Today, I spoke at the World Innovation Summit for Education, a major international conference that brings together about 2,000 people from 120 countries to talk about important issues in education like making sure students have the skills they need for exciting careers, and giving teachers the support and training they need to do their jobs, and designing schools for the future — schools that will educate students decades from now.

Some of the people at this Summit are researchers who study education and try to figure out what’s working in schools and what isn’t. Some of them work in their country’s government, so they make education policy for millions of students, deciding what subjects they need to study, what tests they need to pass, and more. And some people work at businesses or organizations that are coming up with new technologies for classrooms or trying to make sure kids from all backgrounds get a good education, no matter where they come from or how much money their families have.

So the people attending this Summit know a thing or two about education, and I was excited to speak with them about global girls’ education, the issue that is the focus of this trip and of my international work as First Lady.

In my speech, I talked about some of the reasons why 62 million girls aren’t in school (see my opening blog post), and I urged countries around the world to invest more money in educating girls so we can help them pay their school fees, and provide safe transportation for them to school, and make sure their schools have bathrooms for girls.

But I also said that we cannot address our girls’ education crisis until we address broader cultural beliefs and practices that are harmful to women and girls — beliefs and practices that too often silence their voices, disregard their intelligence, and limit their dreams.

I talked about how we need to change laws that fail to protect women from violence; end harmful practices like forcing girls to get married when they’re still children; and do more to ensure that once girls get their education, they can get good jobs and support themselves and their families.

I then urged everyone at this Summit to go home to their countries and start shaking things up a little. I urged them to push for more investments in girls’ education and to challenge beliefs and policies that are harmful and unfair to women.

And today, I want to issue the same challenge to you. I want you to go to LetGirlsLearn.Gov and see how you can get involved in supporting girls’ education projects across the globe. I also want you to educate your classmates about this issue: write about it in your school newspaper, do a presentation about it in class or in an assembly, get on social media and start tweeting about it using #LetGirlsLearn. Tell people what girls around the world are going through, and urge them to join you in speaking out against beliefs and practices that hurt women and girls.

You have no idea how powerful your voice can be if you choose to use it. And I cannot wait to hear what you have to say and see what you do to help girls around the world go to school and fulfill their dreams.

Follow along with our trip Instagram as we travel through Qatar and Jordan.

Thanks,

First Lady Michelle Obama

Today, I had the pleasure of visiting Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar which has units from every branch of our military: the Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines, and even one member of the Coast Guard!

Now, you may see members of our military in your community — maybe they’re your neighbors, or members of your congregation, or the parents of your friends at school — or maybe they’re a member of your own family.

But those of you who aren’t part of a military family might be surprised to learn that right now there are also about 150,000 members of our military stationed in nearly 150 countries around the world. From Italy to Australia, Honduras to Japan, these servicemen and women are constantly carrying out our most important missions and keeping us safe.

These folks live overseas for months or even years at a time, and while some of them get to take their families with them, many are far from their families — so they often have to miss out on holidays, birthdays, and so many other special moments back home.

So while I was here in Qatar, I wanted to be sure to stop by the base to thank all of these incredible men and women for their service to our country. And I wasn’t alone — a few folks you might recognize joined me to offer their own thanks. I brought TV host Conan O’Brien — and he was so excited about visiting with our troops that he went out and recruited some amazing performers to join him. He brought his band leader, Jimmy Vivino, along with the fabulous singer, Grace Potter, and the fabulous comedian, John Mulaney, and they put on a fantastic show for our servicemembers.

It was a great visit, and just one example of what we’re doing through our Joining Forces initiative. Four years ago, Vice President Biden’s wife, Dr. Jill Biden, and I created this program to rally all Americans to honor and support our military and their families. Since then, we’ve seen doctors and nurses and medical schools working to make sure our veterans and military families get the health care they need. We’ve seen teachers reaching out to military kids in their schools. And businesses across America have hired or trained more than 850,000 veterans and their spouses.

You can be part of this effort, too. If there’s a new military kid in your class, invite them over and introduce them to your friends. If there’s a military family in your neighborhood, talk to your parents and your teachers about how you can honor their service. All of us can help out in our own way — for more ideas on what you can do, go to JoiningForces.gov — and together, we can serve our troops, veterans and military families as well as they have served our country.

Follow along with our trip Instagram as we travel through Qatar and Jordan.

Thanks,

First Lady Michelle Obama

This week, I will be traveling to Qatar and Jordan-- countries located in a part of the world known as the “Middle East” (if you look on a map, it’s just to the east of Africa) -- and I want young people like you all across America to join me on this journey!

On this trip, just like on previous international trips, I’ll be focusing on global girls’ education, an issue I care deeply about as a First Lady, a mother of two daughters, and a woman whose life was transformed by my education. You see, neither of my parents went to college, and they didn’t have much money. But they pushed me to work as hard as I could in school, and thanks to a lot of financial aid, I was able to go to college and law school and have all kinds of exciting jobs and opportunities.

Unfortunately, so many girls around the world never have the opportunities I had to get an education and fulfill their dreams. In fact, right now, 62 million girls across the globe aren’t going to school at all.

Many of them simply can’t afford it because, unlike here in the U.S., in some countries, parents actually have to pay for their kids to attend school. Sometimes the nearest school is miles away, and parents are afraid their daughters will be hurt or kidnapped while walking to or from school. Some schools don’t have adequate bathrooms for girls, so they have to stay home when they have their periods, and they may fall behind and even wind up dropping out.

Imagine what it would be like for you if you had to stop your own education.

Imagine being told, at the age of 12 or 13, “That’s it, you’re done with school. You’ve gotten all the education you’re ever going to get -- you won’t do any more science projects, or read any more books for English class, or have any more music, or art, or sports, or time with your friends in the lunchroom. And any dreams you have for what you want to be when you grow up -- a teacher, an astronaut, a nurse, a writer -- you have to give them up because you’ll never get the knowledge and skills you need to do those jobs.”

Pretty awful, right? And I don’t think any young person should ever have to give up their dreams like this. I think every child on this planet -- boys and girls -- should be able to get an education.

That’s why, last spring, President Obama and I launched Let Girls Learn, a new initiative to help adolescent girls across the globe go to school. Through Let Girls Learn, we’ll be helping communities around the world create girls’ leadership and mentorship projects, build school bathrooms for girls (because sometimes, schools don’t have adequate bathroom facilities for girls, which is one of the reasons why they can’t attend school), and more. We’ll also be funding girls’ education programs in countries that are torn apart by war or violence, and we’ll be working to address issues like poverty that make it hard for girls to get an education (because their families can’t afford to send them to school).

I'm sharing stories from my Middle East #LetGirlsLearn trip to inspire U.S. kids to complete their education: http://go.wh.gov/FLOTUSMidEast -mo

— The First Lady (@FLOTUS) November 2, 2015

And this week, I’m heading to Qatar to speak at a global education conference attended by people from 120 countries around the world. I’ll be urging other countries to invest more in girls’ education and to challenge cultural beliefs and practices that make people think girls are less worthy of an education than boys.

In Jordan, I’ll be visiting a school and speaking to several hundred middle school-aged girls. Like the U.S., Jordan is committed to educating every child in their country -- both boys and girls, including many children whose families have fled from Syria, a neighboring country that’s in the midst of a horrific civil war (millions of Syrians have had to leave their country because of the violence). Many of the girls at the school I’m visiting are Syrian refugees, and even though they’ve faced all kinds of challenges and hardships in their lives, they’re working hard in school and making their families proud. I’m excited to meet these girls -- and I’m excited to share their stories with all of you.

I’ll also be visiting a military base in Qatar to spend time with some of our extraordinary men and women in uniform and tell them how thankful I am for their service. And I’ll be visiting an amazing historical and archeological site in Jordan called Petra -- a beautifully preserved city that’s thousands of years old!

I want to share this journey with you, because I think it’s important for young people like you to be global citizens -- to connect with other young people around the world and learn about their lives. I also want you to be inspired and motivated by the girls I meet and to realize that if they can succeed in school even in the face of so many challenges, so can you.

That’s why I’ll be using social media to share my trip with you. I hope you’ll join me! Here’s how:

• Check out my daily travel blog on go.wh.gov/FLOTUSMidEast and on Medium.
• Follow me on Twitter @FLOTUS and on Instagram @MichelleObama for the latest updates from the road.

So stay tuned.

-- Michelle Obama

On this trip, I had the pleasure of standing with leaders who are making historic investments in girls’ education — and I had the privilege of meeting extraordinary girls and the community leaders, volunteers and teachers who are working so hard to help them go to school and pursue their dreams. Along the way, I experienced the rich culture and history of two fascinating countries.

First Lady Michelle waves upon departure from Siem Reap Airport in Siem, Reap Cambodia on March 22, 2015. The First Lady traveled to Japan and Cambodia as part of the “Let Girls Learn” initiative. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

I hope you enjoyed following along and that you will draw inspiration from this journey as you continue on your own journey. I hope you’ll follow the example of the amazing girls we met and really take ownership of your education, and I hope you’ll follow the example of our inspiring Peace Corps Volunteers and find a way to give back and help others.

Finally, I hope you’ll continue learning about Japan, Cambodia and other countries around the world. You don’t have to get on a plane to do this. You can just get online, and you’ll find a whole universe of information about other cultures, languages and traditions that you can explore. There is so much to know and experience, so I hope you will keep on learning and dreaming and preparing yourself to make your own mark on our world.

Thanks so much for following along on this trip!

Read all of the First Lady’s posts:

• A Journey That Began Decades Ago (March 17, 2015)
• Coming Together on Girls’ Education in Japan (March 19, 2015)
• Experiencing Kyoto’s Beauty and History (March 20, 2015)
• Educating and Empowering Girls in Cambodia (March 21, 2015)
• Touring Angkor Wat (March 21, 2015)
• Make You Own Mark on Our World (March 22, 2015)

After visiting the Let Girls Learn training, I traveled to Angkor Wat, a massive, ancient temple located just outside of Siem Reap. Angkor Wat was built in the early twelfth century, and it still stands as the largest religious monument on earth. It has become known as a national symbol for Cambodia — it’s even on Cambodia’s flag. Angkor Wat was originally built to celebrate the Hindu god Vishnu and then later became a Buddhist temple site. It is located in what was the capital of the ancient Khmer Empire here in Cambodia. Back then, temples, homes and farms stretched for miles around, and people created elaborate irrigation structures to bring water from rivers to farmers’ fields.

