OTTUMWA — Rose Schultz, 68, of Ottumwa is a friendship force all on her own.

She’s “people-oriented,” thrives on being active and knows what grows.

Schultz “always wanted to be a teacher,” a career that means involvement with people. In college, she started as chemistry major.

“But I couldn’t see myself as mixing chemicals the rest of my life. I’m more people-oriented, so I changed my major to physical education,” she said.

Being a gym teacher also satisfied her desire to be on the move.

“I love to be active — ‘Climb every mountain, ford every stream’ — and with physical education, there’s always movement,” she said.

For Schultz, movement also means travel. She is the tour director for Southeast Central Iowa AARP. People know Schultz “plans good trips” and they sign up for trips to theaters, the state fair and barn tours. Forty-four people have already signed up for this year’s fall foliage trip to Prairie du Chien, Wis.

It’s no surprise Schultz joined the International Friendship Force last October. The group is an international organization “dedicated to furthering friendship in the world.”

“You go to live in someone’s home for a week,” she said.

Schultz doesn’t speak any foreign languages, yet she went to Thailand and spent one week with a family in the north and one week with a different family in Bangkok.

Two years ago, her Friendship Force trip was to Capetown, South Africa where she spent a week. In October 2007 she’ll travel to South Korea and Taiwan.

“I’m ready. I’ve had all the shots,” she said. “The Friendship Force does outgoing and incoming visitors, not only in and out of the U.S. but also does exchanges within the U.S.”

Schultz said “it’s interesting, meeting people and experiencing their lifestyle.”

“No matter the lifestyle, people have the same basic goals — family, someone to love, and work to do so food can be put on the table,” she said. “Where I live, the place, isn’t as important as the people.”

Just because Schultz travels, don’t think she doesn’t put down roots. She has a beautiful home she designed herself and it features a buildout and a series of decks so she and her visitors can enjoy the timber and all the beautiful flowers she plants.