Nicaragua service outreach travel experience
While Poly community members went hither and thither, 20 Poly students headed to Jinotega, Nicaragua, to participate in the GIP's inaugural service outreach travel experience. Over the course of a week, Poly students partnered with Outreach 360 [http://outreach360.org/] to instruct elementary school students in their extracurricular study of English. Our students were blown away by the Jinotega students' thirst for knowledge. Though they went to teach English, Poly students came away from this cultural and educational experience with a much more profound appreciation for what is important. Specifically, the group realized that although these Jinotega students may be economically poor, they are rich in other ways.
Photos courtesy Rachel E. '15
...I also enjoyed the unexpected freedom we were given with lesson planning and teaching. I only hope it benefited the kids as much as it benefited us as a group. On that note, I was so impressed by my fellow Poly students who taught and connected with the kids so enthusiastically. The elementary kids were more enthusiastic and funnier than I expected. I also expected to be bored during some parts of the day, and I never was, not for a second. I didn’t expect to enjoy myself as much as I did.
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Photos courtesy Rachel E. '15
Comments from Poly students:
I definitely appreciate all my teachers efforts much more after this trip; teaching is truly an exhausting venture. Anyone who thinks teaching is an easy job that allows people to have a summer truly has no idea how naive they are being. I have never been as tired after working for a few hours as I was after teaching.
I definitely appreciate all my teachers efforts much more after this trip; teaching is truly an exhausting venture. Anyone who thinks teaching is an easy job that allows people to have a summer truly has no idea how naive they are being. I have never been as tired after working for a few hours as I was after teaching.
...I also enjoyed the unexpected freedom we were given with lesson planning and teaching. I only hope it benefited the kids as much as it benefited us as a group. On that note, I was so impressed by my fellow Poly students who taught and connected with the kids so enthusiastically. The elementary kids were more enthusiastic and funnier than I expected. I also expected to be bored during some parts of the day, and I never was, not for a second. I didn’t expect to enjoy myself as much as I did.
I honestly learned that service can actually be fulfilling. It is all about finding the type of service that holds meaning for you, not just about fulfilling your requirements.
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