Author: Shelby D Faulkner

Forever Changed – A Final Reflection on #AgEd2Malaysia; Shelby Faulkner, Ohio Agriscience Teacher

Shelby D FaulknerPost-Trip Thoughts

“The mind, once stretched by a new idea, never returns to its original dimensions.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

As I sit and reflect on the month that I was fortunate enough to spend in Malaysia, I smell durian, I taste the many fresh fruits we were able to try, I can feel the constant sweat on my skin, I hear the laughs of so many people that I now consider friends, and I can see people smiling at me even though we might not speak the same language. Writing this blog post is so difficult because I know that I will never be able to capture the whole experience in the way that it deserves to be preserved. So instead of attempting to recreate the entire experience in this short blurb, I will instead share a few realizations that I made while abroad.

Language can be a barrier, but only if you let it. As can be expected when I am only fluent in English and those that we were around did not commonly use English, language could be seen as a huge hurdle to overcome. When I think of language, I immediately am taken back to my time spent in FELDA Ayer Hitam with Romi, Rohaizat, Siti, and Maizatul. I wanted so badly to jump right in and ask all kinds of questions about how they live and what they enjoy, but I knew only about 4 words in Malay and they weren’t extremely comfortable speaking in English. The first night was full of a lot of awkward laughs and shy smiles, but as the stay continued I decided the only way that I was going to get the most out of this experience was if I pushed myself. So I began to use a lot of hand motions to explain myself and decided it was better to attempt to ask questions even if it took 15 minutes, than to let this experience pass by. My days spent in FELDA were some of my favorite because of how kind my host family was. They weren’t afraid to let me into their lives and didn’t let language come between us.

Leaving your comfort zone can cause extreme discomfort, but can also lead to immense growth. Before leaving for Malaysia, so many people asked why I would even want to go to another country for an entire month. Sometimes life begins to feel comfortable and I think the best way to continue to grow is to do something that is completely out of the normal. I had no idea what to expect from a month spent in a country that I really knew nothing about, but I knew that I was ready to learn and I was ready to push myself. I won’t say that my time in Malaysia was always the easiest or the most comfortable, but it did cause me to think about life in a different way and to engage in conversations that helped me to grow as a person. I immediately think of the day that we arrived in Malaysia and were greeted by our UTM friends. As the US participants made it through security, we were each greeted by our UTM counterparts. We were all so excited, but were nervous to engage in conversations. I can still see the physical space that was between those from the United States and those from Malaysia. That evening, we all boarded a bus and were taken back to the UTM campus. We were able to sit and learn about each other. From that bus ride on, things were different. There was no space between us because we had each stepped out of our comfort zones and taken time to get to know each other. Though it might not have been comfortable, we had become a team and continued to grow together throughout the month.

People are people, no matter where you are. It’s easy to notice and focus on physical differences between people, but the reality is that no matter where a person is from they more than likely have similar insecurities and desires as you. It makes me smile as I think about all of the conversations that I was able to have with my UTM friends. Favorite musical artists, clothing, and hobbies were all things that many of us shared in common. As we were able to talk more we shared that we had been nervous for this experience and teaching in general. No matter which country we were from we were excited to be a part of this, but also were afraid of failure. As we continued to get to know one another it became apparent that even though we were all nervous, we also all have a desire to make a difference in the world. We all have the same root desires to be accepted and to feel like we are making a difference.

The world is only as big as you make it. Now bare with me, I know this sounds crazy seeing as it took 28 hours for us to reach Malaysia, but think about how you’re reading this now. This post was written in Ohio and you are currently reading this from miles away. Technology has made our world so much smaller and allows us to stay in contact with people from across the globe. Before I was born, my family met a man named Boon that was from Malaysia and was attending the college where my aunt worked. On weekends, Boon would spend time at my grandparents house. After a few years, Boon graduated and moved back to Malaysia. My grandma stayed in contact with him through letters and eventually Facebook. When I found out that I would be traveling to Malaysia, I messaged Boon and was able to chat with him. When we arrived in Kuala Lumpur, I was able to meet with Boon for dinner. The world is only as big as you make it.