After meeting with these remarkable young women, I dropped by one of the very first Let Girls Learn trainings for Peace Corps Volunteers and the local leaders, educators and students they’re working with here in Cambodia. Together, they are doing such amazing work. They’re running girls’ leadership camps and girls’ sports teams and learning about health and nutrition, and this training will give them even more skills and tools to educate and empower girls. The Peace Corps will eventually be conducting these girls’ education trainings for all of its nearly 7,000 volunteers, and I cannot wait to see what they do with everything they learn!

Walking through the temple, I saw reminders of the prosperous civilization that built it: hundreds of beautiful figures carved into the walls telling the stories of these ancient people; wide galleries they must have prayed in; long hallways lined with pillars they must have walked down.

No one knows for sure what caused the empire to abandon this temple and the surrounding city, but in the 15th century, almost everyone left. Trees grew over the stones. Only Buddhist monks stayed behind to care for — and pray in — the hidden temples.

But that didn’t stop pilgrims and visitors from continuing to journey here to take in these incredible structures. And now, centuries later, I couldn’t be more thankful to count myself as one of these visitors.

First Lady Michelle Obama visits Ta Phrom in Angkor Wat, Cambodia on March 21, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

First Lady Michelle Obama visits Angkor Wat, Cambodia on March 21, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

First Lady Michelle Obama and Mrs. Bun Rany Hun, First Lady of Cambodia, are greeted by students while visiting the Room to Read program at Hun Sen Bakorng High School in Siem Reap, Cambodia as part of the “Let Girls Learn” initiative on March 21, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

I started the day with a visit to the Hun Sen Bakorng High School which has nearly 1,600 hundred students in grades seven through twelve. I was joined by the First Lady of Cambodia, Mrs. Bun Rany, who also cares deeply about girls’ education.

At this school, an organization called Room to Read runs a special scholarship program for girls who live in areas far from the school. Girls in remote parts of Cambodia often wind up dropping out of school because it’s too dangerous to travel to and from school each day or they just can’t afford the costs of transportation. But Room to Read provides girls with scholarships that cover the cost of housing, food and books, so they can live at the school and get their education.

I had the pleasure of meeting with these girls, and they were absolutely amazing — so passionate about their education and so determined to pursue their dreams. Two of these students — young women named Sohang Vean and Lorn Phounam — shared their stories with me, and I want to share them with you:

"My name is Sohang Vean, a grade 12 student at Hun Sen Prasat Bakorng High School. I am a student who receives support from Room to Read. Today, I am very excited to meet Samdech and first lady. I have never dreamt of meeting both of you.

In the future, I have a dream of becoming a math teacher because I think that this career can help myself, my family and my community. To be able to study in grade 12 today, I have been through a lot of hardships. I know that I need to overcome them. I’ve never thought that they are the barrier to stop me. I’ve never thought of giving up because of the hardships. I never lose hope in myself.

Every morning I woke up at 4am to cook for the whole household. I don’t live with my parents. I am living with my grandmother, uncle and aunt. I need to help them doing housework from watering the vegetable to looking after the cows. Not only me that have a hard life, my friends here as well. Some of them need to live far away from home since grade 7 so that they can continue studying to finish high school. Sometime they miss home. We, however, never thought of dropping out of school. If we stop studying, we will have the same faith as our families.

We want to have a better life. We no longer want to see poverty, discrimination against girls. We want to see this country full of educated people. I want all the girls to work hard in their studies. No matter what we face, we need to overcome them. Only education can change everything. Finally, I would like to thank Samdech and the first lady for always sincerely concern about women wellbeing. I would like to wish you all the happiness!"

“My name is Phounam. In my family, I have 5 siblings, 3 brothers and 2 sisters. I am the youngest child. Only my second brother finishes high school and becomes a primary school teacher. The rest dropped out and became farmers. When I was young, I always imagine of becoming a doctor. Most of the villagers do different jobs such as farmers, teachers, policemen, factory workers or working at the hotels. I live in the rural area, so the hospital is far away, and it is hard to get there. The patients can get worse on the way there. People in my community don’t know how to take care of their health. The elder people don’t brush their teeth nor was their hands. Especially, the kids are very dirty. This is the best way of virus getting into their body. They get sick easily. I want to see them heathy. Even if I haven’t studied at medical school yet, my friends and I volunteered as a part of Room to Read Girls’ Education program to teach the villagers about personal hygiene and heathy eating. I dream that when I become a doctor, I will be able to take a good care of my family and my community. Finally, I would like to say thank you so much for your campaign in Cambodia and thank you for coming to my school.”

First Lady Michelle Obama visits with students at the Room to Read program at the Hun Sen Bakorng High School in Siem Reap, Cambodia as part of the “Let Girls Learn” initiative on March 21, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

After meeting with these remarkable young women, I dropped by one of the very first Let Girls Learn trainings for Peace Corps Volunteers and the local leaders, educators and students they’re working with here in Cambodia. Together, they are doing such amazing work. They’re running girls’ leadership camps and girls’ sports teams and learning about health and nutrition, and this training will give them even more skills and tools to educate and empower girls.

The Peace Corps will eventually be conducting these girls’ education trainings for all of its nearly 7,000 volunteers, and I cannot wait to see what they do with everything they learn!

Today we traveled to the beautiful Japanese city of Kyoto.

Tucked into a valley and surrounded by mountains on three sides, Kyoto was the imperial capital of Japan for over 1,000 years. Because of its majestic mountain scenery, some people called the Japanese nobility who lived there “cloud dwellers.”

First Lady Michelle Obama participates in a centennial tree planting ceremony during the National Cherry Blossom Festival at the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C., March 27, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

Today, Kyoto is full of history and culture and color — the pink plum blossoms here are stunning… and in a few weeks, the cherry blossoms will bloom, just like they do in Washington, D.C. In fact, the trees that surround the tidal basin and the National Mall in Washington were a gift from Japan in 1912 — so our countries have been linked by these beautiful trees for more than a century.

During our visit to Kyoto, we stopped at two historic sites — the Fushimi Inari Shrine and the Kiyomizu-dera Temple. Individually, these shrines are majestic feats of design and engineering. Together, they represent the vital role that religions like Shinto and Buddhism have played throughout Japan’s history.

Our first stop was the Kiyomizu-dera Buddhist Temple which was founded more than 1,200 years ago. Buddhism is focused on helping its followers reach enlightenment through meditation and teachings on morality and wisdom — and for centuries, Buddhism and Shinto have coexisted alongside each other in Japan. Hundreds of years ago, as Buddhism spread across Asia and into Japan, magnificent temples were built in cities and mountainsides all over the country — and Kiyomizu is one of the greatest.

This temple’s name means “clear water,” a reference to the water that flows from the nearby hills. It is known for its large veranda which juts out from the mountain’s face and is held in balance by huge wooden beams. There is a famous Japanese saying that to take a great risk or go on a dangerous adventure is like “taking a leap from the veranda of Kiyomizu.” I definitely saw what they were talking about — it’s almost a 30 foot drop!

During our visit, we saw a waterfall called “Otowa” which is said to bring good luck and grant wishes to visitors who drink from it. We were also treated to a noh performance. Noh is a traditional form of Japanese theater involving music and dance and using all kinds of costumes, props, and masks. Finally, I got to watch — and participate in — a traditional Japanese tea ceremony in which tea is prepared and served through an elaborate series of graceful movements. It was magnificent.

First Lady Michelle Obama, Ambassador Caroline Kennedy, Jack Schlossberg and Eigen Onishi, senior monk, watch local Noah dancers perform at Kiyomizu-Dera Buddhist Temple in Kyoto, Japan on March 20, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

First Lady Michelle Obama, along with Ambassador Caroline Kennedy and Jack Schlossberg visit Buddha’s Footprints Stone in Kiyomizu-dera Buddhist Temple in Kyoto, Japan on March 20, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

First Lady Michelle Obama, Ambassador Caroline Kennedy, Jack Schlossberg and Eigen Onishi, senior monk, participate in the ritual of cleaning hands and drinking from Otowa Waterfall at Kiyomizu-Dera Buddhist Temple in Kyoto, Japan on March 20, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

First Lady Michelle Obama, along with Ambassador Caroline Kennedy and Jack Schlossberg participate in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony, while visiting Kiyomizu-Dera Buddhist Temple in Kyoto, Japan on March 20, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

Our next stop of the day was a Shinto shrine called the Fushimi Inari Shrine. Shinto is a religious tradition that began in about 500 BC and is rooted in rituals designed to bring people closer to the spirits of nature, or “Kami.” Every year, millions of people visit the Fushimi Inari Shinto Shrine, which is the headquarters for all of Japan’s 40,000 Inari Shinto shrines.

This shrine was built roughly 1,300 years ago as a tribute to Inari, the Shinto Kami of rice. And for miles all around the shrine, a long, winding path of thousands of orange shrine gates called “torii” line the mountain. I hiked up through these gates during my visit. Parts of the “torii tunnel” are also lined with sculptures of foxes. The fox (“kitsune” in Japanese) often serves as Inari’s messenger, and that’s reflected here at the shrine to Inari where the kitsune is a vital presence throughout the grounds.

One tradition at Shinto shrines, especially shrines to Inari, is to write down a wish. Here at this shrine, wishes are written on one side of a wooden fox ornament, and on the other side, you can draw the fox’s face. I filled out both sides of my fox.

During our visit, we were also treated to a lively taiko drumming performance by students who are part of the taiko club at their high school. This style of drumming is done in a group and involves large drums and lots of energetic movement by the drummers. I got to try some drumming myself — and I loved it!

First Lady Michelle Obama is greeted by Taiko drummers during a tour of Fushimi Inari Shinto Shrine in Kyoto, Japan on March 20, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

First Lady Michelle Obama joins Taiko drummers in performing a song during a tour of Fushimi Inari Shinto Shrine in Kyoto, Japan on March 20, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

First Lady Michelle Obama talks with Taiko drummers during a tour of Fushimi Inari Shinto Shrine in Kyoto, Japan on March 20, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

The crowd waves as First Lady Michelle Obama departs the Fushimi Inari Shinto Shrine in Kyoto, Japan on March 20, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

I feel so lucky to have experienced the beauty and history of two of the tens of thousands of Shinto and Buddhist shrines throughout Japan.

