US Department of State 2014 Professional Fellows Congress

The 2014 Professional Fellows Congress was held at the US Department of State and the Washington Marriott Georgetown Hotel on November 5-9, 2014.  More than 200 delegates from 45 countries were represented.  This is the story told through pictures!

The delegates in session at the US Department of State.  Ambassador Thomas Shannon, Jr., Counselor to Secretary of State John Kerry addressed the Congress.  His topic:  "The Four Biggest Drivers of Change for the Next 30 Years." A very enlightening talk!

Fall 2014 Pro Fellows Delegates Group Photo

The recipients of the 2014 US Department of State Professional Fellows Alumni Impact Award.  From the left:  Tad Long (Kentucky), Chanthalangsy "See" Sisouvanh (Laos), Natia Nasrashvili (country of Georgia) and Wendy Mota Kasongo (Connecticut), 

Ambassador Thomas Shannon, Jr., Counselor for the US State Department with the recipients.

Ambassador Thomas Shannon, Jr. addresses the Pro Fellows World Congress

The Alumni Impact Award recipients with the Lincoln Memorial as a backdrop.

The delegations from Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Indonesia joined me for a photo during the Ambassadors luncheon. The ambassador or an embassy representative from each country attended the luncheon.  Since Mongolia was not represented at this year's congress (which is where I would have been assigned), the Kazakhs and Kyrgs adopted me for the day!

I addressed the delegates following the Ambassadors luncheon.  My speech was titled "Mongolian Nomads: Two Weeks that Changed Many Lives." The US State Department jokingly called it the "Tad Talk" and that's what I heard about from the delegates for the rest of the congress.  A lot of fun!

This is appropriately named the "Impact Award." The whole experience from Mongolia to the Pro Fellows Congress certainly had an impact on me.  I have learned so much and made many, many new friends from around the world.

Back in the US...The Story Continues!

In the fall of 2012, I thought that my journey in Mongolia had ended.  The trip was completed.  I had a great time, learned so much and made many friends. The story was concluded.  Well, not quite.

After my trip, I remained in contact with several people that I had met throughout my journey.  KLC hosted Nyama Oyunbat, another Pro Fellow from Mongolia, and we shared our mutual experiences with the staff at KLC. Nyama was incredible and worked hard to learn about our work and our cities.  She traveled to eastern Kentucky with me to present a strategic plan we prepared for the city of Jenkins.  Nyama also attended her first American football game at the University of Kentucky. She and Hatnaa helped me understand that my work with Kentucky's cities needed to intensify. I needed to focus on building capacity through our planning process so that our cities could implement the strategies that we were creating.

I was also following the progress of the work of the National Federation of Disabled Persons in Mongolia to address the need for strong legislative reform to address the problems facing those with mental and physical challenges. I had helped facilitate discussions between Mr. Tseden Oyunbaatar (President of the Federation), the US Embassy in Mongolia and the US Department of State.  I suggested using the Americans with Disabilities Act as a template to draft legislation that would address the Mongolians' needs. The US Department of State responded by providing a team of advisers and other resources to assist. In 2014, legislation was introduced in the State Great Hural (Mongolia's Parliament) to address those concerns. Hopefully, the legislation will be enacted by the end of 2014.  97,000 Mongolians are counting on it.

US Department of State Professional Fellows Alumni Impact Award

As the spring of 2014 approached, Dr. Kim at the University of Kentucky Martin School for Public Policy informed me that the school was nominating me for the US Department of State's Pro Fellows Alumni Impact Award. Each year, Pro Fellow alumni are recognized for the impact of their work in their own countries after making an exchange visit to a host country. Two Pro Fellows from the United States and two from the international community are chosen to receive the award.  Recipients are invited to the US Department of State's Pro Fellows Congress in Washington, D.C. to receive the award and share their experiences.

I was shocked to learn that I was a finalist for the award. I submitted an impact statement and was interviewed by a panel of judges in April. In May, I learned that I had been selected to be a recipient of the award.  I was invited to DC for the November 2014 Pro Fellows Congress and to speak to the delegates about my experience in Mongolia and the subsequent impact upon my work in Kentucky. On Wednesday, Adam Meier from the US Department of State will present the awards. On Thursday, I will stand and deliver my "Talk" to the Congress. On Friday, the recipients will be recognized in a ceremony at the US State Department. I still can't believe this has happened to me. It is very humbling, and I am honored to receive the award.

