When we first started out, we had none of the things listed above.  What we did have were families with a genuine desire to learn more about the best of their world -- and that was enough to start.  Eventually, we found all the other things, buying most of them secondhand off the internet. While it may take some effort to find what you need, we can say (from our own experience, at least) that the bridges have been so life changing that they are worth whatever effort you put into them.

1.  WORLD MAP.  Find a good map of the world to show the bridge crossers where they are going and the wonder of being able to hear people's voices half way around the world.  If you have high speed internet access, supplement a printed map with Google Earth maps.  They are linked into National Geographic and often take you to articles which will help you learn more about where you're going.

2.  CLOCK.  Have a good-sized clock that can be easily seen anywhere in the room you're calling from set to the local time where you're calling to.

3.  TRANSLATOR.  If you are calling a part of the world that speaks a language other than your own, you'll need a translator. If you're calling Russia that should not be a problem as virtually every school in every town or village has English language teachers with enough proficiency to handle simple conversations.  Even if the translation is rough, if you're patient, it won't keep you from understanding one another and being able to leave a deep impression on one another.  You'll quickly learn to listen to the intonation of people's voices: their sincerity, their thoughtfulness, their joy, their concerns.  You can communicate much by not only what you say, but how you say it.

4.  SPEAKER PHONE.  You can start with a home speaker phone, but the better quality the phone, the more successful the flow of conversation will be.  We recommend Polycom phones.  They are very expensive but you can find good secondhand phones on the internet from sites like e-bay.  We found ours (and had a very pleasant experience) working with Signal Communications.  http://signalusa.com
     A word of caution!  Depending on where you're calling from, be sure to find out what the oversea's rate is to the country you're calling.  With a good overseas calling plan, an hour long call to Russia is about $25.  The first time we didn't check the rates, we paid $300 for an hour long call.  After that we remembered to check.  If the rate is too high through your phone company, you can purchase a good quality phone card.  Don't purchase a cheap phone card as the connection is too poor to make normal conversation possible.

5.  LAP TOP COMPUTER.  If you have a lap top computer and high speed internet service, we highly recommend using Skype.  Skype is an internet phone service.  That is, you talk using your computer exactly as if you were talking into a phone.  The Skype web site has a free download and is easy to use.  Even more the calls themselves are FREE if you are calling another computer.  You can also use Skype to call overseas land lines and mobile phones.  The quality is as good (if not better) than phone cards and the rates are much cheaper.  You can use Skype with dial up, but the quality is not as good, and sometimes impossible to use.
      Further, if you can bring a lap top computer to the bridge, it provides you with the means of using the internet to find pictures of the region you're calling to and information about it.
 

Do you have questions? Can we help? If so, please e-mail us at:  books@worldpath.net
 

1.  Be patient and flexible -- and have a good sense of humor.  We've crossed bridges where the phone line has gone dead a half dozen times.  Just call again and laugh about it.  It makes you appreciate how special it is that your voice can be heard a world away.

2.  We have found the bridges more meaningful if you keep the group size smaller than larger (between 6 and 12 people).  Call every few months and consider establishing pen pal relationships.

3.  Be prepared for the bridge.  Come with questions.  Come with things to say about yourself.  Write down what you want to say and ask before the call begins!  In addition, it is very special when you bring something special to share: a song sung or played on the guitar or flute.  When those you're calling prepare something special, or make the effort to speak in your language, applaud heartily their efforts!

4.  Thoroughly check out the equipment you will be using!  Further, if you are using a calling card, have a second calling card available from another company in case the first card doesn't work for some reason.  If you are using Skype, also have a regular phone and calling card ready in case the Skype connection is poor.

5.  Check time zones carefully and be sure everyone knows when the call is to take place.  Be flexible.  If there is a ten or more hour time difference, one side will have to get up earlier in the morning, and the other side will have to stay up a little later.

6.   Learn some phrases to say if you're calling a country that speaks a language different from your own.  Your efforts will leave a deep impression.  Even more, it's fun to speak another language!

7.  Be sensitive to the situation of others.  Be unselfish.  Can you afford to place the call more easily than those you're calling?  If so, then be willing to host the call each time.   Think about what you want to say or ask.  Could it inadvertantly be misunderstood?  Making friends "long distance" takes thoughtfulness, consideration, and humility.  It should help you look with new eyes not only at your world, but at yourself as well.
 

HOW TO FIND PEOPLE TO CALL:

1.  Work through friends.  If you know someone in your community who is from another country, ask that person if he or she has friends or relatives in the country they came from that would help organize a bridge.  Your local high school undoubtedly has language teachers that very likely have friends overseas.  Every phone bridge we've built has been planned with the help of a close friend or through friends of friends.  There needs to be some "known" factor so that trust can be established from the start and so that the logistics of planning the bridge can be done without any inadvertent misunderstandings.

2.  Match up interests.  The most obvious is to let students "go to school" in a classroom around the world and learn about school life there.  But you can also organize meaningful bridges between mothers or grandmothers talking about family; between musicians talking about their love of music; between people of similar professions, etc.