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Like Mother, Like Daughter: The Intergenerational Call to Citizen Diplomacy
February 16, 2021
For Claudia Nickel, her decision to travel the world while opening her home to it was natural.
For Claudia Nickel, her decision to travel the world while opening her home to it was natural. The passion for international exchange was sparked by her mother, Jeanne Bakken, a founding member (1972) of Global Ties Detroit (formally the International Visitors Council of Metropolitan Detroit):
“I first remember my parents hosting international visitors after I was married and living near Dearborn. They always enjoyed travel and since my father, Jim Bakken, was Vice President of Quality Control for Ford Motor Company, they had ample opportunity to as he met staff at various Ford plants around the world.”
What began the simple act of sharing dinners with international visitors developed into the Global Ties Detroit mission: to connect Detroit leaders and citizens with their international counterparts with the purpose of sharing ideas and tools that address local and global challenges, creating a more peaceful and prosperous world. Claudia carried on her parent’s passion and became personally involved in the organization as a global citizen:
“I too developed a desire to travel and entertain foreign guests whenever I had the opportunity. I was fortunate to get to know Marian Reich (Global Ties Detroit President) when we both volunteered to give tours of Eastern Market for Preservation Detroit. She offered me the chance to get involved as a homestay host.”
As a Global Ties Detroit homestay host, she has welcomed international leaders from every continent to her home. Claudia encompasses the values of citizen diplomacy, showing how ordinary people have the power to share ideas, connect with others, and build bridges from their local communities to all corners of the world. For over 10 years she has welcomed international visitors to her home, making lifelong friendships:
“One of my guests sent a photo of my dog to her friend in Russia and the response was, ‘Are you at Claudia’s?’ Her friend had stayed with me the previous year. A guest from Vietnam sends me updates on her and her baby. One of the most moving experiences was when a guest from South Korea dressed in native costume, kneeled, and said prayers for me on January 1, a day in which South Koreans honor their mothers. She has been back to visit.”
Claudia Nickel’s stories show how sharing time, meals, cultures, and perspectives with people from other countries not only allows visitors to experience American life and customs, but also presents the opportunity to experience places on a map without having to leave home:
“Hosting is such an intimate window into cultures and friends around the world.”
Global Ties Detroit encourages all travel-lovers to participate in citizen diplomacy and host international visitors. Whether it is discussing world events over dinner for a few hours or welcoming visitors into your home for a few weeks, everyone has the power to be a part of the movement towards global cooperation and understanding.
This spring, Global Ties Detroit will facilitate a homestay info-session where volunteer hosts will share stories and discuss what new hosts can expect when welcoming international visitors. There will be opportunities to ask questions and learn about the long-lasting impact of hosting. Stay tuned for more information!
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OFFER A HOMESTAY
By opening your home to international visitors, you are given the opportunity to experience a new culture and build lasting friendships.
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