My fellow recipients are:

• Wendy Kasongo - Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence (Foreign Placement: Brazil)
• Natia Nasrashvili - Tbilisi, Georgia - U.S. Host Organization: American Councils for International Education, U.S. Placement Organization: Office of Congressman Thomas Petri, U.S. House of Representatives
• Chanthalangsy “See” Sisouvanh - Vientiane, Laos - U.S. Host Organization: University of Montana -U.S. Placement Organization: Women’s Voices for the Earth

You can read more about them at:  2014 Fall Pro Fellows Award Recipients

So, here I am.  In Washington, D.C. To receive the US Department of State's Pro Fellows Alumni Impact Award. And I have the privilege of meeting more than 200 delegates from 45 countries and serving as a mentor (along with the three other recipients) to this year's Congress of Pro Fellows. This is going to be an epic week!

The 30 Hour Sunday!

For those who have traveled internationally and crossed the International Dateline, this post will be "old hat." For me, today was a new hat.  I mentioned early on that I'd never crossed the Int'l Dateline before, and I was sure it would be an  experience.

Going to Mongolia, it wasn't that big of a deal.  Mongolia is twelve time zones ahead of Lexington, Kentucky.  In other words, 1 p.m. on Monday in Lexington is 1 a.m. on Tuesday in Mongolia.

Coming back to the US, however, this difference takes on some rather bizarre twists.  Like today, for example.

I left Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia's Chinggis Kahn International Airport at 6:45 a.m. Sunday morning. That's 6:45 p.m. Saturday in Lexington.  I saw a beautiful Sunday sunrise as we took off.  I landed in Incheon, South Korea at 10 a.m. Sunday.  After a 7 hour layover, I flew from South Korea to Detroit at 5:20 p.m. Sunday.

We headed due north around North Korea and over China.  Near the China/Russia border, the sun sat on Sunday evening.  A few hours later we crossed the dateline and were in the pre-dawn hours of Sunday morning again!  (You may be wondering how I knew where we were. On the Boeing 777, each seat has a Video on Demand tv screen. There's an option to track the flight.  A world map appears and shows where the plane is at any given moment. Voila!  A flight tracker.)

As we flew near the northern tip of Alaska above the Arctic Circle, I saw another beautiful sunrise...Sunday morning again!  At 5:30 p.m. we  had flown south down through Canada and landed at Detroit.  That's right. We left Incheon at 5:20 p.m. Sunday and landed in Detroit 10 minutes and 11 time zones later.

We fly out of Detroit at 8:04 p.m. and I saw the sunset again on Sunday evening and landed in Lexington at 9:30 p.m. Sunday.  As Jackie and I were heading from the airport to our home in Lexington, I received an email from Hatnaa in Mongolia - 10 a.m. on Monday morning in Ulaanbaatar.

I lived September 30th for 30 hours, saw two sunrises and sunsets on the same day and got an email from Hatnaa on October 1st.  My head is spinning around and around and I'm not sure what day or hour or where exactly I am, but I know I've lived it all before...deja vu all over again.

I'll be contemplating this experience for a long, long time.  Thanks to everyone for the prayers and well-wishes.  I had a Sunday I'll never forget...and I haven't even told half the story.  For example, I was denied boarding in Mongolia three times and once in Incheon.  However, I managed to get on the plane, fly home AND my luggage arrived safe and sound.  I'm counting my blessings!  More on that later...and it is a funny and sobering story for another blog post.

I'M HOME.

Hard to Say Goodbye...and Other Observations

In a few short hours, I'll get on a plane in Ulaanbaator, Mongolia.  Thirty hours later, I'll touch down at Bluegrass Airport in Lexington, Kentucky.  Two layovers - Incheon, South Korea and Detroit, Michigan.  And, then, home.  My old Kentucky home.

This is not my last post.  It is my goodbye to Mongolia post, however, with a few observations thrown in.

