Since retiring from elementary school teaching in the Mid-Prairie Community School District 11 years ago, Mary Gregg has been looking for activities and organizations in the community that are meaningful and that she wants to be involved in. These include attending programs at the Iowa City Foreign Relations Council, volunteering at the Coralville Community Food Pantry, and helping with activities at the League of Women Voters.
Mary first heard about Global Ties Iowa from Liz Bergeron, our President on the Global Ties Iowa Board of Directors, while playing pickleball together. It was the first time she had heard about Global Ties Iowa, and after checking our organization out, she liked our mission and started volunteering with us.
Mary has been a volunteer since April 2024 and has been especially active in Airport Greeting, where volunteers greet visitors at the airport to welcome them from the moment they arrive in eastern Iowa. She was awarded the Warm Welcome Award at the Global Ties Iowa 2024 Annual Meeting for “exemplifying a warm welcome from the moment our visitors arrive.”
Mary has also volunteered to escort our international leaders to their various programmed events, having the opportunity to engage with them and learn about the cultures of others. Mary said, “I was fortunate to spend an afternoon at Table to Table with several international leaders. There was time to get to interact with them, and I remember one question a gentleman asked [after he knew I had visited his country] was, ‘How are our two countries different?’ He seemed to appreciate the things that were much better in his country than in the U.S., and that I was frank and honest about these differences.”
In her free time, Mary loves to travel, trying to go abroad three times a year; earlier this winter, Mary visited the Amazon rainforest and Easter Island. She loves learning about new places and usually takes notes about information she learns from guides. She also enjoys interacting with and learning from locals and tries to leave a good impression herself.
Mary said, “I think a certain amount of people have biases about those who live in different areas of the world. I have seen this in my personal travels, and I want to leave a good impression on the people I meet in whatever country I am visiting, so if they have had a negative experience with a fellow American, maybe they will realize not all Americans fit that stereotype.”
In that same vein, Mary recognizes the importance of hospitality and cultural exchange in her home country. “One person, one kind act, can go a long way to ease an international visitor as feeling welcome and validated in our country. Having a positive experience can reshape any preconceived ideas about America and its citizens. These are leaders from their country, so their views are important when returning to their country.
As advice for those considering volunteering with Global Ties Iowa, Mary said, “Be authentic, genuine, and welcoming. Accept and honor the cultures of others and remember they are our guests, and you are the host. This is sometimes their first trip to America, so a smile and a sincere handshake go a long way. People who enjoy meeting other people should volunteer for Global Ties Iowa as you get back more than you give.”
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