And now, we’re off to Cambodia!

You can read the First Lady's initial travel journal post here, and learn more about the Let Girls Learn initiative by going to WhiteHouse.gov/Let-Girls-Learn

I arrived in Tokyo, Japan last night, and this morning, I was proud to stand with Mrs. Akie Abe, the wife of Japan’s Prime Minister, as we announced a new partnership between Japan and the United States that will help girls around the world go to school.

It’s not surprising that America and Japan are coming together on this issue.

Mrs. Abe and I are both passionate about girls’ education — as are our husbands — and Japan is one of America’s strongest and most important allies. Japan and the United States also share so many values. We are both democracies and believe strongly in freedom of speech and religion and protecting the basic rights of all our citizens. Both our countries care deeply about education. And both America and Japan believe in helping other countries that have fewer resources — countries where people struggle with poverty and disease and where many young people, particularly girls, don’t have the chance to attend school.

As part of our new partnership, both Japan and the U.S. will be investing in programs that will help girls around the world get an education. As I mentioned in my opening post, here in the U.S., this effort is called Let Girls Learn, and it features a new girls’ education initiative run by the Peace Corps.

First Lady Michelle Obama is joined by Ambassador Caroline Kennedy and Akie Abe, the First Lady of Japan, during a “Let GIrls Learn” announcement held at the Iikura Guest House in Tokyo, Japan on March 19, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

Does this kind of work sound exciting to you? If so, you should consider joining the Peace Corps — you can check out their website right now to learn more. But you don’t have to travel across the globe to serve others. You can learn about, and help support, Let Girls Learn projects worldwide from right here at home — just go to www.LetGirlsLearn.PeaceCorps.gov. You can also make a difference right now by tutoring a classmate, or reading to a younger sibling, or volunteering through your school or place of worship. There are so many ways to help others, and I hope learning about how Peace Corps volunteers serve communities abroad will inspire you to give back in your own community here at home.

First Lady Michelle Obama listens during a “Let GIrls Learn” announcement held at the Iikura Guest House in Tokyo, Japan on March 19, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

Students look on as First Lady Michelle Obama, Ambassador Caroline Kennedy and Akie Abe, the First Lady of Japan, participate in a “Let GIrls Learn” announcement held at the Iikura Guest House in Tokyo, Japan on March 19, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

First Lady Michelle Obama, is joined by Akie Abe, the First Lady of Japan, and Ambassador Caroline Kennedy during a discussion with students following the “Let GIrls Learn” announcement held at the Iikura Guest House in Tokyo, Japan on March 19, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

First Lady Michelle Obama greets students following the “Let GIrls Learn” announcement held at the Iikura Guest House in Tokyo, Japan on March 19, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

First Lady Michelle Obama greets the Emperor and Empress of Japan at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Japan on March 19, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

First Lady Michelle Obama talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during a courtesy call held at Kantei in Tokyo, Japan on March 19, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

First Lady Michelle Obama and Michelle Phan tape a “Let Girls Learn Video” in the studio at the American Embassy in Tokyo, Japan on March 19, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

First Lady Michelle Obama and Ambassador Caroline Kennedy visit with families at the American Embassy in Tokyo, Japan on March 19, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

First Lady Michelle Obama and Ambassador Caroline Kennedy deliver remarks at the American Embassy in Tokyo, Japan on March 19, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

First Lady Michelle Obama greets families at the American Embassy in Tokyo, Japan on March 19, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

First Lady Michelle Obama reads a student’s essay while signing autographs at the American Embassy in Tokyo, Japan on March 19, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

---

You can read the First Lady's initial travel journal post here, and learn more about the Let Girls Learn initiative by going to WhiteHouse.gov/Let-Girls-Learn

This week, I will be traveling to Japan and Cambodia – and I want young people like you across America to join me!

This trip technically starts today when I leave the White House and get on a plane for a long flight to Asia.  But really, this visit is part of a journey that began decades ago, back when I was a little girl.

Like many of you, I came from a pretty modest background.  My family didn’t have much money, and my parents raised me and my brother, Craig, in a tiny apartment in Chicago, Illinois.  While my mom and dad never had the chance to attend college, they were determined to see me and Craig get the best education possible. 

School was the center of our lives, and I worked as hard as I could to learn as much as possible.  I often woke up at 4:00 or 5:00 in the morning to study, because that was the only time our little apartment was ever really quiet. 

With my parents’ encouragement and a lot of hard work, I was able to get into college and get the financial aid I needed to pay for it – and my college education opened doors of opportunity I never could have dreamed of back in that tiny apartment.  I studied subjects I was passionate about – like English literature, African American history and sociology.  I met classmates and professors from all over the world who opened my mind to all kinds of new ideas.  And because I got my college degree, I was able to attend law school, become a lawyer, work in city government and as a hospital executive, and even run a non-profit organization that trained young people in Chicago to serve their communities.

Unfortunately, so many girls just like me and like many of you – girls who are so curious and hungry to learn, and so willing to work hard – never have the chance to get an education.  Right now, 62 million girls worldwide are not in school at all.  Many of them simply can’t afford the school fees (unlike in America, where every student can go to school for free, in many countries, parents have to pay to send their children to school).  Sometimes, even if their parents can afford it, the nearest school might be miles away, and it’s simply not safe for girls to walk there and back each day.  Sometimes, a school will be located nearby, but it might not have bathrooms for girls, so they simply can’t attend.  And in some countries, girls are forced to get married and have children at a young age – sometimes before they’re even teenagers – instead of getting an education.

This is such a heartbreaking loss, not just for those girls, but for their families, communities and countries.  Studies show that girls who attend school have healthier families, earn higher salaries and even help boost their entire countries’ economies. 

That’s why, earlier this month, the United States Government launched a new initiative called Let Girls Learn that will help girls worldwide go to school and stay in school.  Through Let Girls Learn, we’ll be supporting education projects across the globe – leadership programs and mentorship programs, and so much more. 

But the United States can’t address the global girls’ education crisis all by ourselves – it’s just too big.  We need countries around the world to step up and help.  That’s why I’m starting my trip in Japan – because this week, the United States and Japan will be announcing a new partnership to educate girls worldwide, and we’ll be calling on other countries to join us in this effort.

After spending a few days in Japan, I will be heading to Cambodia, which is one of the very first countries where Let Girls Learn programs will operate.  I will visit a school and meet with girls whose lives are being transformed by the power of education.

But while the focus of Let Girls Learn is international, this effort is also very much about inspiring young people like you here at home to truly commit to your own education. 

Through Let Girls Learn, I hope that more girls – and boys – here in America will learn about the sacrifices that girls around the world are making just to go to school each day: working multiple jobs to pay their school fees, enduring threats and harassment from people in their communities who think girls shouldn’t attend school, walking for hours each way to school, and more.

I want all of you to be inspired and motivated by these girls.  I want you to realize that while your own school might be far from perfect – and my husband is working as hard as he can to fix that – you still need to show up to your classroom every day and learn as much as you can.

And finally, I want young people like you to be citizens of the world – I want you to connect with other young people of every background and nationality and learn about what’s happening in countries across the globe. 

That’s why, as I travel, I will be using all kinds of social media to share my trip with you – and I’ll be taking questions from kids across America as I go.

So I hope you’ll join me – here’s how:

• Check out my daily travel blog on WhiteHouse.gov/LetGirlsLearn, on Medium, and through PBS Learning Media.
• Explore educational resources about Japan and Cambodia with PBS LearningMedia.
• Follow me on Twitter @FLOTUS and on Instagram @MichelleObama for the latest updates from the road and for chances to ask questions during the visit.

One of those letters came from Jason Gibson, a wounded warrior who wrote Barack last October. Jason sustained injuries serving our country in Afghanistan that led to the loss of both of his legs. Despite enduring 21 surgeries, he is unable to use prosthetics.

These injuries, however, haven't stopped Jason. He told Barack in his letter about how -- during the year he spent recovering in California -- he’d taken up surfing and skiing. He's completed multiple marathons on a hand cycle and earned his pilot’s license. Back home in Ohio, a non-profit group helped build Jason and his wife Kara a house specially designed for their needs. Jason told us something else too: Kara was pregnant with their first child, a baby girl. Quinn Leona Gibson was born on November 21, 2014.

Stories like Jason’s inspire me and Barack everyday. And this year, Jason and some of the other incredible Americans who have written us letters will join me in watching Barack deliver his State of the Union address at the Capitol. I can't wait to see them later today, and I'd like you to get to know them as well.

Watch on YouTube

As first lady, I've spent a lot of time talking with young people all across the country about education. I've heard about their hopes of going to college, getting good jobs, and one day starting families of their own. And I've also heard about the challenges they're facing—the rising costs of tuition, their overstretched school counselors, and the insecurities and fears that come along with being first-generation college students.

My message to these young people is that while all of us adults—teachers, administrators, and policymakers—have to do a better job of giving them the best schools and opportunities for their future, at the end of the day, they also need to step up and take responsibility for their education themselves.

That means going to class every day, setting their goals high, and working like crazy to achieve them. That's been the story of my life and my husband's life, so when I talk to these young people, my hope is that they see that our story can be their story, too—as long as they're willing to dedicate themselves to their education.

Early last month, I officially gave this effort a name and an aspiration—my Reach Higher initiative. And that's really the goal: to inspire young people to reach higher to complete their education beyond high school so that they can own their futures. We're focusing on things like financial aid, college counseling, academic and summer planning, and college visits. Our objective is to ensure that every student in this country understands how to pursue and complete their education, whether it's at a traditional four-year college or a community college, or via a professional certificate or degree.

Read the First Lady's full op-ed here.

First Lady Michelle Obama, Sasha, Malia and Mrs. Robinson feed apples to Giant Pandas during their visit to Chengdu Panda Base in Chengdu, China on March 26, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

Note: This post is part of a series authored by First Lady Michelle Obama to share her visit to China with young people in the U.S. You can read all of the First Lady's posts at WhiteHouse.gov/First-Lady-China-Trip.

