This is a REBLOG by Carra Riley..What Is Up With Your Orange?

This is a REBLOG by Carra Riley. This is the comment I made on Carra's Glocal #7 post.

March 5th and you are half way around the world on your journey.  Carra, Again, I have just read each and every captivating word you wrote. What a powerful question, "What is up with your orange?"and this is even more powerful... It really does not matter what your answer is because, your dash, is your dash and you have control over what you do in life to make a difference in the world. I am still thinking about that one orange!! Continue to travel safe, my friend.Margaret

Please everyone go and make a comment on Carra's post. Let her know we are there for her...that she is not traveling alone.

Glocal #7 What Is Up With Your Orange?

 Glocal Lesson #7  What is up with your orange?

                                                

Welcome to Day one on the voyage for “Connecting The Dots Around The World.”

“How can this be?” you may be asking as today is actually the 52^nd day of travel on the MV Explorer.  Mental transformation proceeds on different paths with each individual and it has taken me this much time to process the information and share it in a way that makes sense and will have a positive impact as we “Think Global and Act Local”  going “Glocal.”  To prepare for a mid-voyage review I took a step back to review where we came from and compare where we are, setting the first day stage:

“Anxious whispers filled the room in the student union as voyagers anticipated the key note address for the Spring 2011 voyage of Semester At Sea. The thought of 104 days on the open seas, engaging with people in communities all over the world was daunting.  How would I know what messages to listen to? How would I decipher all the visual and audio stimulation I which I would experience and use it as a learning tool?  How will I know if I “Get It?”  What will I feel?  Will the dots connect?  Will the puzzle pieces fit?  These are questions swimming through the minds of many on the ship so the importance of the initial message was one that would set the tone and expectations for the passage.”

C.Y. Tung,  one of the visionaries behind Semester At Sea said, “Ships can carry more than cargo. They can carry ideas.”  

To that end I embarked upon a global path with no obligations, no stress and a total open mind to absorb and engage in stimulating conversation to help connect the dots around the world. Completely void of any ties or worries, produced an environment perfect for a type of “scientific research” where were no external factors that could obscure the message. My mind was an open book ready to write the chapters after each port or life changing event.  The bar of expectations for the experience on the ship was at the very top level.  The marketing “hooks” had me ready, hook, line and sinker for somewhat of a utopia in travel and education.  The superiority of the instructors, the course selections, the student body composition, the quality of the ship itself all were framed in marketing perfection.  I drank the Kool-Aid and was ready for the ride to become “grounded at sea.”

Rosalyn Berne, Vice President of Academic Affairs for the Institute for Shipboard Education and Semester at Sea, spoke to the Spring 2011 voyage participants about embracing the newness of everything and what we were about to experience. She asked us to close our eyes and visualize.......

“Pretend you have one orange and there is one orphan child looking at you on a 

bench, you start to open the orange...... what are you going to do with the orange?  Now 7 orphan children appear…  again the question arises, what are you going to do with the orange… as you break off one section.. a hundred orphans show up… what will you do?"

Pregnant pause…. that was it, she was done and the next speaker was walking to the stage. 

   

“What is up with your orange?” will be the theme and deep question to ponder throughout the voyage for me.  The sensation in my stomach after her speech was something I was not prepared for as I had no clue what I would do with my orange.  Originally thoughts of sharing the orange popped into my head but once the 100 orphans came out I became uncomfortable in my thoughts as the reality of world hunger started to set in. The question then arose about my one orange and what I could do to help.  We have encountered hundreds of hungry children on this voyage so far and the answer to the questions seems to change or evolve after each port.  It will be interesting to compare ideas on how to “Connect The Dots Around The World” once the voyage is totally complete.

Going back to the orientation event, potent information was provided by Dean Dan Garvey describing the hypothesis of why some of us were on the ship.  

• Some are here to meet people and travel. 
• Some people see life as a great charm bracelet and want the charm that says “I sailed around the world.”
• Some are just getting out of relationships and some want in a relationship.
• Some are here because their sorority or fraternity said it was a good thing to do.
• Some are trying to answer “WHO AM I?” and where do I fit in.

Out of nowhere we hear the clear sound of one note ringing in the auditorium.  The addition of a second note peaks our interest, then many notes just hap hazard are being played with no association.  The notes then evolve into a beautiful melody, setting the tone of “harmony” which is ultimately one of the goals for the voyage according to Dean Dan.  

“Take aways” from the orientation included the fact responsibility comes along with this adventure if we accept it. We are the custodians of our stories both the successes and the regrets.

 I created the Dean Dan Top Ten list from the ship orientation speech.   

1. Traveling around the world is an opportunity to be one of the most transformational times of life.
2. It can also be an opportunity for huge regret if one misses doing things or experiences for growth in exchange for momentary instant gratification.
3. Let the experience to light a fire to become a positive influence on the world.
4. Become a citizen of this planet without regret. 
5. Never say, I wish I had listened, I wish I had spent a little less time at the Hilton.
6. Adults have been coaching you since you were little, you know what to do, just do it.  
7. Make sure you have no regrets.
8. Look forward to the unknown opportunities.
9. Don’t be a distraction to others who want to learn.
10. Honor everyone else who is here.

The orange messed with my mind or should I describe it as “stimulated contemplation.”  The orange has been the topic of many conversations on the voyage as we individually figure out what to do with that fruit.  The door of thought was opened but no directions were given or alluded to including what could potentially happen if you turn right or left in thought so it is up to the “thinker” to figure out how all the dots connect and the ultimate outcome for the orange. The ship is filled with "serious thinkers in the form of both students and educators" which gives a good cross section of some of the most brilliant minds in the country. The voyage has turned out to be more of an "independent study" instead of a community project. Having access to the intellectual resources is making the journey an easy place to learn.  Each individual is learning or absorbing the lessons from around the world at their own pace and under their own terms.  

Several insightful ideas came from posting the orange question on facebook:

• Eat the orange and plant the seeds. 
• Take the orphans to the orange tree itself. 
• Pray, like the loaves, fishes and wine to feed the multitude.
• Eat the orange and run. 
• Make juice.
• Teach the orphans how to plant an orchard.

Contemplating the orange, opened thought for new ideas like, connecting the dash in life with specific purpose. Could it be the “dash” on the tombstone showing the material start and end of a life answers what you did with your orange?  Does discovering passion in your dash evolve into “Who Am I” and what did I do to make the world a better place?

Is there a right or wrong answer? Do you share the orange, give it all to one, eat the orange, plant the seeds, graft a tree, create juice or run away?  There are certainly many choices of what to do with the one orange. What is right for one individual might not be right for another.  It really does not matter what your answer is because, your dash, is your dash and you have control over what you do in life to make a difference in the world.

Connecting the dots around the world with global ideas that can be implemented at the local levels is what “Glocal” lessons are all about.

What are you going to do with your orange?

Can we make a difference in local communities with one orange?  How can we encourage others to help with local issues?  The world is a big place but the backyard is a step away.

What's up with the dash? 

       

Cosmic Cow Pie

Carra Riley