Category: PreTrip Observations

Observations made prior to departure!

High Five Series: Final reflections – How will you use what you learned in the future?

Melanie Miller FosterPreTrip Observations

During the final reflection session of #AgEd2Malaysia, we captured the responses of all #AgEd2Malaysia participants to five final reflection questions.  This blog post is part of a series to showcase some of the responses to those questions.  The last question prompt was:  

How will you use what you learned in the future?

Freshly painted signs for the newly constructed pollinator garden

“I hope that I can lead others and my students by example in showing acceptance and empathy for cultures different than my own.” – Jeanne, Pennsylvania Agriscience Teacher

“”I’ll use how I learned  to start a conversation with a new person and actually having an engaging conversation when I’m in the same situation or conference where I’ll be meeting someone new.  I’m going to use the teaching techniques, especially how to give direct and clear orders to students when I’m going to do my practical teaching.  I’m also will be more aware about other people thoughts and beliefs when making decision in the future.” – Yazlin, University of Teknologi Malaysia Teacher Candidate

“I plan on sharing this experience with EVERYONE.” – Mikaella, Iowa State Agricultural Teacher Candidate

“The team spirit I learned throughout this program is something I want to carry forward in doing assignments with my friends in UTM.” – Nisah, University of Teknologi Malaysia Teacher Candidate

“As a teacher, I will take extra time to work with ELL students in my classes because I know understand how frustrating it is to have everything translated so I can understand.” – Darla, Pennsylvania Agriscience Teacher

Preparing a visual aid for an aquaponics lesson

“I will use all the knowledge that I gained into my lesson in the future, because the method of lesson for USA and Malaysia is very different.  So, I want to mix and match all the knowledge that I got to makes my lessons more meaningful, good and effective.” – Fatin, University of Teknologi Malaysia Teacher Candidate

“These experiences have pushed me to peel back the layers of who I am and to reflect on my beliefs.  Moving forward, I know that I will be more open-minded and patient with others.  I hope that these behaviors will be reflected by my students.  I am thankful to be more knowledgeable about different cultures & religions.  I am excited to teach my students about global awareness lessons on empathy and also global agriculture.  Overall, I just think that I will be able to provide a positive outlook towards people that are different from me.” – Shelby, Ohio Agriscience Teacher

“I will use it to tell my students to be open minded and accepting all people all over the world to learn something from them.  Join all the programs and take the opportunities.  We all are being human.  The best quote that I will give to my student later on is:  ‘Real experience is the best teacher to us’.” – Syed Huzaimi, University of Teknologi Malaysia Teacher Candidate

Enjoying the cooler temperatures at the Desa Dairy Farm in Sabah

“Everyone is an individual with their own story to be told, you just need to let them tell it.  Continuing forward I believe I can be more inclusive of others as I understand more about the diversity of the world.  I can also relay these priceless experiences and agricultural knowledge to my family, friends, professional contacts, and future students.” – Thomas, Penn State Agricultural Teacher Candidate

“I will ensure that I will practice all the knowledge that I get when I become a teacher someday so that my students will practice it too.” – Nina, University of Teknologi Malaysia Teacher Candidate

“I will use the strategies for reflection and content delivery every day in my own classroom, as they are an aggregation of some of the best ideas that the teachers and facilitators on this trip have to offer.” – Carson, Michigan Agriscience Teacher

“I will ensure that I’m confident when doing something.  Learn from mistakes. Always learn how to improve myself.  Need to communicate in a good way.  Always listen to others opinion (be a good listener).  Work together when in a group.  Listen actively to what leader has to say.” – Ain, University of Teknologi Malaysia Teacher Candidate

“This trip has given me experience in living in a culture that is different from my own.  This would also help me student teaching when trying to include international agriculture in the classroom.” – Manny, Penn State Agricultural Teacher Candidate

The Final Five Blog Post series is curated by
Global Learning Specialist, Dr. Melanie Miller Foster (@GlobalMelanie).
You can reach her at melanie@psu.edu

5 Unique Species in Malaysia: Wild about Animals!

Kristi J MensenPreTrip Observations

Today is the day, we are leaving for Malaysia! Our flights are soon to be up up up in the air. Our #AgEd2Malaysia students and teachers are not the only ones up in air today. A unique species soaring in Malaysia, known as the Malayan