Today is the last day of my trip, and I couldn’t leave China without seeing the Chengdu Panda Base.  Pandas are an endangered species -- fewer than 1,600 pandas remain in the wild -- and that’s why a place like the Chengdu Panda Base is so important.  Here at this base, scientists work to increase the panda population through breeding, conservation and researching how the bears live and grow.  The base covers almost 600 square miles, and it’s located right in the heart of pandas’ natural habitat.  The area surrounding the base is the only location in the world where you can find pandas in the wild and in a research center.  Right now, there are about 50 pandas at the Panda Base ranging in age from infancy to full-grown adults. 

We started our visit by viewing a group of five giant pandas who were about 18 months old, and we got to feed them (we attached apples to the end of a long stick, and they reached up and grabbed them with their hands and mouths).  Next, we got to see some baby pandas that were about eight months old which are referred to as "yearlings," a term used to describe pandas less than one year old.  They were so tiny -- like stuffed animals -- and later, I got the chance to hold one of these little guys!  Finally, we walked through an area filled with red pandas, a different, smaller species of pandas that look sort of like raccoons. 

As we learned about these pandas and their future, I also spent some time reflecting on their past.  Believe it or not, pandas have actually played a leading role in world events over the past few decades through a custom known as "Panda Diplomacy." It’s a tradition that dates back at least to the seventh century, and over the past few decades, panda diplomacy has been part of how China has reached out to other nations.  Since the 1950s, China has given pandas to countries like France, Japan, Great Britain, Mexico, and the United States.  It’s a goodwill offering – a way to reach out and build a connection between two countries and their people.

That was certainly the case when China first offered America pandas back in 1972.  At that time, there was extremely limited contact between our two governments.  From 1949, when the communist party assumed power in China, up until 1979, the United States did not officially recognize the government of the People’s Republic of China.

First Lady Michelle Obama, Sasha, Malia and Mrs. Robinson feed apples to Giant Pandas during their visit to Chengdu Panda Base in Chengdu, China. March 26, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

But in the early 1970s, President Nixon believed that we could rise above our differences and begin to open relations, so in 1972, he reached out to the Chinese and became the first U.S. President to visit the People's Republic of China.  On that trip, after Mrs. Pat Nixon mentioned how much she enjoyed seeing pandas at a Chinese zoo, the Chinese Premier offered a pair of pandas to the people of the United States.  The original pandas – Ling Ling and Hsing Hsing – were housed at the National Zoo, and Chinese pandas have lived there ever since.  In fact, just last fall, a new baby panda – Bao Bao, which means “treasure” or “precious” – was born there, giving new life to our growing relationship with China.

I believe that this history is instructive for us today.  It shows that even for nations as big, complex and different as the United States and China, small gestures can mean a great deal.  They can bring people together and help them form bonds that can stretch across the globe – and in our modern world, where we can connect with someone on the other side of the world with the click of a button, we all have an opportunity to make those small gestures in our own lives.

First Lady Michelle Obama talks with students in an interactive classroom at Number 7 School in Chengdu, China. March 25, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

Today, I had the pleasure of visiting the No. 7 School here in Chengdu, an extraordinary high school that uses the power of technology to bring educational opportunities to students across southwest China.

More than 5,000 high school students attend the No. 7 School in person each day – and 42,000 more high school students from 182 schools in smaller cities and rural areas attend remotely.  Classrooms here in Chengdu are equipped with large screens – and students from across the region can beam in and take part in the same lessons (and they even get assigned the same homework too).  Many of the students who attend classes remotely are from disadvantaged backgrounds, and the education they get at the No. 7 school gives them a better chance of possibly being accepted into college.

The average day here at the No. 7 School starts at 7:30am and goes until 5:00pm (and that includes classes and extracurricular activities like sports and music).  Much of the students’ time in class is spent preparing for an exam called the GaoKao that they take during their last year of high school.  Unlike in the U.S., where students get accepted to college based on various factors like grades, SAT/ACT scores, extracurricular activities, essays and recommendations, in China, the only thing colleges really look at is a student’s score on the GaoKao. 

Chinese families and students tend to place a very high value on education.  Many parents in China make great sacrifices to give their children the best education possible, and many students study long hours to get a good score on the GaoKao.

I started my visit at the No. 7 School by speaking with about 600 students in their school auditorium – and about 12,000 of the remote students participated by video.  I talked with the students about how, when we live so far from each other, it’s easy for us to develop all kinds of misconceptions about each other – but it often turns out that we have so much in common.  I cited my own experience growing up in America as an example and pointed out that many parts of my story – my humble background, the closeness of my family, my parents’ determination to see my brother and I get a good education – are similar to their life stories.

First Lady Michelle Obama delivers remarks at Number 7 School in Chengdu, China on March 25, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

I also spoke with the students about our values as Americans, particularly our passionate belief in what we call "the American Dream" – the idea that it shouldn’t matter where you live, or how much money your parents have, or what race or religion or ethnicity you are.  Instead, if you work hard and believe in yourself, then you should have a chance to succeed.

Now of course, living up to these ideals isn’t always easy, and there have been times in our history when we have fallen short.  As you know, many decades ago, there were actually laws that allowed discimination against African American people like me. But over time, ordinary citizens decided that those laws were unfair, and they led the civil rights movement to change them.  Slowly but surely, they succeeded -- and today, just 50 years later, my husband and I are President and First Lady of the United States.

Finally, I spoke about the basic rights our Constitution grants to all our people, such as the right to speak freely and worship as you choose.  Like many other countries in the world, however, China restricts the free exercise of speech and religion in various ways.  And as I said in an earlier blog post, while every country will ultimately make its own decisions about these issues, in America, we view these rights as universal human rights that belong to all people in all countries.  And my husband and I often speak about these values when we travel, because we believe that's the best way to foster a dialogue with other countries through which we can learn about their beliefs and share our own.  That's how we build the bonds of understanding that will be so vital for addressing our shared challenges in the years ahead.

After my speech, I had the pleasure of participating in an English class with about 40 students here in Chengdu and over 18,000 students from 160 schools watching remotely.  We had a lively discussion on topics including the following: how schools can encourage creativity in students; how students can deal with competition and failure; the value of studying abroad; the importance of challenging yourself and pushing yourself outside your comfort zone; and my impressions of China and Chinese culture.

I then had a chance to observe, and then participate in, a Tai Chi class.  Tai Chi is a Chinese martial art that is centuries old.  It involves slow, flowing movements and a focus on your breathing.  It is a truly beautiful form of physical activity, and I loved giving it a try.

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to the No. 7 School, and I learned a great deal from the terrific students there.

First Lady Michelle Obama participates in Tai Chi with students from Number 7 School in Chengdu, China. March 25, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

First Lady Michelle Obama jumps rope on her visit to the Xi'an City Wall with Sasha, Malia and Marian Robinson in Xi'an, China on March 24, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

After seeing the Terra Cotta Warriors outside of Xi’an, we returned to the city to view the Xi’an City Wall.

The Xi’an City Wall is the oldest and largest surviving wall of its kind in China.  It’s a 40-foot tall rectangle that stretches for 8.5 miles.  At its base, the Wall is 50 or 60 feet wide.  At the top, it’s about 40 feet wide – wide enough for Xi’an residents and tourists to run, walk, or ride a bike around (it takes about four hours to walk the entire distance at a leisurely pace).  From the wall you can see the ancient Bell Tower, a beautiful building which marks the center of the ancient city.

Xi’an was once China’s capital city, and even after the capital was relocated, the city remained an important military stronghold for centuries.  Just like the Great Wall, the Xi’an City Wall was originally built for defense, with watchtowers and even a deep moat and drawbridges.  Parts of the wall date back to the seventh century, and the wall we know today was completed in the 14th century.  Since then, it has been refurbished three times – roughly once every two hundred years – in the late 1500s, the late 1700s and, most recently, in 1983.

Our visit began with a breathtaking display of drumming and music by performers dressed in colorful traditional costumes, and we were presented with a passport to the Wall (which is sort of like getting the key to a city -- it's a ceremonial honor that conveys respect and appreciation).  Then, as we walked along the Wall, we were treated to the following wonderful experiences:

• Kids from a local kite flying club showed us how to fly kites they had made themselves.
• Another group of students from a local school did a double dutch jump rope demonstration (and I couldn't resist -- I kicked off my heels and joined them...but I only did single rope jumping).
• A young man demonstrated his ability to solve a Rubiks cube in about 15 seconds flat (I still have no idea how he did it!).
• Two other young men showed off their skills doing something that looked like hackey sack where they were kicking around little bean bags with feathers attached (I gave it my best shot, but I couldn't hold a candle to these guys).
• A paper cutting artist showed off her amazing skills -- she even made paper cutouts of me and my family!
• We saw another performance by drummers and folk dancers -- and they did a lovely dance number for us (and my daughters and I joined in for some dancing at the end).

First Lady Michelle Obama, Sasha, Malia and Marian Robinson watch students perform a Rubik's Cube demonstration during their visit the Xi'an City Wall, China on March 24, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

As I watched these performances and demonstrations, I was struck by how this wall, which was constructed as a physical blockade, now serves as a symbolic connection between China’s past and present.  There you stand, on top of a wall that’s hundreds of years old – a wall that has withstood war and famine and the rise and fall of dynasties.  Yet when you look down, you realize that below you on both sides lies a city not too different from one you’d see in America – a city full of cars and bustling commercial districts, but also quiet residential areas.

It reminded me a little bit of when I met with a class of sixth graders back in the United States – 11 and 12 year olds who visited China last year.  They told me that before they left, they assumed they’d encounter historic palaces and temples everywhere they went, but instead, they found massive cities full of skyscrapers and bright lights.

First Lady Michelle Obama participates in a hacky sack demonstration with the help of student instruction during her visit to the Xi'an City Wall with Sasha, Malia and Marian Robinson in Xi'an, China on March 24, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

Here at Xi’an, you can’t miss how both sides of China – the ancient and the modern – are intertwined in a city that’s as much a part of China’s past as it is its future.

