Not often, but on occasion a former student sends a message (or calls) explaining the contents and whereabouts of their present life as well as their successes—their stated purpose, just to say thanks, or less frequently, to ask advice, most likely about graduate school. These are the most rewarding moments for any teacher, perhaps especially so for the college professor because our relationship has been a little more tender for no other reason than the student is in the maturing process—developing their own mark of a person, and like it or not, the prof may have played a role in their intellectual and personal shaping. Some of these relationships even teeter on the fringe of friendship, although as the professor ages, its more avuncular in nature.
One such email recently came all the way across the globe from Tanzania—a recent grad, a young Vietnamese woman, had always dreamed of volunteering in Africa and wanted to share that her dream had indeed become a reality—she’s teaching English. She’s not new to the label of “foreigner”, her parents came to the US as refugees after the war to start a new life and family in Columbus, Ohio. Because of her own story, she clearly has a well-developed appreciation for those who are marginalized and disenfranchised.
Although her email was full of excitement (most of her time will be in Kilimanjaro) she was keenly aware that such experiences are nearly impossible to share with others who have not lived in or visited developing nations—she sounded anxious from natural culture shock and wanted to know if it would be possible to meet for coffee when she returns in four months. Before she applied for this program we had talked at length about her plans. As a strong proponent of international education, I gave her considerable encouragement—I happen to believe that international travel and immersion in a culture different from our own offers some of the best education one can attain from our modern world.
Responding almost immediately to her email I said of course we'll meet once she returns. No doubt she will be changed by her experiences and I am quite flattered that she would consider sharing them with me.
Deep bow,
Jette
One such email recently came all the way across the globe from Tanzania—a recent grad, a young Vietnamese woman, had always dreamed of volunteering in Africa and wanted to share that her dream had indeed become a reality—she’s teaching English. She’s not new to the label of “foreigner”, her parents came to the US as refugees after the war to start a new life and family in Columbus, Ohio. Because of her own story, she clearly has a well-developed appreciation for those who are marginalized and disenfranchised.
Although her email was full of excitement (most of her time will be in Kilimanjaro) she was keenly aware that such experiences are nearly impossible to share with others who have not lived in or visited developing nations—she sounded anxious from natural culture shock and wanted to know if it would be possible to meet for coffee when she returns in four months. Before she applied for this program we had talked at length about her plans. As a strong proponent of international education, I gave her considerable encouragement—I happen to believe that international travel and immersion in a culture different from our own offers some of the best education one can attain from our modern world.
Responding almost immediately to her email I said of course we'll meet once she returns. No doubt she will be changed by her experiences and I am quite flattered that she would consider sharing them with me.
Deep bow,
Jette