Image result for Malayan peacock-pheasant (Polyplectron malacense)

 

-pheasant is that they prefer to live within it territorial ranges; which typically means they live near their place of hatching.peacock-pheasant. This animal may be hard to spot out because of its shy nature. A interesting fact about the Malayan peacock

 

 

Next,  Malaysia’s Rhinoceros hornbill, known as a Hornbill. Eastern Malaysian citizen value this divine species as a symbol of traditional tribe beliefs.  Representing the “Land of the Hornbill” is a great honor. The Hornbill has numerous other species native to East Malaysia wildlife such as the great hornbill, the Oriental pied hornbill, the black hornbill, and the Malabar pied hornbill.

Image result for rhinoceros hornbill

 A FLYING FROG……say what…. the Malayan flying frog is NOT able to fly. The frog is able to jump high and glide far. For all amphibian lovers out there you can find these creatures in rivers and freshwater lands mainly located on the Peninsular of Malaysia.

Image result for malayan flying frog

Also found in the Peninsular of Malaysia is the Gaur species.  This is a large cattle breed is found in the wild or on domesticated farms. Something interesting about the Gaur; is they are one of the largest bovine species on earth! If you were to see a Gaur in Malaysia they would have large horns, very massive muscling, and would be located in dense jungles, wild open land, or even along highways.

Image result for malayan gaur

 

A project that has been very successful for the Malaysian government is and still working on restoring the country’s Leatherback Sea Turtle. A great place to see these turtles would be on the beach of Rantau Abang in the state of Terengganu. At this beach, it is common for Leatherback sea turtle’s to lay eggs.

Image result for Leatherback Sea Turtle

Never the less, for all the people who love nature, this would be a great place to explore. I am excited to see new species that live near the equator in a hot and humid climate.

Life’s – a – changing: Predeparture thoughts on July 4th

Jeanne Rose CasePreTrip Observations

HOLY SMOKES! In less than 48 hours I get on an airplane to go to Malaysia! (and Amsterdam).

This trip is also happening 4 days after I packed up and moved all my possessions from Wisconsin to Pennsylvania – found an apartment in Harrisburg – and attempted to prepare myself for a new job in August… while packing for this trip to Malaysia.

While I’m excited – there has also been some reservations from my Wisconsin students as to why on earth I would want to go on this trip…

  • You’re going to be eaten by a jaguar
  • Have you even looked up how many shots/medications you have to take to travel there?
  • Air Malaysia — I still don’t think they found that plane, you’re going to be lost forever
  • You can’t even handle Mexican spicy food – how are you going to eat there?
  • Did you see in the Milwaukee paper that the grandma in Indonesia was eaten by a snake?? — Better watch out!

While I have answered the shots/medications reservation — I will think positively about the rest

Reservations I do have for myself is that I do talk a big game about traveling. And while I have traveled more than some, I have definitely traveled a lot less than others. When this opportunity came up, I knew that I had to take it or that I had to stop talking about how I traveled all the time. I am mostly anxious about packing – do I have enough stuff? Is it appropriate? Is it too much stuff? To quell some of these fears, I have been messaging an old student from my first year teaching. She has done about a million mission trips through high school and college and has currently been in Niger in West Africa for the last month and will be there until the end of July as well. She received a lot of pictures of my outfits to determine if they were appropriate enough and helped me feel more at ease with my packing. When I expressed my anxiety of traveling she said “It will be so much fun! You’ve wanted to do something like this for the longest time, I’m proud of you”.

 

I know this trip to Malaysia will be life changing.

I know I just left a ton of people I love back in Wisconsin.

I know that it will be a big change to start at a new school in a new city come August.

 

But in response to my crying Snapchat on Sunday, driving the 12 hours from WI to PA

Apparently I’m good at ‘change’.

 

 

Jeanne Case

5th Year Teacher

Big Foot WI/ Cumberland Valley PA

@_J_Case

Transcending Borders: Sports, Music and Entertainment in Malaysia

tsg5162PreTrip Observations

It is hard to believe that in just three days, we will embark for a month filled with new friends, experiences, and learning opportunities.

