Who Nu I'd Know What's Nu in Yunnan: Riverdale in Yunnan

There are way too many pictures. We even had a photographer traveling with us to capture the money making shots. Here are just a few pictures to show off the group and some of the people and places we had the privilege to interact with. I feel very fortunate to have gotten this opportunity to meet eight exceptional Riverdale students chaperoned by two wonderful Riverdale teachers and bring them around Yunnan and Beijing.

This trip exceeded my expectations. I was reminded of the power of travel; the experience of seeing a different life reality and beginning to question lifestyles we take for granted. It's all an exciting challenge. One that I believe develops our personal understanding and fosters a greater acceptance of difference in the world around us. But its not easy. Sometimes the students were completely engaged, wrapped up in teaching children beaming back at them with smiles and cheers. Other times, the students needed to retreat, enough China for a little while. This was all perfectly understandable. As a leader and observer, it was incredibly satisfying to see the students become engrossed in something new.

In particular, the Riverdale students were amazing teachers. While in Kunming, they spent Monday to Thursday studying Chinese in the mornings then the students split into two groups of four and taught at two different schools: one for children of migrant workers and one for children with learning disabilities. One day at the over-crowded under-resourced school for migrant worker's children, a permanent teacher slapped one of the students across the face for not standing up when a Riverdale student requested the class to get on their feet. It was both shocking and appalling to watch a young child receive corporal punishment for simply not standing. This New York high school student was not willing to accept this treatment. He asked for the group to talk about what he had witnessed.

The conversation that ensued was incredibly impressive. The real question was how do you go to another country and face realities you do not agree with. Everyone agreed the culture of outsiders, specifically Americans going into other countries declaring they know what's best is wrong. The question isn't about right and wrong, it's about learning how to communicate. We firstly, can be model teachers, who command student's attention without using violent tactics. However, the task involves time. We as foreigners were invited in for two weeks to bring new energy and knowledge to these kids, but it was only two weeks. The permanent teachers are in charge of classes with over fifty students and barely any resources. It would take us some time to understand the complexity of the teacher's reality. So maybe after friendships had been established, after we got to know the teachers and students, then we could better assess possibilities for change.

I am summarizing of course, the students were a lot more articulate and impassioned as they were talking. What amazed me more than this conversation was the students willingness throughout the trip to have discussions. Now back in New York, I know they are processing this trip somewhere in their mind or with friends and family. Gauging from the emails I've been receiving from the students, I know some will return to continue their education.