Philippines cohort, East Coast travelers

I traveled to the Philippines this summer along with 13 other wonderful TGC educators from around the United States. Each of us kept a blog to reflect on our experiences and share them with others. Here are some of my fellow teacher’s blogs, each with a unique voice and perspective on the Philippines:

1. Jennifer Anderson of Oregon provides a generous dose of dry humor along with her insights into teaching and learning in a new place in her blog Teach Travel Share.

“I learned that no matter how much of an old dog you are, there are always new tricks to learn.”

2.  Adventure Is Out There by Julia Brockman. Julia knows a thing or two about cultural integration; a native of Moldova, she now lives in Louisville, Kentucky. Her thoughtful blog contains observant cultural reflection — for example, Julia cites several reasons why you wouldn’t want to be a chicken in the Philippines! She also expresses insight into the educational system and what we can learn from it in the US and beyond.

 The Philippines makes me think. How hard is it to make this work in the US or other places? Does it take much time or effort to rise when a teacher or other adult walks into the room? Does it cost anything to wish someone a good morning and smile? We have spent just 2 days in JRU, but almost every student takes time to stop, wish us good morning or afternoon, smile, or at least wave their hand.

3. To the Philippines and Beyond by Alex O’Callaghan   Alex’s enthusiasm and energy are contagious. Now living in Chicago , she has roots in the Philippines, including a grandmother who still lives there, and she embraced the people and culture of that country wholeheartedly.

I have been continuously amazed and in awe of the talent and creativity I have seen during my time here in the Philippines, these kids are all around incredible, from the arts to academics, I wish everyone could witness this, they are one of a kind!

4. What’s Bruing by Ilsa Bruer  Ilsa  of Portland, Oregon personified a spirit of adventure. She traveled solo to Vietnam and Cambodia following her fellowship in the Philippines! Her travel gave her a chance to shape insights into teaching and indulge a love of world cuisines.

As I continued to walk through the city, I contemplated my gratitude for the diverse group of students I teach and how important it is to me to have their unique perspectives in my class every day. I think about how much we can learn from one another, and how much insight can be gained by listening to one another and trying to understand others’ perspectives. We may not all be able to go on trips around the world, but I know with confidence my students bring the world to my classroom.

5. Global Classroooms by Washington, DC teacher Diana Gibson uses Tumblr’s combination of photos and captions to take us on a visual journey of the Philippines. A science teacher, Diana pays special attention to environmentally sustainable practices and instruction.

I also thought the phrase “feedback is a gift” was incredibly powerful. We talk at our school all the time about growth mindset in which feedback truly is a gift. However, I thought a child might not see the “feedback” or correction he receives from his teacher as a gift at all times… but when the teacher does it with love, it is the gift that she cares enough to want her student to do better.

6. Susan Groff of California also noted the positive energy of the Philippines educational institutions in her blog, Fantastic Philippines.

Again, the positive interaction between students and staff was evident throughout the entire school. Students were actively engaged in learning and having fun in the process!

7. Gail Heard of Virginia writes about the resilient community of Tacloban, ravaged by Typhoon Yolanda, with gorgeous prose in her blog Travel Tacloban.

 Beauty is everywhere in the Philippines. From the pristine white, pressed uniform shirts of the students climbing out of the crowded, chrome plated, colorfully-painted jeepneys, or tricycles, to the beautifully laid out wares in the market place.

8. The sole man in our cohort, Kev Jones of New York appealed to the people of the Philippines with his friendly spirit and his love of basketball! In his blog, Global Boogie Down, he uses his wisdom from years as a teacher, coach, and mentor to advise the young people of the Philippines:

In the end, my message was that whatever was done…is done.  You have to now move forward with the knowledge that every single time you make a decision, you are either moving forward or backwards; what is certain is that you don’t get to remain where you are once you take a decision — any decision.  Don’t focus on where you are, but where you want to go…where you are going, and don’t let the setbacks turn you around.

9. Tara Kajtaniak already had experience with global education; she initiated a global studies program at the California high school where she teaches. Her knowledge served her well as she traveled to the Philippines willing to learn more, From the Boondocks to Bacolod:

Truth be told, we have a lot to learn from the amount of joy and warmth present in the community of Bacolod.  The streets are teeming with life.

10. Sandra Makielski comes from the smallest state, Rhode Island, but her travel experiences are anything but tiny. She has attended teaching workshops all over the world, and then brings her learning back to her seventh grade social studies classroom. In her blog, Footsteps Across the Planet,  she answers many questions asked by her students back home about life in the Philippines.

The students in the schools that I visited listen to pretty much the same music you do.  Can you imagine what they said when I did “The Whip”?

11. Joann Martin of Arizona captivated all of us with her open-minded, joyous outlook. She was often the first to engage others in conversation: students, teachers, people on the street. That mindset is clear in her blog, Learning from the Desert.

I love working with teens! The frontal lobe of the brain is still developing in teens, but usually their critical thinking skills have picked up on injustice in the world. They distill complex problems into simple statements of action. If we could remain teenagers forever, we would be more passionate and less jaded. Teenagers see that the world can and should be a much better place. They are our future, and we are in good hands. My heart and my hope hold me in the classroom.

12. I was lucky to have the hilarious Roma Stutts of South Carolina as my travel partner in Iloilo. Roma has taught in China and Peru, and brings her humor and adventurous zest to her blog, Engaging in Our Global Community.

 If people laugh at you it may be because they’re nervous or self-conscious. It could also be because you’re funny to them.  Get over yourself.