I am incredibly excited to take part in my first international experience, and when thinking about what I would like to learn about this country before arriving, a couple key focus points came to mind.

During my time in high school, I was involved in a variety of clubs and intra/extra-curricular activities. Three in particular have helped me to develop into the individual I am today. One of which I can talk about for days, the National FFA Organization and its dedication to premier leadership, personal growth, and career success. However, I find myself not giving enough praise to these other two activities, football and the music department. Each of which have helped me to step out of my comfort zones, expand my horizons, and make some lifelong friends. After thinking about how much of an impact sports and music have had on my life, I began to wonder what athletics, music and entertainment look like in Malaysia.

To my surprise, many sports that we participate in here in the United States are also commonly played in Malaysia. These sports include the following: soccer (or football), badminton, baseball, bowling, field hockey, tennis, squash, golf, horse riding, sailing, martial arts, and even skateboarding! While we may not see individuals running down a sideline to score a touchdown, the country takes great pride in its own football team, despite currently being ranked 171 in the world by FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association).

The Malaysian National Football Team

Football is by far the most popular sporting event in the country, but Malaysia is also home to some pretty interesting sports of their own. Some of my personal favorites are sepak manggis, sepak takraw and top spinning.

Sepak Manggis is basically an extreme version of beating a piñata, except with the target being ten meters in the air. Participants will form a circle and attempt to kick a ball so it strikes a floral carrier being hung from a pole. The winner is whomever strikes the carrier first and then wins all the contents inside.

Sepak Takraw has also caught the interest of Mr. Carson Letot, and has fascinated me as well. It is scored like badminton but is played like volleyball, just without the use of arms or hands.

Then there is top spinning, which is an intense competition to see who has mastered the art of spinning a top for the longest amount of time, however, these tops are much bigger than the ones we have at home (see the bottom picture below).

Not only do these sports entertain the public, but as does music! Attached below is a link to the 30 current most downloaded songs in Malaysia, which we may hear as we traverse the country.

Top 30 Singles Chart Malaysia

This download list contains many songs from Malaysian artists, but also artists such as Ed Sheeran, Ariana Grande and Camila Cabello. This goes to show how music can truly transcend oceans, especially in an era that includes ITunes, Spotify and Pandora.

 

Finally, the country of Malaysia is filled with many different traditional dances, but what could be more entertaining than a dragon dance?

Incredibly excited to experience all that Malaysia has to offer, but so happy to see how sports, music and even dance can bring smiles to faces all across the globe. Cannot wait!

-Thomas

Forming Lasting Relationships With Others While Abroad

Shelby D FaulknerPreTrip Observations

The thought of traveling across the world is both exciting and nerve-racking! There are so many unknowns. One thing is for certain though, we will be able to interact with many different people during our time in Malaysia. I know that many of us have the goal of not only meeting new people, but also establishing lifelong friendships. So how exactly can we set ourselves up for success when making connections?

Before Arriving in Malaysia:
● Print business cards that share your personal information: name, address (with
full postal code), phone number, and email address
● Develop a short introduction for yourself that explains who you are and can
easily relate to others

While In Malaysia:
● Collect personal information from individuals that you meet (Potentially start an
address book where you can capture an individual’s: name, address, phone
number, and email address
● Give individuals that you meet the business cards with your personal
information
● Connect with individuals that you meet on social media, if possible
● Be present in conversations with everyone that you meet
● Keep a journal that includes the name of each person that you meet and
highlights of the discussions that you have with them

These are just a few things that I will be doing to make sure that I am being intentional in developing positive relationships with those I meet while abroad!

Dont Forget to Pack These Essentials ….

Melissa A GrantPreTrip Observations

As I am finalizing my packing for the upcoming #AgEd2Malaysia trip (T- minus 7ish days) I simply hope I am not missing anything! For those last minute packers these essential items have been vital in my experiences abroad and could defiantly save you a couple dollars at the airport. Since I am leaving tomorrow for Iowa I essentially needed my suitcases packed for nearly 5 weeks. I know poor planning on my part, but hey teachers need to utilize their summer vacation time frame.  Check out my pictures below to get some ideas.

