Goshen Girl Serves an International Ambassador

For most of us, 43 hours on an airplane doesn't sound like a lot of fun. 12-year-old Janis Armacost agrees, "It was boring," she said. But to hear her talk, that was the only part of her nearly 3 week adventure in Australia that was boring. In fact most of it, was downright action packed.

Janis spent 18 days with a host family in "the land down under" from late June into early July. She was one of 13 students chosen from the tri-state to take part in the "People to People" program. The program was founded in 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to promote world peace and understanding. Students in grades 5-12 are eligible for consideration. First a teacher must nominate the student, and then the candidate undergoes an interview contest. But in order to get a shot at world travel with the program, you need to be one exceptional young person!

" I was in the room listening to the rejection phone calls," Janis's mother said, "They'd say you don't have enough extra curricular activities, or you're not going to be going with us. I was just so worried she wouldn't get it."

But Janis did get the opportunity to travel and do things most of us can only dream of. In her 18 days she toured the rain forest, racing through the trees on a zip line, held wild koalas, took a behind the scenes look at the Sydney Opera House, and snorkeled on the Great Barrier Reef.

"At one point I saw a shark!" Armacost said, " I took a look and then swam real fast!" Next she told me how there were no guides with the young people in the water, and that was news to mom and dad!

Janis kept a journal on her trip, and now that she's home she's required to write an essay about her trip. "It's not a vacation, " she said, " it's a learning experience." That essay will then be used as program leader's determine 2008's "Ambassador of the Year." If Janis is chosen, she will get to travel with the program again next summer. The rumored destination is Japan. The winning ambassador will exhibit global awareness, citizenship, and an ability to be accepting of new cultures. Janis says she's ready to go now, but as for her dad… "Right now I'd say heck no! But when it comes down to it, I couldn't deny her of that opportunity. The things she did this time are just life changing."

Janis was honored at the July meeting of the Township Trustees for her role as a global ambassador in representing Goshen Township.

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