Hi Adventure Philanthropists!

I had great fun with the students at several of the schools I spoke with while in NYC! The students of Ms. de la Houssaye’s 2^nd grade class at Chelsea Prep were especially engaging. Here’s a taste of our interaction as reported on the class’ blog, entitled “Reflections”:

We talked a lot about "giving back" and the idea of "service" with Erin, the "Adventure Philanthropist" on Friday. Erin believed that helping others was not only a good thing to do, but that it could also be fun and exciting work. Ralph Waldo Emerson also had an opinion on giving back. Do you think that Erin would have "succeeded" in Ralph Waldo Emerson's eyes? Why or why not?

“To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Check out what this gifted class of 2^nd graders had to say here: Student Comments (Warning: They made me cry!)

And now for our articles this week:

New:  Volunteering in Dangerous Places: Beirut, Lebanon

Without a doubt, Lebanon is one of the most complex countries I’ve visited. Not only was the country’s landscape varied, but its culture is incredibly diverse. This made volunteering especially stimulating (if not a little scary at times).  Read more about this quintessential volunteer experience in an article I wrote for the website MeetPlanGo.com:

Favorite: Red Sea Diving: Sharks!*Video* 

Early in my travels I spent a week scuba diving the waters of the Red Sea. During this dive trip, I had two encounters with sharks – one with a hammerhead and one with 2 legs. Both of my shark sightings left me a little unnerved. And truthfully, I’m not sure which made me more uncomfortable, since both were deadly in their own way. Read more and check out the video of sea turtles!

Photo of the Week:  Spiral Stairs, Vatican in Rome, Italy

This iconic image was truly beautiful to behold (which is saying something since we had just gazed upon the Sistine Chapel!).  You descend the staircase after touring the Vatican museums, which is a lovely way to come down to earth.

Want more Go Erin Go?  Visit:

• Facebook:  For travel recommendations and daily photos
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So psyched to be getting your letters! Anyone else want to chime in with their thoughts or questions? Write me at Erin@GoErinGo.com. Love to hear from y’all!

See you on the road!  Erin