I am so thankful for the experiences that I was able to have while in Malaysia. I was stretched more than I could have ever imagined and pushed to think in a different way. I know that I am forever changed because of this experience and that a part of my heart will always be in Malaysia.

Ms. Shelby Faulkner (@ShelbyDFaulkner) is a third-year secondary agriscience teacher/FFA advisor at Ridgemont HS in Mount Victory, Ohio.

Our Visit With SMK Mat Salleh – Day 18 School Adventures

Shelby D FaulknerAgriculture

On Wednesday, July 25, we visited SMK Mat Salleh. This school sits with a picturesque view of the mountains in Sabah. The agriculture program at this school began in 2015 and uses standards set forth by the Malaysian Ministry of Education.

When we arrived, we were greeted by dancing students and were immediately taken to the agriculture building. At the building, students greeted us and began explaining their hydroponics and fertigation systems. The students sell the lettuce that they grow and the money is used for classroom expenses. Afterward, we were able to spend time learning from students about soil textures, as well as, making natural fertilizers and pesticides. The students were so confident and I was wowed by their presentations!

After the presentations, we were able to lead the students in an ice-breaking activity. We were able to interact with the students and learn more about them. Afterward, we were served a delicious lunch. Following lunch, we were able to talk with students more. I was fascinated by a sign that I saw outside of a classroom that read, “Every Tuesday is English Day. Please Speak English. Learn English and speak to the world”. I asked the students about this sign and they said that on Tuesdays their teachers will only teach them in English and they are expected to respond in only English. I found that fascinating and wonder what that would be like if we required our students to speak in only Malay one day a week in the United States? I know I would have to practice for hours to be able to teach effectively in a language other than English!

 

I love the entrepreneurial spirit that Malaysian teachers strive to instill in their students. It’s reassuring to me that at the end of the day, even halfway across the globe, teachers are striving to develop the best human beings that they can. Teaching is not an easy profession, but we, as teachers, are all in it together.

 

 

Ms. Shelby Faulkner (@ShelbyDFaulkner) is a third-year secondary agriscience teacher/FFA advisor at Ridgemont HS inMount Victory, Ohio.

Our Visit With SMK Taman Tun Fuad – Day 16 School Adventures

Shelby D FaulknerAgriculture

On Tuesday, July 24, we visited SMK Taman Tun Fuad and what a welcoming we had! When we arrived, we were greeted by teachers and students.

As we exited the bus, we were taken into the building where the special needs students have classes. We were able to tour the building and then were taken behind the building to the school’s sustainable garden. The sustainable garden was built by a group of students with guidance from a few teachers and the principal. The area includes a jungle-like habitat with 4 compost stations, kelulut honeybees, a biodegradable coconut pathway, and an information corner about the plants used in the garden. In the garden, students were prepared to give a demonstration on making an organic fertilizer and to answer any of our questions. I was impressed by their ability to speak English so clearly!

 

Then we were able to walk to the main school building and learn about programs in agriculture available for students. We learned that the sustainable garden has won many awards and recognition on both the state and national levels. Students are able to participate in monthly garden cleanings, can be a part of a team for a young entrepreneur contest, and hold workshops to mentor other schools in gardening and composting. Students from Taman Tun Fuad have found success in this competition by creating juices and fertilizers. They work with the University of Malaysia in Sabah to create the products and even have the opportunity to design packaging and marketing for the products.

After learning more about the school, we were able to visit the school store. In the store, I found a book that students use to keep track of their out of school experiences which reminded me so much of the record keeping that my own students complete. Our visit wrapped up with lunch and cultural performances by students. The students were so excited to share with us and were so talented!

Overall, I was thoroughly impressed with the passion that students had for learning and the knowledge that they were able to share with us. I loved making the small connections between education in the US and Malaysia like the aspect of competition to drive students and the importance of giving students authentic experiences to catapult learning.

If you want to learn more about the work they are doing, check out their Facebook page: Sustainable Garden SMK Taman Tun Fuad.

Ms. Shelby Faulkner (@ShelbyDFaulkner) is a third-year secondary agriscience teacher/FFA advisor at Ridgemont HS in
Mount Victory, Ohio.

