10 Things I Learned

8/10

- My parents aren’t insane. They’re actually quite amazing parents who have worked hard to get to the US and came for the opportunities, but they don’t want us kids to take advantage of ALL the opportunities ;)
- Accept a lending hand. If it’s handing out food, advice, lectures, ill-informed theories, or general genuine help, just take it. I can do with it what I please, but I don’t live in this world by myself. I like warm cultures better than cold ones.
- Reciprocity. If compromise for a single situation doesn’t work, I can wait till the next time to give or accept. The exchange doesn’t have to be the same form.
- Take language classes even when abroad. Proper Indonesian is not the easiest language to learn! I shoulda taken formal classes cuz the informal meetings don’t always work out, especially in Indonesia. … and Mexico. It doesn’t hurt. Only helps.
- Respect my elders. And others that deserve that respect. I can further limit my options for those I respect. It can be a small effort for me, but a huge deal for others.
- It’s ok to say, “I don’t know.” My English grammar sucks and I didn’t want to teach the wrong thing. Sometimes I don’t know all the answers to their questions about English, US, or anything. Who does know ALL the answers?!
- Body language is a universal language.
Forget this English is a universal language crap. Although body language can have its accents, it speaks volumes in any country. Certainly in Indonesia where music, dancing, and singin is everywhere.
- Critical and creative thinking are gifts. Thinking outside the box is a luxury not everyone in the world is afforded.
- Asking “why?” is important, but sometimes the answer isn’t always important. I encourage my students to always ask why to anything they learn. To take everything they learn with a grain of salt. Yet the answer to why someone believes something doesn’t always matter. Whether it’s fasting during Ramadhan, eating turkey on “thanksgiving” day, shooting fireworks on July 4th, praying 5 times a day, celebrating the body & blood of Christ… all these things are interpreted in different ways, but the results to me can show community, peace and beauty.
- Bureaucracy taunts me. In the past, present, and future, bureaucracy will stay. The Fulbright mission of mutual understanding between nations has been red taped to only allow the understanding of the U.S. English language and culture. While we tried to open minds, we are not allowed to present the students with scholarships outside of the US, or debrief, or publish what we learned.
and where are there US high school students learning Indonesian language or at least culture? …

These are the first that came to mind...there's more where that came from.