Jr. High International Relations Class

One of my favorite classes to teach back in Fryeburg, Maine is one that came available when I took the job 8 years ago.  It was a social studies class for ESOL students called "Global Studies."  Since I am naturally interested in world topics I thought this would be a fun challenge to accept and expand my range of language teaching to support the education of students about how the interconnected world works today.  Well, I should have known better.  My students, natives of countries from around the world, were extremely knowledgeable about the world and how it works across national borders.  They began teaching each other and me about how to cooperate to be better stewards of the earth we all share.  How to be open to other perspectives and interpretations of experience and history.  How, as global citizens, our success depends heavily on our communication skills and ability to adjust to constantly changing situations.

In Taiwan, I've just begun to realize that this understand of ourselves as global citizens reaches down to Jr. High students as well.  This week, LiouJia Jr. High, where I teach hosted a group of American students from Kadena HS, on the island of Okinawa, Japan.  They didn't fly far to get here, about one and a half hours, but the learning about each other that happened in the day and 1/2 visit to our school was enormous.  No classroom can create as rich a learning experience as meeting and sharing time with new friends from another place.

Here are a few snapshots of our time together.

Learning about local tea culture from students at E'Mei Middle School

Beipu Middle School students put on a spectacular show of lion dancers followed by a full performance of their concert band and their harmonica orchestra.  Yes, that's right, harmonicas from bass to soprano, playing favorites of the Italian gondoliers.

At the wishing wall we hang our wooden placards.  Colorful wood and wire ants dot the landscape around us.

Nic and Jonathan work together to bury the coals of our cooking kiln.

20 minutes later we unearth corn, chicken and yams for our lunch.  Warm and wonderful eating.

Sean, Kelley and Irian waiting patiently for lunch.

Amy, Evelyn and Allyson working on the Hakka peanut and puffed rice tea called "Lei Cha".
Oh, I see Soleil and Jazmine there too!

A team of artists and poets write wishes on the paper that will become a sky lantern.

Sky Lantern readying for take off powered by a burning bundle of kerosene soaked napkins.  It rose up and out of view in just a couple minutes.

The travelers say goodbye at the Hakka Culture Center near our home.  It was a day packed with amazing experiences and wonderful interactions between new friends and old.