Harold's Travel Story

Harold in Guatemala

At age 19, Harold Moore trip to London as an intern with the State Department. This experience not only got him out of his comfort zone, but opened up his understanding about the world, leading him to travel to more places around the world. 
 
Current Age: 31 
 
What impact do you feel this trip had on you?
An amazing one. It challenged my notions of comfort, it exposed me to what people think of the US, I learned about exchange rates and much more. It set the table for a lot of humility and future travel.
 
Do you feel this trip affected your sense of self or the world? If so, in what way?
I saw the world as a lot more interconnected after this trip. I grew to see my choices as a voter, as a student and a consumer affecting other people in places I had not known existed. I also saw that a lot of things I'd accepted as gospel (a silly example is American football's dominance or more seriously countries without guns being nonviolent) challenged and shift.
 
What do you think you accomplished or pursued that you otherwise would not have?
At this point I've traveled the world a couple times over. I've gone to Cuba and South Africa, Guatemala and Spain and all over. I think this trip was the gateway. 
 
“I saw the world as a lot more interconnected after this trip. I grew to see my choices as a voter, as a student and a consumer affecting other people in places I had not known existed.”

What do you feel contributed the most to this effect? 
When I visited the UK the dollar was worth about .5 pound sterling. So while I was already on a student budget (a student from a not very wealthy background) I now had the little money I had cut in half. I wouldn't completely equate this to an immigrant's experience but I grew to understand what necessity meant in a very different way. 

Once while in a car in London, I was once  subjected to an anti-American rant. I'd scarcely actually thought much of my American citizenship and what that'd mean elsewhere, because I'd hadn't been elsewhere. I realized that the world was just as afraid of then President Bush as I might've been.
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What advice would you give to the person you were before you took this journey?
Enjoy it. Meet more people, open your heart more, eat different food.

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 Biography
Harold Moore is a consultant, trainer, organizer and recruiter originally from Chicago, Illinois. His specialties include integrations across on and offline channels, training and data collection. He's worked nationally for causes, candidates and organizations including Obama for America, the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), the New Organizing Institute, Blue State Digital, Color of Change, Rock the Vote and many more in a variety of technical, managerial and advocacy roles. Additionally he has served as a trainer or coach for Camp Wellstone, the Kairos Digital Fellowship, the Congressional Black Caucus and the American Heart Association and as a board member of the Mikva Challenge and Web of Change. If you need help with strategy, CRMs, data or just want to chat feel free to reach out at haroldmmoore@yahoo.com ​

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