First Lady Michelle Obama waves a ribbon with Sasha and Malia as they watch a performance during their visit to the Xi'an City Wall in Xi'an, China on March 24, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

First Lady Michelle Obama, Sasha, Malia and Marian Robinson are greeted upon arrival to Xi'an, China on March 24, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

This morning we left Beijing and flew for about two hours to Xi’an, a city of more than 7 million people in central China.  If Xi’an were in America, it would be the second-largest city in the country – trailing only New York City – but in China, a nation of more than 1 billion people, Xi’an isn’t even in the top ten.

After we arrived at the Xi’an Airport, we traveled to see the Terra Cotta Warriors, an underground army of thousands of life-sized soldiers made from terra cotta clay. These sculptures were hand-made over 2,000 years ago.  They surround the tomb of China’s first emperor, and it’s believed that they were created to protect him in the afterlife.

Scientists estimate that there are about 8,000 warriors in three different pits – and many of those warriors remain buried underground.  I actually had a chance to stand face-to-face with some of the warriors, and I saw that each one is incredibly unique, complete with its own lifelike facial expressions.  Some have beards and mustaches, and others have weapons like swords or spears.  Each one stands about six feet tall and can weigh more than 600 pounds.  Today, the warriors are primarily an army of gray – the color of the clay – but you can still see tiny remnants of what once was colorfully painted armor and clothing.

When you realize how carefully built each soldier is and how detailed their faces and weapons are; and when you learn that each arm, hand, leg and head was created separately, it’s no surprise that scientists believe that it took more than 30 years and 700,000 workers to build this army.

First Lady Michelle Obama, Sasha, Malia and Marian Robinson tour the Terra Cotta Warriors in Xi'an, China on March 24, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

Still, perhaps the most amazing thing about the Terra Cotta Warriors is that for two thousand years, they were a complete secret.  The warriors were buried and forgotten until 1974, when a group of farmers found the head of one of the soldiers when they were looking for a good spot to dig a water well.  That led archaeologists to uncover the underground army, which included not only clay soldiers, but also clay horses, wooden and bronze chariots and treasures of jade and gold.  The warriors were broken into pieces and had to be painstakingly pieced back together again.

Today, we saw both warriors that had been restored and many that were still in pieces (and we saw several archaeologists down in one of the pits gently unearthing even more warriors).

In the years since the Terra Cotta Warriors were discovered, the Chinese government built a museum that has allowed millions of tourists to visit them.  A few of the soldiers have even been exhibited outside of China. In fact, four years ago, 15 of them were shipped to Washington D.C. and put on exhibit at the National Geographic Museum, where visitors could come and see them face to face just like I did today.

First Lady Michelle Obama, Sasha, Malia and Marian. Robinson tour the Terra Cotta Warriors in Xi'an, China on March 24, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

First Lady Michelle Obama and Malia and Sasha visit the Great Wall of China. March 22, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

Today we drove about an hour north of Beijing to a village called Mutianyu to visit a section of the Great Wall of China, which was simply breathtaking. The scenery on the way there was beautiful – a wide vista of mountains and trees – so the car ride alone was a treat.  But then, running along the highest ridges of the mountains, you see it: The Great Wall – one of the great marvels of human history.

In its entirety, the Great Wall stretches from east to west across more than 13,000 miles of Chinese countryside (that's about four times the length of the entire United States from Maine to Oregon!).  It is not a single, uninterrupted wall, but rather a series of smaller walls which sometimes overlap and run parallel to each other.

Certain sections of the Wall date back as far as the seventh century B.C., but the majority of the Great Wall we know today – including the section at Mutianyu – was built between the 1300s and the 1600s.

To get to the Wall, we rode a cable car up a mountain (and we later rode back down on a long slide!).  The section we visited is one of the more popular parts of the Wall for tourists, and it’s easy to see why.  At Mutianyu, the Wall is roughly 20 to 25 feet tall and full of stairs, and there’s a watchtower every 100 yards or so. Those watchtowers serve as a reminder of why the Wall was built in the first place – to defend against attacks from armies descending from the north. Throughout its history, the Great Wall has gone through decades, even centuries, of ruin and disrepair.  But it has always served as not only a physical barrier, but a psychological one to intimidate potential invaders.

During our visit to the Wall, I couldn’t stop thinking about what a massive undertaking it must have been to build it. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers and peasants were given the dangerous, painstaking – and often fatal – task of carrying ton after ton of granite, brick, dirt, and wood through the forests, up over the hills, and down through the valleys to create this incredible structure. They did this year after year, decade after decade – and it’s because of their hard work and sacrifice that the Great Wall remains standing today.

First Lady Michelle Obama takes a toboggan ride after visiting the Great Wall of China with Malia and Sasha. March 23, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

"I hope you’ll keep...building bonds of friendship that will enrich your lives & enrich our world." —The First Lady, pic.twitter.com/uKX9jd2Vky

— FLOTUS (@FLOTUS) March 22, 2014

This morning, I had the privilege of visiting Peking University and speaking with Chinese students and American students studying abroad here in China. Peking University was founded more than a hundred years ago, in 1898, and it is one of China’s best-known universities. The American students in the audience today came from a number of different universities, and by studying here in China, they get to experience daily life in this country firsthand, practice their Chinese, and form lifelong friendships with Chinese students.

As I said in my speech today, these experiences represent so much more than a fun way to spend a semester. In today’s increasingly global, interconnected economy, businesses here in America do business with, and compete with, businesses around the world. So these days, knowing a foreign language and being familiar with a foreign culture can actually be an important qualification for a job.

First Lady Michelle Obama delivers remarks on education at Peking University in Beijing, China March 22, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

In addition, so many of the challenges we face today – like climate change, economic opportunity, and disease – are shared challenges, meaning that no one person in any one country can address them alone. So soon, it will be up to your generation to solve these problems working with other young leaders across the globe. And by studying abroad, and getting to understand cultures and societies different from your own, you can begin to lay the foundation for that kind of cooperation.

But make no mistake about it, you don’t need to get on a plane to see the world and engage with people from other countries. I told students today that if you have access to a computer with an internet connection in your home, school, or library, then with the click of a button, you can transport yourself anywhere in the world and connect with people on every continent. And of course, you can do this because in America, ideas and information can flow freely over the internet. As I said today, the First Amendment of our Constitution guarantees all of us the right to free speech, and our government puts few limits on what we can say online, on TV and in the newspapers.

The government in China puts restrictions on both the internet and the news media, but when my husband and I travel, we feel that it’s important to talk about what we believe in America. This is how we start a conversation through which countries can better understand each other’s values and beliefs. That’s why, in my speech today, I talked about how in America, we believe that we’re strongest when everyone’s voices can be heard and people can question and criticize their government freely and openly. That’s how we discover the truth about what’s happening in our communities, our country and our world. And that’s how we decide which ideas are best – by hearing everyone’s opinions and then judging for ourselves.

This can sometimes be a messy and frustrating process. But as I said today, I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world, because this vibrant exchange of ideas is what makes us who we are. It’s how we challenge each other and learn from each other, and it ensures that our government is truly listening to the voices of the people it serves. My husband and I feel tremendously lucky to be part of this process every single day.

After my speech, I met with a group of Chinese and American students studying here at Peking University -- and we connected by video to a group of high school and college students back home in the U.S. who had gathered at Stanford University in California. We had a lively discussion during which students shared stories about their experiences studying abroad in China. Several students admitted that before arriving in China, they had all kinds of fears -- they worried that they wouldn't be able to speak Chinese well enough, that they would struggle to adjust to a new environment, and that they would be further away from home than ever before. But they all agreed that by overcoming those fears, they had learned and grown more than they could ever have imagined. 

First Lady Michelle Obama participates in a video conference with students at Peking University and in California China on March 22, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

One student also spoke about his worries about the cost of studying abroad, a concern that many other students could relate to. I emphasized that study abroad should be for students from all kinds of backgrounds -- students of every race and socioeconomic level. Because I believe that kind of diversity is who we are -- it's what makes our country so vibrant and strong -- and our study abroad programs should help us show America's true face to the world. That's why my husband supports programs like 100,000 Strong that give students from all different backgrounds the chance to study abroad.

So no matter where you come from or how much money your parents have, I hope that all of you reading this blog today will consider studying abroad one day.

Touring the Forbidden City. #FLOTUSinChina pic.twitter.com/Nh87xzlhZJ

— FLOTUS (@FLOTUS) March 21, 2014

After visiting the Beijing Normal School, Madame Peng took Sasha and Malia, my mother, and me to the Forbidden City, which is located right in the heart of Beijing.

For more than 2,000 years (up until 1912), China was ruled by emperors who descended from many different dynasties, or families, who passed ruling positions on from generation to generation – and for nearly 500 years, the Forbidden City served as the emperor’s home. 

Like the name suggests, the Forbidden City is large enough to be a city of its own – it includes nearly 1,000 buildings and nearly 10,000 rooms. 

In 1925, the new Chinese government turned the Forbidden City into a museum so that visitors like us from all over the world can stroll through many of the beautiful rooms and outdoor spaces. 

Despite its size, some of the most interesting aspects of the Forbidden City are actually very small. Intricate carvings in jade and marble and glazed colored tiles fill the rooms and tell stories about ancient Chinese history. The ceilings are covered with detailed, carved designs.  And miniature sculptures sit on the buildings’ roofs, where they watched over the emperors centuries ago.  

The Forbidden City is far too large to fully experience in a single visit, but highlights include the following: The Hall of Union and Peace has almost 14,000 ornamental dragons. The Hall of Supreme Harmony is where the emperor viewed birthday celebrations and coronation ceremonies from his Dragon Throne. And then there are the Imperial Gardens, where you can walk along the paths and pavilions, admiring the beautiful rock arrangements, flowers and cypress trees.

While we loved our visit to the Forbidden City, we only wish we had more time to see everything. But then again, I’m not sure there could ever be enough time to fully appreciate all of the art and history within this extraordinary place.

Watch on YouTube

After a long flight from Washington, D.C. – one that took around 20 hours – my mother, my daughters, and I arrived in Beijing to begin our official visit to China.  Our first stop was at the Beijing Normal School, where we were hosted by Madam Peng Liyuan, the First Lady of China.

