Blog for traveling notes

Some friends have asked me to write about my trips. I wrote a travel diary some years ago about my travels to Spain. Then I kind of forgot it. Now I am volunteering in Indonesia as an Unofficial Finland's Ambassador. It has been a great experience so far and I am learning so much everyday, that I realised I have to make notes at least for myself. I want to able to go back to these memories later. I want to remember. Also I want to share what I learn with anybody who might be interested. I think I will probably write mostly about things related to the culture and education, that is what I'm interested in to learn and share. I chose to write in English, because I thought it would be fairest to everybody. Then also the people I am volunteering with can understand what I'm writing, in case they would like to.

Conversation about the themes I will write about is very welcome, so feel free to comment if you have some knowledge or thoughts to share. There are no absolute truths. I write about my own experience and observation, that is of course my personal view of things and hence affected by the whole person of me. Different people perceive things differently, as our knowledge and past experiences, interests and beliefs define the frames for the spectacles through which we observe things, no matter if we want it or not. That is what makes life interesting, the differences between us! And that is also what makes all conversation rewarding. So, any conversation in a constructive and positive way is more than welcome! Let's share our experiences :)

Name for the blog came simply from the fact that I love smiling people. Smiling makes people beautiful. There is nothing like a real, warm smile. I think a true smile reaches up to the smiling person's eyes. I like the thought of smiling eyes. I have a background as national athlete, and my last coach thought me a mantra that I still keep telling myself because it is so good: Rule nr. 1 - Smile.

In these days people tend to be so busy rushing from place to place and from task to task, that they forget the power of smiling. It is so easy to get lost in the efficiency and performance oriented world. Like if we didn't have time for smiling! It happens to me at least. When I have too many things to do, I switch on my efficient execution mode. I get strained and stressed and stiff. I forget to smile. In thise times a smile here and there would be very necessary though, because smiling makes you relax. It makes your breathing more peaceful and lifts your spririts. Smiling makes you simply feel better. It makes you warm inside in a way that is not replaceable by anything else. I guess all of us need sometimes reminding of smiling.

And the smile has to be real, in real life. It doesn't matter from whom it's coming. It can be a total stranger as well as the closest friend or family member. A smile has instant healing, empowering and  cheering up effect. It has also more long lasting effects on our wellbeing. Smiling is contagious. You can make somebody's day by smiling to her/him. And getting a smile back - it is so rewarding, isn't it? You should try sometime, take a challenge of trying to make at least one random person smile by smiling.

And do you know what's best? Smiles are free!

So I have fallen in love with smiles. What else am I? I have found my calling in education, I am studying to be an elementary school teacher. That's a job where I can keep chasing smiles. I want to help kids to find their personal strengths and things they are goot at. Things they love to do and make them smile. I want to help them grow to good adults and good persons. I want to help them find the joy in learning. I want to support them to grow up with good self-confidence and to believe in their dreams.

I also have an ever-lasting urge to learn new things, especially an urge to learn about education in different places and cultures in the world. My dream is to travel around the world, learn and share knowledge of education and life. And chase smiles all around the world! Smiles build connections between people. All this is what has brought me here to Indinesia, Aceh. I am volunteering for three weeks in a school founded in the tsunami area to help the victims of the famous tsunami in the end of 2004. Sekolah Sukma Bangsa Pidie is a boarding school founded by a Sukma Bangsa foundation. It is quite a small school, I don't know the exact amount of students, but I would guess around 180 with about 30 teachers. I have understood that this school wishes to get more volunteers here, so if you get interested in volunteering with these amazing people, you may turn to me for more information and the right contacts. I guarantee you it will be an experience of a lifetime :)

This is my first time volunteering. Hopefully it is first of many to come. But already this is a dream come true. No wonder I feel truely happy now. This is what I want to do. Learning by sharing and connecting by smiling. I am Finland's Unofficial Educational Ambassador. I have a place in the world. The smiles are calling me all around our planet...