The Value of Community: Saturday at FELDA Ayer Hitam – Day 13

Shelby D FaulknerAgriculture

The community members of FELDA Ayer Hitam could not have been more welcoming. The sense of family that is built within their community is endearing. It took no time at all for them to accept us as their own and to give us a taste of what their daily lives are like. Saturday was no exception as we were given the opportunity to participate in activities that community members do for fun and explore where many of them make their livelihood in the palm oil and rubber plots.

In the morning, we were able to participate in a Zumba class with the women of the town. Most of us were expecting an easy workout, but were in for a rude awakening when we saw that the instructor had Zumba branded clothing and a wireless headset. Needless to say, we laughed the entire time and were worn out by the end.

 

After Zumba, we were taken to see the rubber and palm oil plantations of the FELDA community. When this community was settled, 336 families made this area their home and were given 3 hectare lots to grow rubber trees. As consumer demands have changed, many of the plots now hold palm oil trees instead of rubber. Community members are able to share machinery and can also market their crops together with other community members.

We continued our day by participating in traditional games like coconut bowling and netball (basketball, but with no backboard and the ball isn’t dribbled). As we gathered at the community hall to play games together, I was fascinated by the number of people that drove their motorbikes to join us or heard the commotion and walked over to see what was going on. People of all ages were gathered together laughing and cheering for one another.

To wrap up our day, we all gathered once more at the community hall for our closing ceremony. Our meal was served on plates large enough that 4 people could share one dish. We sat on the floor and enjoyed the company of our host families for our last meal together. The ceremony continued with the exchanging of gifts and ended with dancing.

As you can see, community is not just a word to the people of FELDA Ayer Hitam; it’s a way of life. After having the opportunity to spend time with these people, I hope that I never take the value of community for granted again.

 

Ms. Shelby Faulkner (@ShelbyDFaulkner) is a third-year secondary agriscience teacher/FFA advisor at Ridgemont HS in Mount Victory, Ohio.

 

Learning and Laughing Together: Day 2 of #AgEd2Malaysia

Shelby D FaulknerIn-Country Sharing

We just wrapped up our second full day in Malaysia packed with learning and laughter! We began the day with an Opening Ceremony for the #AgEd2Malaysia experience with the faculty of School of Education at UTM (@UTMeduc). The opening ceremonies had four great presentations: 1) An overview of Malaysian Agricultural Education by Dr. Nur Husna Abd Wahid (@nba107Nur), 2)overview of the vision and mission for Global Teach Ag! (@GlobalTeachAg); an introductory primer to the U.S. secondary school-based agricultural education model with classroom instruction shared by Ms. Jessica Weyer (@JessWeyer), Cumberland Valley (PA) Agriscience Teacher and a personal impact story of the Youth Leadership Organization [FFA] from Iowa State Agricultural PreService Candidate, Ms. Tessa Meyer (@Tessa_C_Meyer). Additionally, We were also able to present our UTM host students with gifts to thank them for taking time out of their break to participate in this program.

Following the Opening Ceremony, A bus tour of the UTM agriculture facilities occurred. This included an equine facility, orchard, and a landscape center. UTM has a facility for students to ride horses. We learned that most horses in Malaysia have been imported from Australia or New Zealand. We were able to see many plants that we had never seen before and even had the opportunity to taste some fruit growing on trees! The orchard had beehives with Malaysian honeybees that don’t sting! We found a huge snail eating one of the plants at the landscape center and learned that these are a major pest in Malaysia. The UTM students thought it was hilarious how interested in the snail we were.

 

 

For lunch, we joined UTM faculty for an Eid al-Fitr celebration that included delicious food! This meal was held to celebrate their month of fasting (Ramadan)  that was completed at the beginning of July.

Following lunch, we participated in a colloquium with Malaysian graduate students. Kaitlin, Carson, Darla, and 3 UTM graduate students presented their research and we had a discussion about best practices in pen pal programming.

To round out our day, we had supper at a restaurant that served traditional Malaysian foods. As we drove to and from the restaurant we could see the shore of Singapore! Now we are back at the hotel, resting up for a day spent in a Malaysian school.

Ms. Shelby Faulkner (@ShelbyDFaulkner) is a third-year secondary agriscience teacher/FFA advisor at Ridgemont HS in Ridgeway, Ohio.