Thursday, August 23, 2012

We have arrived in Hiroshima!


The last leg of the journey from Nagsaki to Hiroshima; what a ride!

On August 20, we packed our van for the last time, fueled up with water and electrolytes, and planned our last 7/11 pit stop. Cyclists made the last push of 30 km to Hiroshima in the morning. Our welcome was filled with colorful signs and to celebrate, we tossed our organizers in the air.

As always, we had planned a tight schedule and had to rush off to meet the Mayor of Hiroshima. We walked into the room, most of us still wearing our grey bike tour shirts, and sat down in luxurious chairs with the press as we waited. Our meeting was brief, but well arranged as several of the cyclists were able to speak. Immediately after our meeting, we sprinted over to Hiroshima University to meet with student activists. They shared several presentations with us and vice versa. Our last agenda item was a planned dinner in a park. When Karin, one of our organizers said, “It’s just up the mountain,” our mouths dropped.  I thought, “Um, we just returned our bikes and now we’re going to hike up a mountain?!” Luckily, this mountain was far smaller than the ones we cycled up.

I realize it’s only been a couple days since the bike tour ended, but it already feels like a dream. The dream bubble of close friendships, intellectual conversations, sleeping under the stars, street actions to draw attention to our cause, and international cuisine made by cyclists will stay close in my heart.

John Loretz speaking at the ICAn Conference.

Now, we have already had the ICAN Conference come and go, and today is the last day of the IPPNW Student Congress. A handful of bikers have presented throughout and I will be giving my own presentation about ‘The Art of Storytelling’ this afternoon.

Tomorrow begins the 20th World Congress and I am truly looking forward to meeting more health professionals. I don’t think I am ready to go back to the U.S. yet. I am fired up and want to keep up the optimistic enthusiasm to make change in our world.

Cheers,
Michelle

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