Madam Peng (her name is pronounced “Pung”) first became known to the Chinese people long before she was First Lady.  Madam Peng earned her Master’s Degree in traditional ethnic music at China’s Conservatory of Music, and in 1983, she performed as a folk singer on the Chinese Lunar New Year telecast, which is consistently the most-watched broadcast in the world.  In the years since, she has appeared on that telecast multiple times, while also performing for audiences throughout China, becoming one of the most popular folk singers in her country. 

In addition to being a singer, Madam Peng has also earned the civilian rank equal to a Major General in the Chinese military (she joined when she was 18 years old).  Three years ago, she was named a Global Ambassador by the World Health Organization, and she works to fight diseases like tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS.  And last year, she became China’s First Lady when her Husband, President Xi Jinping, became China’s President. 

As my family and I can attest from our time together at the Beijing Normal School, Madam Peng is a warm and gracious host.  And this visit was a perfect opportunity to highlight the themes of my trip: the value of education and the importance of cultural exchanges between young people in different countries. 

About 800 students attend the Beijing Normal School, and of those, roughly one in four are international students – including some Americans.  All the classes are taught in English (one room even has a map of the United States on the ceiling), and the curriculum prepares students to study internationally once they graduate.  Many students here hope to one day attend college in America. 

First Lady Michelle Obama, along with her mother Marian Robinson, and daughters Malia and Sasha, visit a Geometry Robotics Lab at the Beijing Normal School in Beijing, China, March 21, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

Madam Peng and I first visited a class where students were actually building their own robots, and they were kind enough to do a demonstration for us.  The first robot we saw could actually walk over obstacles.  Another one, which was shaped like a triangle, was referred to as "bad boy" by its student creators (one of them explained to us that this robot is "really naughty").  After the robotics class, we stopped by a ping pong practice session where I got some tips from the instructor and then had the chance to play with one of the students.  She was excellent (though I think she may have gone easy on me, just to be nice).  We ended our visit by saying a quick hello to the 33 American students who are studying at this school through an exchange program.   

First Lady Michelle Obama visits a calligraphy class with Madam Peng at the Beijing Normal School in Beijing, China, March 21, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

This visit was a wonderful way to start our trip and a good opportunity for us to see how students here in China are already collaborating with students around the world and preparing to expand and deepen these connections in the years ahead.

The First Lady & Madam Peng stop by a robotics class at a high school in Beijing. #PowerOfEducation #FLOTUSinChina pic.twitter.com/M2N4KawkHV

— FLOTUS (@FLOTUS) March 21, 2014

First Lady Michelle Obama plays ping pong with students while touring the Beijing Normal School in Beijing, China, March 21, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

First Lady Michelle Obama greets students after playing ping pong at the Beijing Normal School in Beijing, China, March 21, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

First Lady Michelle Obama and Madam Peng are greeted by a group of students as they leave the Beijing Normal School in Beijing, China, March 21, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

First Lady Michelle Obama, along with daughters Sasha, Malia and her mother Marian Robinson, visit with President Xi Jinping of the People's Republic of China and Madam Peng in the courtyard of the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, Chinag , March 21, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

First Lady Michelle Obama meets with President Xi Jinping of the People's Republic of China at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China, March 21, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

 

Learn more:

• Get email updates about the visit and check out more content, including photos, videos and how you can particpate.
• Read the First Lady's blog post announcing the China trip.

Today is my last day of my trip, and I couldn’t leave China without seeing the Chengdu Panda Base.  I’ve got to say, seeing baby pandas playing together was even cuter than I thought it would be – and the girls and I even had a chance to hold one.  [We also walked through an area full of red pandas – a different, smaller species that look sort of like a mixture of a panda and a fox.  They’re friendly and will walk right up to you to say hi!]

But learning about pandas isn’t just about seeing [link to panda cam] some incredibly cute animals.  It’s also a way to learn some important lessons about caring for endangered species.  Fewer than 1,600 pandas remain in the wild, and that’s why a place like the Chengdu Panda Base is so important.  The base covers almost 600 square miles and it’s located right in the heart of pandas’ natural habitat.  The area surrounding the base is the only location in the world where you can find pandas in the wild and in a research center.  Right now, there are about 50 pandas at the Panda Base, ranging in age from infancy to full-grown adults.  Chinese scientists spend their days working with the animals to increase the panda population through breeding, conservation, and researching how the bears live and grow.

As we learned about the pandas’ future, I also spent some time reflecting on their past.  Believe it or not, pandas have actually played a leading role in world events over the past few decades through a custom known as “Panda Diplomacy.”  It’s a tradition that dates back at least to the seventh century, and over the past few decades, panda diplomacy has been a key way that China has reached out to other nations.  Since the 1950s, China has given pandas to countries like France, Japan, Great Britain, Mexico, and the United States.  It’s a goodwill offering—a way to reach out and build a connection between two countries and their people. 

That was certainly the case when China first offered America pandas back in 1972.  At that time, there was extremely limited contact between our two governments.  From 1949, when the communist party assumed power in China, up until 1979, the United States did not officially recognize the government of the People’s Republic of China. 

But in the early ‘70s, President Nixon believed that we could rise above our differences and begin to open relations.  So, in 1972, he reached out to the Chinese and became the first sitting U.S. President to visit mainland China.  And on that trip, after Mrs. Pat Nixon said how much she enjoyed seeing pandas at a Chinese zoo, the Chinese Premier offered a pair of pandas to the People of the United States.  The original pandas – Ling Ling and Hsing Hsing – were housed at the National Zoo, and Chinese pandas have lived there ever since.  In fact, just last fall, a new baby panda – Bao Bao, which means “treasure” or “precious” – was born there, giving new life to our growing relationship with China. 

And I believe that that history is instructive for us today.  It shows that even for nations as big, complex and different as the United States and China, small gestures can mean a whole lot.  They can bring people together and form a bond that can stretch across a globe.  And in our modern world, where we can connect with someone on the other side of the planet with the click of a button, we all have an opportunity to make those small gestures in our own lives.

So whether it’s reaching out to other students overseas, studying abroad, or simply keeping up on world events, each of us can take a step to build a connection with people and cultures that are different from our own.  Because if we do that – if we take the time to truly get to know understand each other – then we’ll be doing our part to keep building.

I hope you'll follow along and help me get the word out.

Hi everyone, it's Michelle! I'm taking over the Instagram account today during my trip to Miami to talk about the health of our country's families, and why it's so important for everyone to #GetCovered. I hope you follow along. -mo

Great to sit down with @RobinRobertsGMA and discuss the importance of eating healthy and staying active. Your story continues to inspire me and so many others. -mo

Thank you to everyone at the Jessie Trice Community Health Center for doing amazing work to keep families healthy and educate people about how to #GetCovered. So great to meet you all. Keep it up! -mo

Thanks for following along! There are just 26 days left to #GetCovered so please get the word out to your friends and family. Make sure anyone who needs health insurance knows they can sign up for a plan that fits their needs at HealthCare.gov. -mo

On March 19th, I’ll be heading to China for an official visit – and I want young people like you across America to join me.

Over the past five years as First Lady, I’ve traveled around the world – to countries like Mexico, India, South Africa, Ireland and others across Africa, Asia, Europe and South America – and China is another important stop on this journey.  With more than 1.3 billion people, China is the most populous country on earth, and it plays an important role on the world stage.

My husband and I take the time to visit countries like China because we know that today, more than ever before, our lives here in America are connected to the lives of people around the world. 

Companies here in America do business with – and compete with – companies across the globe.  With the click of a button, you can connect with kids on every continent, and last year alone, more than 283,000 American high school and college students studied in more than 190 different countries (China is actually the fifth most popular place for American students to study abroad, and more students come from China to study in the U.S. than from any other country).  And no matter what country we live in, we’re all facing so many of the same challenges – from ensuring that students get a good education; to fighting poverty, hunger and disease; to addressing threats to our planet like climate change. 

These issues affect every last one of us, so it’s critically important that young people like you learn about what’s going on not just here in America, but around the world.  Because when it comes to the challenges we face, soon, all of you will be leading the way. You’ll be discovering the cures, inventing the technologies, building the businesses, and making the laws that will shape our future for generations to come.  And you’ll need to do these things together, working with others around the world – so you’ll need to be familiar with cultures, languages, and traditions that are very different from your own.

That’s why everywhere I go, whether it’s here in the U.S. or abroad, I meet with young people to hear about your challenges, hopes and dreams – and that’s what I’ll be doing in China as well.  During my trip, I’ll be visiting a university and two high schools in Beijing and Chengdu (which are two of China’s largest cities).  I’ll be talking with students about their lives in China and telling them about America and the values and traditions we hold dear.  I’ll be focusing in particular on the power and importance of education, both in my own life and in the lives of young people in both of our countries. I’ll also be visiting various historical and cultural sites in China, and I look forward to sharing with you the stories of the students I meet, as well as the interesting facts I learn about Chinese history and culture. 

I’ll be posting a daily travel blog, complete with videos and photos, and I’ll be taking – and answering – questions from kids across America as I go.

I hope you’ll join me – all you have to do is get online:

• Go to WhiteHouse.gov to check out my travel blog, and you can even sign up for a daily email update delivered to your inbox.
• Explore educational resources about China and join virtual events with PBS LearningMedia and Discovery Education.
• Follow me on Twitter @FLOTUS and on Instagram @MichelleObama for the latest updates from the road and for chances to ask questions during the visit.

I look forward to sharing this important trip with you.

First Lady Michelle Obama participates in a Google + Hangout on education at the Sci Bono Discovery Center in Johannesburg, South Africa, June 29, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

After seven amazing days, we’re finally back home. I hope you enjoyed following our journey, and I hope that you’ll be inspired to continue learning about Africa.

We visited only three of this continent’s countries on our trip, but there are so many more, each with its own rich history and culture. In each of these countries, there are young people just like you who are working hard to get an education and dreaming about their futures just like you are. And I have to tell you, after meeting so many of these young people this past week, and seeing how passionate, determined and talented they are, I feel more confident than ever before about our future. 

As these young people -- along with young people in the U.S. and around the world – step up to become the next generation of leaders, I’m convinced that you all will rise to the many challenges we face and move our countries and our world forward for generations to come.

