The Kiwi sailing the world for peace
Emily-Rose Reid has swapped Ka¯piti for a three-month adventure on the Peace Boat, writes Alan Granville.
There are people in life who are ‘‘doers’’. They don’t sit around waiting for things to happen, they make things happen.
It’s this adventurous spirit that has led one Kiwi onto an incredible voyage.
Emily-Rose Reid, originally from Raumati Beach on the Ka¯ piti Coast, is in the middle of touring the world on the 100th sailing of the Peace Boat.
The ship is on a 97-day journey circling the globe with the aim of ‘‘promoting peace, human rights, equal and sustainable development’’, and Reid is the only Kiwi among the 1000 participants.
The concept of the Peace Boat started in 1983 by a group of Japanese university students who wanted to learn about the country’s past, especially their neighbours who had suffered under Japanese colonial rule. It was a 10-day cruise with about 150 participants.
From those humble beginnings, the ship is now onto its 100th voyage.
So how did Reid end up from Ka¯ piti to Kobe in Japan?
Fluent in Spanish and with three years of teaching English in Spain under her belt, she ended up working with English Language Partners, a not-for-profit organisation, that supports English for resettlement to refugees and migrants.
She heard about the Peace Boat three years ago, and she told Stuff the concept aligned with her beliefs.
‘‘I value the intention of people from all backgrounds coming together and learning and travelling with a common goal of creating a more peaceful world. I am ready to take the next step towards active participation and involvement in international people’s displacement.
‘‘Through my experiences, I have found that the world needs conscientious travel and reminders of our similarities, rather than our differences. I believe it is my responsibility to use my freedom to educate myself about how I can contribute to our ever-changing world and state of global affairs and conflict.’’
Getting onboard wasn’t easy, and it involved a lengthy application process.
But the Peace Boat organisers were keen to have her support for Spanish language teaching, so Reid got the nod.
Training started on December 20 last year in Japan, and four days later, Reid began her days at sea. There are 19 ports of call on this particular voyage.
Some of the stops, so far, have included Mauritius, South Africa, Namibia, Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina, with Chile, Tahiti and Samoa to come, before the vessel returns to Japan at the end of March.
So how does her day-to-day routine look?
‘‘No day is the same, the schedule rotates based around days in port and not in port. There are only a handful of days with little on; most days are pretty full.
‘‘I have private English classes and group classes. I alternate teaching the open Spanish class, which is a basic language course that can hold up to 200 people. We aim to teach phrases that will be useful in the ports we visit. The group of teachers have a daily meeting in the evening, which covers the next three days of schedule and any important updates.
‘‘The meal times are set, so we pause for food. I have just been paired with a Japanese teacher so am getting basic Japanese classes. There are regular boardgame nights, DJ nights and Karaoke for everyone to let their hair down when needed.
‘‘From those that I have spoken to, no voyage is ever the same.’’
Of course, there are some downsides too.
Reid said it took a while to get used to a bedroom without a window, and being onboard with 1000 strangers can lead to some issues.
‘‘I think it would be impossible not to have challenges on such a large journey with over 1000 people living and working all together. Everyone has a different perspective and intention for being here.
‘‘I think it’s important to recognise the dedication of the crew onboard the ship and their hard work. Also that of the Peace Boat staff that goes into maintaining the objectives of each voyage.’’
At the time of publishing, Reid is sailing towards Valparaiso in Chile.
So what advice would she have for anyone who is interested in volunteering?
‘‘The days themselves can blur into each other and time ceases to have the same construct on land, we work hard, everyone does – there is much to learn and fun to be had when you can. If you have a specific skill or area of research, you can always choose to run workshops and seminars that will encourage the educational atmosphere.
‘‘Flexibility is needed in all situations. If anyone is considering applying, I would recommend looking into the webpage and giving yourself enough time to prepare. It is a volunteer role, and there are expenses required. I would not be here without a lot of work and support from my whanau.
‘‘Make sure you do your research and please get in contact with me, I’d be happy to answer any specific questions.’’
‘‘Through my experiences, I have found that the world needs conscientious travel and reminders of our similarities, rather than our differences.’’
Emily-Rose Reid