Meet Chris Modell, a multi-talented English teacher from Milwaukee, Wisconsin! Some of his many hobbies include listening to music, trying out various cuisines, and partaking in outdoor activities! Chris has also lived in San Francisco and now calls Tokyo his home!
We were lucky to have him for a weekend last month and he lent us a tremendous helping hand in the Green Farmers Association fields.
As a very experienced volunteer, Chris has been on the Peace Boat a couple of times and to Minamisanriku twice before. He decided to join us this time along with Paul Bilney, another great volunteer!
We asked how it was working on the GFA
“For the two days I was there, I hauled onion seedlings up the road to be planted, planted some of them, and logged several hours on the weed whacker!”
Seemed like he did some hard work!
Chris also said the most memorable experience was the ride to Minamisanriku “Well, I’d have to say driving up and down the slopes with Paul Bilney was an experience I won’t soon forget! Paul is an excellent driver, but it’s still a bit of a different travel experience as compared to riding the JR Chuo Line. To get past some slippery uphill spots, we had to get out and push a few times, but we managed fine, and it reminded me of having to push my and other people’s cars out of the snow back in Milwaukee. A very memorable sight was, while driving onion seedlings up a mountain road with Paul, seeing a man – perhaps a fisherman – sitting by the side of the road, untangling and cleaning one of the hundreds of mounds of fishing ropes piled up all over these roadsides. I thought of how easy it would be to give up, faced with such a daunting task. But the man was calmly going about his work – carefully and steadily. He seemed to understand that although it may take a very long time, eventually, the last rope will be cleaned and launched into the sea again.”
As Chris has stated, road trips are an experience within itself. They always seem to leave lasting impressions on us as they reveal the country in its most authentic state.
Lastly, we asked Chris his thoughts after volunteering.
“Volunteering is a very fulfilling experience. I feel a tangible sense of helping, not just with the physical work, but I think it may also be encouraging for residents of the area to know that others are feeling solidarity with them during this trying time of rebuilding lives and livelihoods.”
Thank you Chris for your time and wonderful words! OGAforAid hopes to have you back with us soon!