking about what had happened that morning, our opinions of the monument the round table discussion. I had thoroughly enjoyed the visit, especially since I hadn't expected such a magnificant structure, nor the round table at the end. Pedro then brought up the topic of inner peace, something that was briefly touched at the meeting. "How do we find inner peace? How do we make peace reign in our homes?"

I started to think about my own life, about my own inner peace. How many times did I fight with my brother, or argue with my parents? How many times should I have turned the other cheek in a situation, and didn't? Why is it that it is so easy for us to hurt the ones around us, yet so difficult to tell them that we love them? Why do we judge others without getting to know them first, using superficial characteristics as guidelines for judging their worth rather than the person that they are?

The conversation turned to my own family and disputes that have happened within it that have torn some of us apart. I got emotional thinking about relationships that I wish were better, that sometimes it seems will never improve. Gina mused that one of the most difficult tasks to carry out in the home is achieving peace. They encouraged me to not give up, to keep trying, and I was reminded of some steps forward in the last couple of years.

Since I have been home for very short periods of time since about 2003, it's always difficult to keep in touch with everyone, much less work on bettering relationships while abroad. However, I feel like things have improved lately, which I know has helped with my own inner peace. This summer one of my sisters moved closer to my house as a positive result of a negative situation. I was ecstatic that she moved closer and that I could see her and her two of her children (my niece and nephew) more often. They're getting to an age that you can really see what type of people they are turning out to be and I really don't want to miss out on that. I've had the chance to get to know them better and I think it would be awesome if my nephew could come to visit me here, or maybe on my next trip. I also had more time to spend with my brother, sister-in-law and his children, and feel like things get better every time I come home. I had the opportunity to spend a day each with both my sister and my brother's daughters, a "girl's day out" and hope that we continue to do so when I come home. Even though my parents were working and away from home for a good portion of summer, we still were able to spend time together. Because I'm gone so much, we try to make the most of the time that I'm there.

But what about those relationships that I haven't been able to improve? What do I do about them? Like Gina said, don't give up on them. World peace starts with our own inner peace and creating a peaceful atmosphere in our homes, strengthening our families.

Before I left for Venezuela, my dad asked me if I would come home for Christmas. I have never come home during a year abroad in the past (this is my fourth year abroad, and I've only been home for 2 Christmases since 2003) because of the cost of the plane ticket and wanting to experience the holidays in a new place. Even if I was in Ohio, I took advantage of the time off at Christmas to travel. I am young and independent, and realize that I won't be able to take off and travel at the drop of a hat once I "grow up." My parents have always supported me in this and they encourage me to keep learning and bettering myself.

However there comes a point when you realize that the cost of the plane ticket shouldn't be a concern. Getting to spend the holidays with your family when you spend so much time away from home doesn't have a price. I can't feel completely at peace knowing that it would bring my parents and my family happiness (and me, of course!) for me to spend Christmas with them, and having the possibility to go home and not go. Maybe this is what I need to do to better those tough relationships that I haven't gotten to yet. We all need to take a good look at ourselves once in awhile and ask these kinds of hard questions.

Some of my friends are going through a rough time right now. We're all growing up and the growing pains can sometimes be unbearable. It seems like inner peace is hard to come by these days. Moving back home is just what the doctor ordered for some, fastidious for others. Some feel that the path that they chose isn't the right one because the going got tough really quickly, while others still can't find their path. I wish I could be there to give each and every person who's having a tough time dealing a hug. I wish I could tell them that it's going to be alright, and know that they believe it. I've been where they are, not knowing where life is going to take me, and it can be miserable if you think about it the wrong way. I still find myself in that situation sometimes! If you think of it as a curse that you don't know what life is bringing, what you're going to eat for breakfast the next day, it most certainly will feel that way.

To my friends and anyone else feeling a little bit lost and lacking for inner peace, know that once you are at peace with yourself, everything else will fall into place and the effect on everyone and everything around you will be noticeable. Tomorrow, October 2nd, starts the three month World March for Peace and Nonviolence. I invite each one of you to do your part by finding your own inner peace and making peace with those around you. You never know what kinds of amazing things may come of it.

How to Make an Arepa

Step 1: Buy some flour mix that contains corn, oats and corn bran, or just look for a package of flour with a big arepa on it!

Step 2: Add water and let it be absorbed into the flour. If it is still dry, add a little more water, but be sure to give the water enough time to absorb completely.

Step 3: Knead the mixture until it forms a malleable dough.

Admire your wonderful dough ball!

Step 4: Form the dough into small discs if you're using an arepa maker. The arepa maker is the double-sided pan shown that can be used to easily flip the arepas while on the stove and cooks them thoroughly. You can also make larger ones using a frying pan.

Step 5: Voila- your arepa is ready to be sliced in half, bagel-style, and filled with whatever delicious treats you'd like to put in there! If you've got a sweet tooth, maybe jam. If you're hungry for a good meal, try filling it with a local favorite- avocado and chicken salad, or ham and cheese. For a picture of a filled arepa, refer back to the first September post.

Rotary- The best business in the world

In the last two weeks that I have been in Venezuela, I have come to realize what a difference being a Rotarian ambassador makes in the experience of studying abroad. A few nights ago, my new apartment-mate Idalmis asked me what benefits and advantages one enjoys upon joining Rotary International. Why become a Rotarian? I was able to thoroughly answer her questions as a direct result of a speech given last week by the Rotary District 4370 District Governor, Pedro Pablo Puky to Rotary Club Petare and other experiences I have had with Rotary so far.

