Thanks to a tip from my lovely roommate, I’m off on a great adventure to the Philippines for four weeks with one dear friend and two near-strangers. Rotary International each year sponsors a group from each Rotary district to go on what they call Group Study Exchange.

The mission of Rotary - along with eradicating polio worldwide - is to promote world peace and understanding. Making connections between cultures is an important part of that. We will talk with people about what it’s like to live in New England and learn about their culture. I’ll be staying with families and, ideally, will have some time to visit newsrooms there.