Thank you again for joining me on this journey!

Michelle Obama is First Lady of the United States

The First Lady's Travel Journal from Africa

Kicking Off Our Trip to Africa
June 26, 2013 - Washington, D.C.

An Example to Follow
June 27, 2013 - Dakar, Senegal

Visiting Goree Island
June 27, 2013 - Goree Island, Senegal 

My Return to South Africa
June 28, 2013 - Johannesburg, South Africa

Connecting Continents
June 29, 2013 - Johannesburg, South Africa

Robben Island, an Experience We Will Never Forget
June 30, 2013 - Robben Island, South Africa

A Warm Welcome to Tanzania
July 1, 2013 - Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Empowering Girls Through Education
July 2, 2013 - Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Upon arrival, I got to meet First Ladies from countries all across Africa who came here to Tanzania for this summit.  These women are doing extraordinary work in their home countries – from raising awareness about HIV/AIDS, to fighting violence against women, to working to end child hunger – and it was inspiring to learn about the difference they are making across this continent. 

I then had a lively discussion with Mrs. Bush about the impact that First Ladies can have on the important issues this conference is focused on: women’s health, women’s economic empowerment, and education for women and girls.  This last issue is particularly near and dear to my heart and has been part of my focus throughout this trip.

The fact is that too often, in developing countries, girls simply don’t get the chance to attend school.  In some parts of Africa, fewer than 20% of girls ever attend high school.

There are many reasons for this education gender gap.  Sometimes, girls’ families simply can’t afford the costs of sending them to school (for things like school fees, uniforms, or school supplies).  Or if parents don’t have enough money to send all their children to school, they’ll send their sons instead of their daughters.  In some parts of the world, girls are expected to get married when they’re very young – when they’re teenagers or even younger – or they have to work to help support their families, so they can’t go to school.  And in some places, a girl may have to walk many miles to attend the nearest school, and it may not be safe for her to do that by herself.

So while you may face challenges in your life here in the U.S., chances are that it's much easier for you to get your education than it is for so many girls around the world. That's why it's so important for girls – and all young people – here in the U.S. to take advantage of the opportunities you have. You might not love every class you take, or every teacher you have, but it's so important to show up everyday, for every class, and learn everything you can. Find a subject you're passionate about, and push yourself to learn even more than what you're studying in school. If you're struggling or falling behind, find a teacher, coach or counselor who can help. If you encounter people who doubt that you have what it takes to succeed, tune them out and then prove them wrong. In short, do whatever you need to do to get the very best education you can.

But we know that when girls get an education, that’s not just good for them, it’s good for their families and their countries too.  Studies show that when girls are educated at least through high school, they are healthier and have children later in life – and their children grow up healthier and better educated as well.  In addition, just one extra year of high school boosts a girl’s eventual wages by up to 25 percent, and when girls are educated, that boosts their countries’ economies as well. 

Fortunately, more and more people are becoming aware of these facts – sometimes known as “the girl effect” – and are working hard to help more girls get the education they need.  Mrs. Bush has been doing excellent work on this issue, as have many of the First Ladies I met and so many other individuals and organizations around the world.  I’m excited to be part of this movement – and I hope you will be too.

Michelle Obama is First Lady of the United States

See more travel journals from the First Lady:

• June 26, 2013: Kicking Off Our Trip to Africa
• June 27, 2013: An Example to Follow
• June 27, 2013: Visiting Goree Island
• June 28, 2013: My Return to South Africa
• June 29, 2013: Connecting Continents
• June 30, 2013: Robben Island, an Experience We Will Never Forget
• July 1, 2013: A Warm Welcome to Tanzania

Upon arrival, I got to meet First Ladies from countries all across Africa who came here to Tanzania for this summit.  These women are doing extraordinary work in their home countries – from raising awareness about HIV/AIDS, to fighting violence against women, to working to end child hunger – and it was inspiring to learn about the difference they are making across this continent. 

I then had a lively discussion with Mrs. Bush about the impact that First Ladies can have on the important issues this conference is focused on: women’s health, women’s economic empowerment, and education for women and girls.  This last issue is particularly near and dear to my heart and has been part of my focus throughout this trip.

The fact is that too often, in developing countries, girls simply don’t get the chance to attend school.  In some parts of Africa, fewer than 20% of girls ever attend high school.

There are many reasons for this education gender gap.  Sometimes, girls’ families simply can’t afford the costs of sending them to school (for things like school fees, uniforms, or school supplies).  Or if parents don’t have enough money to send all their children to school, they’ll send their sons instead of their daughters.  In some parts of the world, girls are expected to get married when they’re very young – when they’re teenagers or even younger – or they have to work to help support their families, so they can’t go to school.  And in some places, a girl may have to walk many miles to attend the nearest school, and it may not be safe for her to do that by herself.

So while you may face challenges in your life here in the U.S., chances are that it's much easier for you to get your education than it is for so many girls around the world. That's why it's so important for girls – and all young people – here in the U.S. to take advantage of the opportunities you have. You might not love every class you take, or every teacher you have, but it's so important to show up everyday, for every class, and learn everything you can. Find a subject you're passionate about, and push yourself to learn even more than what you're studying in school. If you're struggling or falling behind, find a teacher, coach or counselor who can help. If you encounter people who doubt that you have what it takes to succeed, tune them out and then prove them wrong. In short, do whatever you need to do to get the very best education you can.

But we know that when girls get an education, that’s not just good for them, it’s good for their families and their countries too.  Studies show that when girls are educated at least through high school, they are healthier and have children later in life – and their children grow up healthier and better educated as well.  In addition, just one extra year of high school boosts a girl’s eventual wages by up to 25 percent, and when girls are educated, that boosts their countries’ economies as well. 

Fortunately, more and more people are becoming aware of these facts – sometimes known as “the girl effect” – and are working hard to help more girls get the education they need.  Mrs. Bush has been doing excellent work on this issue, as have many of the First Ladies I met and so many other individuals and organizations around the world.  I’m excited to be part of this movement – and I hope you will be too.

Michelle Obama is First Lady of the United States

See more travel journals from the First Lady:

• June 26, 2013: Kicking Off Our Trip to Africa
• June 27, 2013: An Example to Follow
• June 27, 2013: Visiting Goree Island
• June 28, 2013: My Return to South Africa
• June 29, 2013: Connecting Continents
• June 30, 2013: Robben Island, an Experience We Will Never Forget
• July 1, 2013: A Warm Welcome to Tanzania

First Lady Michelle Obama and Salma Kikwete, along with daughters Malia and Sasha, watch the Baba Watoto performance at the National Museum in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, July 1, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

I just watched the most extraordinary group of young people sing, dance and perform gravity-defying acrobatic feats – and they did it all with rhythm, style and grace! 

These kids are part of the Baba wa Watoto (which is Swahili for “father of children”) Center, an amazing community organization that gives kids the opportunities they need to succeed in school and in life. Many of you might participate in programs like this – such as Girl Scouts or 4H or the Boys and Girls Club – in your own communities, so you know what a difference they can make. Like these programs, Babawatoto teaches kids about the power of hard work, discipline and leadership, skills they can apply to every part of their lives. And seeing the talent, energy and passion these kids brought to that stage today, I’m confident that they’ll be successful wherever their journeys take them.

More travel journals from the First Lady:

• June 26, 2013: Kicking Off Our Trip to Africa
• June 27, 2013: An Example to Follow
• June 27, 2013: Visiting Goree Island
• June 28, 2013: My Return to South Africa
• June 29, 2013: Connecting Continents
• June 30, 2013: Robben Island, an Experience We Will Never Forget
• July 1, 2013: A Warm Welcome to Tanzania

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama shake hands as they arrive at the State House in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, July 1, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

When we stepped off the plane in Tanzania today, we received a welcome that warmed our hearts and made us feel right at home. We were greeted by the President of Tanzania, President Jakaya Kikwete and his wife, Tanzania's First Lady, Mrs. Salma Kikwete. We then took part in an official arrival ceremony which included a military honor guard, the playing of the Tanzanian and American national anthems, and a magnificent dance and drumming performance with hundreds of dancers. And people lined the streets waving American and Tanzanian flags as we drove away.

Arrival ceremonies like this one are a vital part of diplomacy – they’re how countries and their leaders welcome each other and show their respect for each other. Here in the U.S., we have our own arrival ceremony for visiting leaders where we play their country’s national anthem as well as our own; we give them either a 21 or 19 gun salute (where members of our military fire guns into the air either 21 or 19 times as a show of respect); and both my husband and the foreign leader give brief speeches.

Later that evening, we host a special dinner where we honor our guests and do our best to make them feel at home here in the U.S. For example, we knew that President Calderon of Mexico was born in a region where the monarch butterflies migrate each spring. So when we held our Mexico State dinner, we had a butterfly theme for our decorations. 

First Lady Michelle Obama and Salma Kikwete pause for a moment of silence while visiting the U.S. Embassy Bombing Memorial at the National Museum in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, July 1, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

We also exchange gifts with our guests – and we always try to give them something personal and meaningful. For example, when my husband visited the United Kingdom back in 2011, he and Prime Minister David Cameron had a wonderful time grilling burgers and sausages at a barbecue for military men and women. So when Prime Minister Cameron came here to the United States last year, we gave him a special grill with engravings of our two countries’ flags and a special plaque commemorating his visit. We also gave him and his wife personalized White House chef jackets to wear while they barbecue.

During these visits, we also sometimes treat our guests to special outings or events. My husband actually took Prime Minister Cameron to a March Madness basketball game in Ohio. Apparently, Barack did his best to explain the rules of basketball to Prime Minister Cameron…and the Prime Minister did his best to explain the British game of cricket to Barack. But when the Prime Minister returned for another visit this year, and he and Barack held a joint press conference, Barack sheepishly stated, “…we have to confess that David still does not understand basketball – I still do not understand cricket.” It might take another visit or two to sort that out!

