I recently travelled to China as an ambassador for my work. Six of us were invited to an International Fair at a school in Zhoushan, Zhejiang, China. We toured the school, enjoyed the school’s talent show, made sea creature dumplings with the students, and ate bountiful and delicious meals with the Principals from the lower, middle, and upper schools (along with other important dignitaries within the school system) including a special Chinese tea ceremony with the Superintendent, which was spectacular. We were greeted, upon arrival to the campus, by the welcoming students who were selling trinkets to raise money for their projects. This was a delightful experience which grew me in many ways.
I grew in appreciation for what I have. The opportunity to represent my school in China is still difficult for me to phathom. I find it difficult at times to understand my value. Being one of the senior members on the trip, I found myself guiding decisions among our group. I found myself listening intently and making decisions that were appropriate for me, my colleagues on this trip and my school.
I also saw my school and colleagues in a fresh perspective. We are a school that has been around the block a few times; 163 times to be exact. Our experience is very appealing to this school that is only in its 3rd year. I didn’t see my colleagues as the positions they hold at our school, I saw them as students. Global Students absorbing all of their surroundings in as much as their 5 senses could bear. One pretending to be a DJ on a make believe radio station and another pretending to be a TV news anchor reporting the day’s news. Another colleague began using technology to talk to the students and strangers he encountered.
I grew in appreciation of how I/we are different. I came over dressed while the rest of my colleagues smartly, came more casual. They fit in so much better than I did and by the end of the school day, I was carrying my heels as I walked across the cool and comforting grass of the soccer field after an amazing match between the Belgium and Chinese teams. All joking aside, our worlds – my school and the Chinese school; my group and the faculty of the Chinese school; my colleagues and I; we are all different. We each come to the table with different backgrounds, experiences and beliefs. I graduated from the Chicago Public School system (CPS), I am a first generation graduate from a university in the states, and I have a husband and 2 children. Of just my 5 other colleagues, I was the only one who went to CPS, the only one who received an Associate Degree in Business Administration from a Secretarial School, and a BS in Business Administration. Five of us are married. Four of us have children. One just finished attending school and this is his first teaching position. Two were born and raised in other countries than the US. One lives on our school campus. Three are faculty and three are staff.
At the Chinese school, all the administrators were Chinese but many of the teachers are American. The majority of students are Chinese but there are American and Australian students too. Visiting the Chinese school with us were 3 faculty members from a Belgium school, and 35 of their students. All of us, so very different and yet the same. We all leaned into the discomfort of different languages and cultures. We all created a safe environment so that we could share ourselves along with our school practices. We challenged ourselves and each other to take that step outside of our comfort zones and open ourselves to new opportunities and knowledge for the benefit of not only ourselves but for the students we engage with. We made connections that grew us and our understanding of each other that make us stronger as a community of educators and bring our worlds closer together.
I came back a different person from when I left. I have worked 8 years at my school, an international school that in any given year has 35+ countries represented, and understand that our differences make us stronger and that we each bring a different perspective, but this was different. I was the outsider, or as many referred to me as “the foreigner”. I was the one who needed to adapt. I had to figure things out even though our hosts were amazingly helpful. I had to be vulnerable and say “may I have some help, please” or “I don’t understand”. I have a new appreciate for those of any race, religion, or size. We truly are the same even though we are different. We all want to be accepted, loved and nurtured. We need to feed our souls, nourish our bodies and grow our knowledge.
I had no part in planning this trip at this time of the year when we Americans gather together with friends and family to express our gratitude and appreciation. It seems appropriate that this opportunity to travel to China with 5 AWESOME individuals and to meet our Chinese and Belgium colleagues (and now friends) happened at this time of year.
As I reflect back on this trip, and my insecurities, I no longer ask “Who am I to . . .”, rather I say to myself, “I was the correct choice to have gone on this trip and I believe I am a good ambassador of my school”. For any of you who suffer from this ugly feeling, I wish you much success as you tackle this monster.
Make it an awesome week, friends.
Jackie