Travel With a Purpose

For those who like to travel but the budget is limiting, perhaps the Friendship Force International is for you.

We found out about this organization through a friend who is a member.

Who and what is Friendship force? The Friendship Force website describes itself this way:

“Friendship Force International (FFI) is a worldwide network of clubs (local chapters) and individuals that advance our mission of promoting global understanding across the barriers that separate people. We do this by connecting people from different countries at the personal level. When local hosts open their homes to visitors from other countries and cultures, true understanding can develop through the sharing of meals, conversation and the routines of daily life. Since its founding in 1977 FFI has brought together millions of people. In 2007 alone, 5767 friendship ambassadors traveled between 58 countries, with thousands more serving as hosts. Our mission, structure and activities are described in our website: www.thefriendshipforce.org “.

Have you ever visited a foreign country and wondered how the people live and what a typical day is like for them? Or what it looked like inside their homes? Or what do they eat for dinner? These questions are answered in the friendship force because the idea is for members to allow visitors from other groups to stay in their homes for up to a week. This is called hosting. The hosting members provide meals and take the guests to places of interest that reflect the local culture and activities that they and their families enjoy.

As an example our local group visited the Washington state Friendship Force of Lower Columbia. While there visited the Kalama Marina Park on the Columbia River where there are two giant totem poles and the host group provided a potluck dinner. We attended a lecture at the Lelooska Long House a Native American ceremonial lodge. Picnicked at Ecola Park at Cannon Beach overlooking the Pacific Ocean and sea stacks, a must see if visiting the area. The view is breath taking. The host group arranged a steamboat ride on the Columbia River followed by a stop at Multnomah Falls and Bonneville Dam. The final day was visit to Mt. St. Helens volcano visitors’ center. While we there we had an opportunity to dine with the host families and their friends and came away with friends we would never had met if we hadn’t joined the Friendship Force.

The cost usually is a fee to the hosting group through headquarters in Atlanta and that might include airfare or you may have to make your own arrangements and each visitor pays for one dinner for the host family. It’s a bargain with a purpose. By living with the host family you get a feel for how people in other countries or states live. It promotes understanding and goodwill.

One upcoming trip is to Koriyama and Kyoto Japan with includes a seven night home stay and ten night post tour. This trip includes airfare and hotels. For more on this tour visit the Friend Force website:
www.thefriendshipforce.org.

All and all it is a win/win, less expensive travel and the chance to make new friends in the far corners of the world.