More travel journals from the First Lady:

• June 26, 2013: Kicking Off Our Trip to Africa
• June 27, 2013: An Example to Follow
• June 27, 2013: Visiting Goree Island
• June 28, 2013: My Return to South Africa
• June 29, 2013: Connecting Continents
• June 30, 2013: Robben Island, an Experience We Will Never Forget

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, along with Leslie Robinson, daughters Malia and Sasha, and Marian Robinson, tour the Lime Quarry on Robben Island in Cape Town, South Africa, June 30, 2013. Ahmed Kathrada, a former prisoner in Robben Island Prison, leads their tour. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Today, our family visited Robben Island for an experience we will never forget. Robben Island is located off the coast of South Africa, and from the 1960s through the 1990s, this Island housed a maximum security prison. Many of the prisoners there – including the guide for our visit, a man named Ahmed Mohamed Kathrada – were activists who worked to bring down Apartheid, the South African government’s policies that discriminated against people of color.  Under Apartheid, people of different races were separated in nearly every part of South African society.  They were forced to attend separate schools, live in separate neighborhoods, even swim at separate beaches – and in nearly every case, the neighborhoods, schools and other facilities for black people were much worse than the ones for white people. 

Among those imprisoned at Robben Island for fighting Apartheid were three men who went on to become President of South Africa: Nelson Mandela, Kgalema Motlanthe and the current president, Jacob Zuma.

So today, as we toured the island, I couldn’t help but think about how this place must have shaped these leaders.  Put yourself in their shoes – all they were doing was fighting to ensure that people in South Africa would be treated equally, no matter what the color of their skin.  And for that, they wound up confined on this remote island, far removed from the world they so desperately hoped to change. 

During our visit, we toured the rock quarry where they spent their days doing backbreaking labor, crushing and lifting heavy rocks in the blinding sun.  We also saw the tiny cells – including Mr. Kathrada’s cell – where they spent their nights.  It was amazing to see Mandela’s cell, a tiny room – about 6 feet wide – where he spent 18 of the 27 years he was in prison.  He slept on a thin mat on the floor, and when he stretched out to sleep at night, his toes touched one wall, while his head grazed the other.  The walls were two feet thick with no decorations, and he was given a bucket to use as a toilet. 

In his first few years on the island, Mandela wasn’t allowed to read the newspaper, listen to the radio, or even have a clock to keep the time.  Meals consisted of small rations of porridge – and every other day, he received a tiny piece of meat, but it was mainly gristle.  When his mother and son passed away, he couldn’t attend their funerals.  And at one point, a prison guard left a news clipping in Mandela’s cell – an article about the government’s mistreatment of his wife – just to taunt him. 

Yet despite these conditions, Mandela and his fellow prisoners never lost hope.  As Mandela once said, “Prison – far from breaking our spirits – made us more determined to continue with this battle until victory was won.”  They did their best to get an education while in prison – they read as many books as they could, and some prisoners even got university degrees through correspondence courses.  They vigorously debated philosophy, politics, and the direction of the anti-Apartheid movement.  They stood up to mistreatment by the prison guards. And they found ways to communicate in secret, such as stuffing notes inside tennis balls that they would pass along during recreation periods. 

So when these prisoners were finally released, their spirits were far from broken.  Mandela went on to lead the movement to end Apartheid and set up a new democratic government.  He won a Nobel Peace Prize and became South Africa’s first black President.  And for me, one of the most amazing parts of his story is this: when he was inaugurated as President, his invited three of his prison guards from Robben Island to join in his inaugural celebration. 

So instead of becoming cynical or despondent, or allowing himself to be consumed by bitterness and hatred, Mandela found it in his heart to forgive.  And even during all those years imprisoned on Robben Island, he never stopped believing that his country could move forward together as one nation in that same spirit of forgiveness. 

While very few of us will ever encounter the kind of discrimination and brutality that Nelson Mandela endured, all of us can learn important lessons from his struggle.  We can learn about the importance of standing up for what you believe in, no matter what the cost.  We can learn about how, with self-discipline and courage, we can overcome the most unthinkable hardships.  And we can learn about the power of forgiveness to turn enemies into friends and help us move forward from a troubled past to a more hopeful future.  So I hope that you will read more about President Mandela’s extraordinary life and seek to live up to his example in your own life.

Michelle Obama is the First Lady of the United States

More travel journals from the First Lady:

• June 26, 2013: Kicking Off Our Trip to Africa
• June 27, 2013: An Example to Follow
• June 27, 2013: Visiting Goree Island
• June 28, 2013: My Return to South Africa
• June 29, 2013: Connecting Continents
• June 30, 2013: Robben Island, an Experience We Will Never Forget

First Lady Michelle Obama participates in a Google+ Hangout on education at the Sci Bono Discovery Center in in Johannesburg, South Africa, June 29, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

Today, through the wonders of technology, we brought together students here in South Africa with students across the U.S. who joined us through a Google+ Hangout for a lively town hall about the importance of education.  Singer and songwriter John Legend – who’s passionate about improving education – joined us from Los Angeles.  And singer and actress, Victoria Justice – who works with an organization called Girl Up that empowers girls around the world – beamed in from Houston. 

First Lady Michelle Obama delivers remarks during a Google + Hangout on education at the Sci Bono Discovery Center in Johannesburg, South Africa, June 29, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

I kicked off this event by talking about how, in both the U.S. and South Africa, young people have always played such a vital role in shaping our history.  I then gave two examples – the Soweto Uprising here in South Africa, and the plight of the Little Rock Nine here in the U.S. – to illustrate that point.  In both cases, young people risked their lives to get a better education for themselves and for kids all across our two countries.  I also talked about President Mandela and how, if he could endure being confined to a tiny prison cell for nearly three decades, but still hold tight to his vision for his country’s future, then surely, we can all work hard to make the most of the opportunities he fought for. 

After I spoke, I turned things over to our moderator, South African MTV  Base VJ Sizwe Dholomo, who opened up the floor to the students – and let me tell you, they blew me away!  We heard from students in South Africa including:

• A young man named Aubrey who said that while he comes from a humble background, it’s not your background that determines where you’ll go in life, “It’s your dreams that will take you to a better future.” 
• A young woman named Kamo who’s volunteering at, and raising money for, a shelter for girls who’ve been sexually exploited.  She is being raised by a single mother and expressed her gratitude for all the sacrifices her mother has made so that she can get a good education.
• A young man named Tebogo who, inspired by President Mandela’s life of service, is determined to serve his country as a teacher – as he put it, “Teachers are there first and foremost to inspire us.”
• A young woman named Mirriam who dreams of becoming an Emergency Room doctor and is part of an organization called Cloud Dog which identifies problems in her community and works to solve them.

We also heard from kids in the U.S., including kids at the YMCA in New York City who travel around the world as part of a Global Teen Program; girls in Houston who are part of Girl Up; and kids in Kansas City and Los Angeles as well. 

These young people are amazing! With their commitment to education, I know they'll change the world. -mo pic.twitter.com/mTWtBQMJyJ

— FLOTUS (@FLOTUS) June 29, 2013

First Lady Michelle Obama and stage participants take a group photo following a Google + Hangout on education at the Sci Bono Discovery Center in in Johannesburg, South Africa, June 29, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

These young people live halfway around the world from each other, but over the course of our conversation, it was clear that they all have so much in common: their commitment to getting a good education; their passion for serving their communities; their desire to step up and play a part in shaping history just like generations of young people before them.  

That is the power of technology: to make the distance of an ocean disappear with the touch of a button, connecting us across continents so that we can listen to each other, learn from each other, and see how much we all have in common.  That is so important, because I want young people like you to think of yourselves as citizens of the world.  So I hope you’ll use technologies like Google+ Hangouts, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and others to continue this conversation and keep on learning from – and being inspired by – kids all across the globe. 

Michelle Obama is the First Lady of the United States

On that visit, I met with young women leaders from across the continent who were serving their countries and their communities – educating young people, providing job training for women, working to combat poverty and violence and disease – often in the face of impossible odds.  I also had the chance to spend time with young people from here in South Africa: I danced with children at a daycare center, visited the University of Cape Town with local high school students, and took part in a children’s soccer clinic at one of the stadiums used in the 2010 World Cup.

I also had the chance to meet President Nelson Mandela at his home in Johannesburg, an experience that I will never forget.  Mandela – or “Madiba” as he’s referred to in South Africa – is truly a giant in world history.  As a young man, he led a movement against Apartheid – the South African government’s policies that discriminated against people of color, forcing them to live in separate neighborhoods and attend separate schools and prohibiting them from even voting in national elections.  For his defiance, Mandela was jailed for 27 years, and his struggle became a source of inspiration for people all around the world.

First Lady Michelle Obama meets with former President Nelson Mandela of South Africa at his home in Houghton, South Africa, June 21, 2011. Mrs. Obama viewed items from President Mandela's archives earlier during a tour of the Mandela Foundation in Johannesburg. (Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton)

 After he was finally released from prison in 1990, Mandela worked to dismantle the Apartheid state and replace it with a full democracy – and in 1994, four years after he was released from prison, he became the South Africa’s first black President. Today, Mandela is 94 years old. As I mentioned in my first post, he’s currently in the hospital, and he is very much in my thoughts and prayers right now. He has been such a source of hope for so many people for so long, and when I reflect on Mandela’s life and legacy, I think about his courage and determination – enduring nearly three decades in jail without ever giving up on his dream of a more just and equal South Africa.  It’s amazing to think about everything he’s seen during his lifetime: the horrors of Apartheid, the quiet desolation of a jail cell, but also the realization of a vibrant South African democracy.  I’m so glad that he lived to see the fruits of his struggle and sacrifice – and I’m so glad that he never gave up on his dream of a better country and a better world for future generations.  As President Mandela once said, “Our children are the rock on which our future will be built.”

That’s exactly how I feel as well.  And that’s why, during my time in South Africa, I’m going to once again reach out to as many young people as I can – and I’m going to try to connect these young people with young people back home in America as well.  Because I know that if young people like you all can share your stories and learn from each other’s experiences, then we’ll all be able to keep moving forward, and together, we’ll be able to build upon Nelson Mandela’s legacy for years to come. 

Michelle Obama is the First Lady of the United States

More travel journals from the First Lady:

• June 26, 2013: Kicking Off Our Trip to Africa
• June 27, 2013: An Example to Follow
• June 27, 2013: Visiting Goree Island

View the full-size gallery of the First Lady's 2011 Trip to South Africa and Botswana