On Tuesday, September 15, I attended a Rotary Club Petare meeting with Dr. Aracelis Ortega, my temporary host counselor. I was nervous because it would be the first time that I would meet most of these Rotarians. So far I had only met Nelly Meléndez from Rotary Club Las Mercedes, and Aracelis. I shouldn't have been worried, because from the first moment I walked into the room, I was welcomed by the Rotarians, who had been looking forward to meeting me just as much as I was excited to meet them. DG Pedro Pablo Puky and I had emailed back and forth and he greeted me as he would an old friend, which made me feel at ease with him immediately. We had found common ground in our Hungarian ancestry a few months back. I found that Rotarians here love taking photographs as much as I do and had no problem getting everyone together for a group shot before the events began.

Some members of Rotary Club Petare.
The first on the left is Petare's assistant to the District Governor, Dr. Jaime Bolaños. The District Governor, Pedro Pablo Puky (not a member of RC Petare), is seated to my right and wearing a yellow tie. Dr. Aracelis Ortega is second from the left, next to Dr. Jaime Bolaños.

I was asked to hold the Venezuelan flag out while the Club sang the national anthem.

Before I continue, I want to stress that this meeting was significant for Rotary Club Petare because the District Governor is required to visit each local club one time during his year as DG and this was his first visit to the club.

The meeting started with reports to the DG Pedro Pablo Puky about the status of the club. I was particularly interested in learning about the service projects that the club is carrying out. One of their projects involves paying tuition for children in children's homes to attend private schools each month. The members of the club also visit the children and assist the centers in maintaining the building. The member commenting on this project stated the need to improve many of the facilities, including the bathrooms.

Another project was directed towards those who have poor vision and require glasses, but perhaps cannot afford them. Rotary Club Petare's goal is to help 1,000 locals get the glasses they need, whether it is by subsidizing the glasses or giving them to the needy outright.

The third project that was discussed was "Operación Kilo," a food drive for the needy. Throughout the month, donated food is gathered and stored at the Club president's house and once a month, members of the Club deliver the food to children living in the streets and other homeless persons.

In January, a chapter of Rotaract was formed in Caracas. Rotaract is a Rotary Club for young men and women aged 18-30 who want to make a difference through volunteer service. The club is still "in formation," as they have not yet reached the minimum number of members necessary to officially become a Rotaract club. I met Rodrigo and Yohana, current members of Rotaract. Although the club is still in formation, the members are involved in different service projects already, from a lottery to benefit children with cancer to assisting Rotary scholars who came from Mexico to Caracas to learn about Social Responsibilities for Businesses.

After giving a few suggestions and commenting on the projects that were presented, District Governor Pedro Pablo Puky began his speech that would provide the answer to my apartment-mate's questions. According to Pedro Pablo, everyone is concerned with helping his fellow man/woman. But why don't we just give money to beggars, why should we get together as a group rather than making individual contributions? His answer was that if each one of us helps out separately with a part, we still might not be able to achieve the goal. However, if we combine our efforts, strengths and abilities, we can multiply those individual parts and make the sum of the group's efforts much greater than the sum of the individuals' efforts. After all, one person can help a child, but a group can build an orphanage.


Combining efforts to carry out service projects is an important part of Rotary, but it is not the only reason to be a part of Rotary International. There are people that we see every day at work or at the store, but real friendship is hard to come by. Rotary offers the opportunity to meet people we may not have otherwise. In my case, I would never have met the majority of the people that I have met so far in Caracas. Most of them are Rotary contacts. The weekly meetings serve as a way to stay united and develop strong friendships. Rather than being a member of a homogenized group of persons in a service group (such as one formed through a workplace, etc), the contacts and friendships made through Rotary are diverse. In one night I met a surgeon, a lawyer, a pharmaceutical teacher, a chemical engineer and an architect! This diversity allows Rotary members to combine their skills and enrich each other, as well as be a more effective service group.

Pedro Pablo discussing Rotary International's theme for this year: "The Future of Rotary is in Our Hands"

Another unexpected advantage of Rotary is the improvement of public speaking skills. Even back in Ohio as a future Ambassadorial Scholar, I was put to the test and asked to give a speech before I left to my sponsor club, Rotary Club of Cleveland. During the meetings, at which there are usually at least 20-25 Rotary members present (sidenote: any Rotary member from any part of the world can attend any other Rotary Club meeting as a guest), one must lose his/her fear of speaking in front of a group to ask even the simplest question. Pedro Pablo told us about a very shy woman who became a member of his local Rotary Club who made an incredible transformation and now is one of the chattiest members. Through Rotary, one has the opportunity to better both him/herself as well as better the world around him/her.

Pedro Pablo ended by commenting that Rotary International is the best business in the world- the demand (for service/volunteerism) always exceeds the supply. That said, there's a lot of work to be done in the world to make it a better place for all. Consider visiting your local Rotary Club to see what Rotary International is all about- Rotarians love visitors and will make you feel welcome from the start!

A member of Rotary Club Petare, District Governor Pedro Pablo Puky and me after the meeting. Right before this picture was taken, I gave Pedro Pablo an Arch C. Klump medallion as a gift from the Rotary Club of Cleveland. He sends his thanks to the Rotary Club of Cleveland!