Am I excited to be going home?  I certainly am.  I can't wait to see Jackie and Spicy and sleep in my own bed.  I can't wait to see my family and friends and get back to KLC.  Will I miss Mongolia?  Yes, I definitely will.  Why?  Because I've had an incredible journey here and met so many wonderful people.

Before I leave though, I have one final dinner with Hatnaa tonight.  How do you say goodbye to someone that has put his life on pause and provided you the experience of a lifetime?  I don't know, honestly.  He scheduled twenty meetings for me with people who make decisions that affect an entire nation.  From a Member of Parliament to the Deputy Mayor of Ulaanbaatar.  From the chairman of the General Election Commission to the dean of the National Academy of Governance.  And just as importantly, the directors of the NGOs who work hard every day to improve the quality of life for the everyday citizen of Mongolia.  Heavyweights, one and all.

More than that, Hatnaa and I (along with Einkhtaivan) have shared experiences on the road together driving across the Mongolian countryside and visiting the places that are the essence of this great country.  This experience was supposed to be about "living" the life of a Mongolian.  Understanding what this country was all about.  It lived up to all of the hype and more.

Mongolians are friendly, generous and welcoming.  I learned we share a lot of the same struggles, emotions and frustrations.  I also learned to look at people and places through a different lens.  It's amazing what you can learn when you open your heart, eyes and ears to the world.  I know I'll be coming home with a different perspective.  Maybe a different attitude, too.  I want to do more, see more, be more and help more.  I think that was another purpose of this experience.  My jaded glasses have been removed, thankfully.  I feel alive and inspired and determined.

I don't know what I'll say or how I will feel when we say goodbye.  One thing is certain.  I won't leave feeling the same way I did when I arrived.  I said I wouldn't put my preconceived notions out there prior to experiencing the people and culture of Mongolia.  I'm glad I didn't because I was wrong about many things.  I've laughed at myself and I've been mad at myself.  That's what happens when we make assumptions before we really understand what things are all about. 

I do love this place and these people.  I thank Hatnaa from the bottom of my heart for helping me to see what his people and his country are all about. Goodbye dear friend!  And thank you for everything we did together.  I hope I'll see you again some day.

That's my observation for today.  Peace!

Random Observations Again - Karaoke and Other Things

I love observing.  Just watching things unfold and saying "Huh?"  In other words, it is what it is.  That's what this post is about.  My observations - part 3.

• Mongolians love karaoke.  In Ulaanbaator, you'll find a karaoke bar or karaoke pool room or karaoke hotel on every block. I noticed several Irish Pub Karaoke Bars.

The K Club Irish Pub & Karaoke

Another Irish Pub & Karaoke Pub

• You really haven't lived until you've heard Karaoke at the Nomad Ger Camp.  370 km from civilization after a 7 hour road trip and almost meeting my demise in the Big Black Hole of Kharkhorum, I was sitting out in front of my Ger tent looking at the the night sky when I heard a sound like I've never heard before.  Apparently, the camp where we were staying is a little hub of civilization for the nomads.  I swear I heard Mongolian rap karaoke coming from the main tent.  Yep, Hatnaa confirmed.  "They love karaoke in Mongolia." They sang until around midnight when I finally fell asleep.

After hearing karaoke rap at the Ger camp, I decided that fermented mare's milk (aimag) was not for me.

• Today I was at the State Department Store in UB city doing some shopping.  One of Mongolia's most revered songs was playing over the Muzack when a guy came up behind me and started caterwalling like he was on the Mongolia National Opera stage.  Except he wasn't.  And won't be.  Yup, they love karaoke in Mongolia and they don't have to be in a bar.  Happy people.
• The electricity is off.  You know how I know?  The lights, television, AC and internet are out. Happens all the time.  Suddenly, the city just goes dark.  It's the most random thing ever.
• Except when the water is out.  I came back to the hotel on Sunday from my trip to the countryside to be greeted by a sign that said "We are so happy you chose Ramada. We want to inform you that the city will be cutting off the water today.  So sorry for the inconvenience."  And they did.  From 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. After 3 days in the countryside I really needed a shower.  Had to put that plan on hold.  Of course, we didn't have running water in the Ger camp either so I'm getting used to adapting.
• Just saw a story on Discovery about vertical farming.  How tall would a building have to be to grow enough food to feed 50,000 people.  Thirty-two stories and one-square block.  Vertical farming is on the way and Ulaanbaatar could use it today!

