Sometimes I feel guilty about coming to Japan.

For years I thought I would join the Peace Corps and move to a Third World country, make pennies a day and help people who truly needed it. Instead, I live in a two-bedroom suburban apartment, collect a generous paycheck and shop for tea-flavored lip balm. I have never seen a homeless person in my town. I live across the street from a shiny new mall.

Of course, moving here has undoubtedly changed my life and the lives of some of the students I have taught, but the fact remains -- I have it so easy. So in the spirit of doing something a little more difficult and helping a few of the many people in the world who have next to nothing, I've signed up for a bike trip fundraiser for Building Communities, a JET-affiliated nonprofit which donates money and volunteers to build houses for untouchables in India.

With a group of about twenty other JETs, I will be biking from Honshu (Japan's largest island, where I live) to Shikoku, the smallest of the four main islands. We'll be following the Shimanami Kaido, a 77 km course along the coast, biking the entire distance in one day.

Now here's where you come in. Each participant is collecting sponsorships for the ride, donations that will go directly to Building Communities. (All the travel expenses for the bike ride are being paid for by me.) From the Building Communities website:

Your donations to Building Communities will literally lay the foundations for family homes in the village of Kothasatram / Indiranagar. The villagers live(d) in earthen huts with palm leaf roofs. When the tsunami struck, it literally washed their homes away. They rebuilt their homes as before, but many are still cramped with 4-6 people sleeping directly on dirt floors. Although the tsunami has passed, the villagers are in dire need of strong, sturdy homes to withstand the seasonal threats of cyclones, rain, flooding and the general ravages of nature.

In addition to the warm and fuzzy feeling you'll get knowing you are helping people who really need it, I want to offer something else for your donations as a way of showing my appreciation. So donors of $5 or more will get a special gift!

$5 or more: A Japanese thank-you postcard from me.
$20 or more: The above plus something weird and wonderful (like erasers shaped like cakes, a button depicting an inebriated monkey, etc).
$50 or more: The above plus a package of seasonal or limited-time Japanese candy.
$100 or more: The above plus a vintage kimono in the color of your choice.

Just click the button below or in the sidebar to make a donation, anytime between now and April 15th. If you don't want to receive a gift, just leave the optional shipping information blank and I will donate the amount I would have spent on buying and shipping your gift.

Thanks in advance for your donation! I have a secret dream that all my blog readers (or at least a good portion) will come through with a donation and I'll be able to proudly tell you we raised enough to build ten houses. But even one house would be amazing. Let's enjoy donating!