Up with People

Vivien Leigh as Blanche DuBois

This week we gave life to Blanche DuBois’ memorable line from A Street Car Named Desire, “…I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.”  It just so happened this time that we were the strangers.

Our doors to two members of the cast of Up with People were flung open though the ever-fluid life encounters that frame our lives in Sweden. Upon our arrival in Sweden, we adopted with keen intent a vow to attend, visit and participate in as many events as we could manage to extend our roots here. We have remained true to that pledge.

Lorna from Ireland and Neoko from Japan

It was through Helen’s networking for her Dining for Women chapter that lead to a chance encounter with the advance team staff of Up with People charged with, among other things, finding host families for youthful cast members. For the past week we have been the host family for Naoko from Japan and Lorna from Ireland. They occupy our spare bedrooms, share meals and bring us back in touch with the twenty-something generation.

Up with People has been around since the halcyon days of the ‘60’s when it was primarily known for its musical productions and international tours. Today’s Up with People has an updated program with a global perspective focused on community service and educational programs along with its traditional musical program.  

The 120 members of the tour started in United States then travelled to Belgium, Norway and now Sweden.  Next is Finland and then on to Mexico. 

Long curls are part of Lorna's
costume for her Irish dancing 

Due to a business trip Jay could not attend the music performance on Wednesday.  Helen observes, “It was two-hours of high energy entertainment!”  The musical feast was a well-considered fare of current pop and old rock ‘n roll. Kids and host family moms and dads all had opportunities for toe-tapping and lip-synching fun.

We have not, however, had many opportunities to spend time with Naoko and Lorna. The day after her arrival, Naoko got on a plane for a trip to the island of Gotland off the coast of southern Sweden to spend her 26th birthday with friends. Lorna has been ill and in need of rest. 

Buffet line Saturday night

Their schedules are really packed with planned activities by the Up with People staff. As one staff member shared with Helen at the host family dinner Saturday night, “Gone are the days when community service was singing for one hour at an old folks home.” Naoko, for example, spent a day at a local homeless shelter planting flowers and meeting the people there.

We are heartened to see young people globally collected and brought together in common community and purpose. We are becoming a more populated planet.  We are happy to see there is a generation of new leaders who will not let our six degrees of separation from one another suffer in the process.