Steps Without Borders NGO

Ms N. Bayarsaikhan is the director of the Steps without Borders NGO and coordinator of the Publish What You Pay Mongolia Coalition. Publish What You Pay works with the Civil Society Council Coalition to address issues related to transparency and accountability within the mining industry.  It is a work in progress to improve civic participation in the local decision making process on issues that impact the environment, economic development and quality of life particularly in the countryside.

 

Ms. Bayarsaikhan is the director of Steps Without Borders NGO

 

Steps without Borders seeks to protect the cultural values of the people of the countryside.  The encroachment of the mining sector on the nomads' grazing lands is having unintended consequences that Steps without Borders hopes to address before it's too late.  The Mongolian people, in general, are close to nature.  It is a critical part of the national identity.  Since the transition to a market economy, the sense of local community and heritage has been lost.  Previously, local communities were very dependent on the central government.  All decisions were made by the central government and everything was very planned and fixed.  Now, planning issues have shifted to the local level.  No history of experience in dealing with planning issues exists on the local level.

 

Steps without Borders is working to change the mindset of people by encouraging them to express their opinions and act to solve their own problems.  People have grown to believe that mining revenue is the answer to everything and will always be around to provide funding for the communities needs.

 

The local and national leadership should be directing their attention to the future.  What happens when mining revenue decreases?  This is an inconvenient truth that politicians do not want to think about.  The country needs to quickly diversify its economy during the good economic times in order to soften the blow when the minerals are gone. 

 

The agriculture sector is focusing on planting practices and improved methods of crop production.  The Ministry of Economic Development is beginning to create industry focused on finshed-product manufacturing instead of exporting the country's raw material.

 

Local communities do not have any options for capturing revenues generated as a result of mining.  All of the revenue goes to the central government.  The Steps without Borders NGO belives that this revenue should be set aside for future development.  There is a lack of political ill to do anything.  Public input on budget issues is very limited.  The government gives the impression that it is beholden to the mining interests.  Steps without Borders NGO is working to open the national dialogue about these and many other issues that affect the future well-being of the country.

 

Tolgoit Community Development Center

Ms. Natsag-Orgi Erdenesuvd is the executive director of the Community Development Center in Tolgoit.  She and her staff are about as grassroots as it gets.  The center addresses the issues and needs of women and is the first Mongolian NGO to specifically address female problems in the Ger districts.

 

Ms. Natsag-Orgi Erdenesuvd, executive director of the Tolgoit Community Development Center is on the left.  The other two ladies are members of her staff.

The concept is simple.  The center provides basic needs for women such as a health care assessment.  From this initial service, doors are opened that foster further conversations about basic legal information for domestic abuse and psychological help for the immigrant population.  The community center's clientele consists primarily of nomads who have been displaced by recent droughts and driven to the outskirts of Ulaanbaator where ger tent cities have sprung up by the hundreds.

The community center is located in a Ger tent.  The familiar surroundings provide a familiar setting for the women who come to the center for assistance.  in 2005, the 1st Civic Workshop to listen to people's needs helped to establish good relations among the residents, the mayor of Ulaanbaatar city and district's Member of Parliament.

In addition to basic health assessments and counseling, the community center has also assisted the neighborhood to create a sustainable food program and established community gardens.  These activities are bringing the community together.  Initially, the center served 8,000 residents in 2004 and has now grown to more than 12,000 people served.  Their target audiences are the poor, disabled and vulnerable.  The center's success has garnered the attention of government and the business community.

The center's first priority is to meet the social needs of the community.  As time goes by, the center has begun to partner with the business community, the health care organizations and labor groups to provide training and education opportunties that will eventually lead to employability.  I appreciated the work of the community center. It really spoke to me.  They utilize the same approach as we do...meet the needs and provide skills that improve the quality of life.