  1. Snacks- Keep them lite and healthy! But also keep in mind the hot temperatures in Malaysia. I would stay clear of anything that could melt or break up easily.
  2. MONEY- When I travel I like to request the currency of the country I will be traveling to ahead of time. Through my bank (Huntington Bank) you can request currency up to 5 days before you travel. Its so convienent to have when you land in country and you aren’t trying to exchange in the airport where lets be honest they rip you off.  None the less, ensure you contact your bank about using your debit card abroad.
  3. Bug Spray/Soap- Of course even back in the states right now, one could be eaten alive by mosquitos so evidently you will need this essential whether you are in Malaysia or Indiana. In addition I would recommend a laundry detergent type soap to wash items in the sink if need be.
  4. Gum/Mints- Again we all know a pack of gum or mints at the airport will cost you an arm and a leg. I particularly like gum as it helps with your ears and the pressure in the cabin of the airplane.

  1. Insulated Water Bottle- These can be a lifesaver on those hot summer days abroad as it keeps your beverage cold nearly the entire day. I would invest in a good quality one.
  2. Passport- Most importantly pack a colored copy of your passport identification page. I have been through the catastrophe with a friend while we were abroad in New Zealand and heading out the next morning to Fiji. Lets just say his passport was no where to be found. It was a disaster that trust me no one wants to deal with.
  3. Headphones- As we will nearly be traveling for 2 days to our destination you will need something to keep your sanity. You can’t go wrong with a nice set of headphones. Several movie selections will be available on the plane and you defiantly don’t want to use the cheap ones they provide.
  4. GIFTS- I always love bringing a little something from home to surprise my guests. I found some FFA apparel left over from our FFA banquet and thought it would be fitting for our agricultural educators we meet abroad.

Reading Signage Without Knowing The Language

mlc5898PreTrip Observations

Signs are used to communicate a message to a reader and assist the reader in decision making with the information provided. There are many different signs used. From informing us on road conditions to recommended behavior in public. This summer I will be traveling to Malaysia for a month, so I thought it would be a great idea to get familiar with the signs. Most of the signage in Malaysia is written in their official language Malay. To stay safe and get around the country I’ve had to learn a few keywords and phrases.

Jalan means “road” or “street.”

If you come across a sign that has the word “Jalan or Jln” in it, you’ll know it’s a street sign.

  

Peringatan means warning! 

Anytime you see this sign pay close attention because it has relevant information.

Perhentian Tekis means “Taxi Stop.”

If you ever get tired of walking or need a lift just look for this sign. A taxi will be on its way!

Beri Laluan means “Give way.”

This is similar to our Yield sign here in the United States, so make sure to always yield if needed!

Hati-Hati Memandu means “Drive Carefully.”

It’s always a good idea to drive carefully; especially if cows are involved! Mooove out the way!

Berhati-hait dengan peragut means “Beware of snatch thieves.”

When traveling tourists are easy prey for purse snatchers and pickpocketers so if you see this you’ve been warned! Keep your belongings close and be careful!

Dilarang means “prohibited.”

Sometimes we need a little reminder not to do certain things in the bathroom. Like squatting on the toilet or even washing your feet in them!

No matter where you go you’ll find signs that have valuable information on them. Some may seem bizarre, but if it’s there then it’s for a good reason to follow them! Lucky for you, if you ever travel to Malaysia, you’ll know a few!

Pre-trip thoughts – 10 days out!

Tessa C MeyerPreTrip Observations

Although the thought of traveling halfway around the world is enough to scare a person back into their shell and and tuck their tails between their legs, it does nothing more than thrill me while bringing joy to my heart. I keep getting asked if the fear has set in yet, but I continue to provide the same answer: I am nothing less than ecstatic. If you ask me about my trip, be prepared for the giddiness of a 4-year-old with a brand-new toy and the antsiness of that same kid having to pee at the simultaneously.

The interesting part about this whole journey that led to me travelling to Malaysia, is this thought never would have crossed my mind as a senior in high school. As a senior in high school, I was graduating with plans of attending a different community college than Hawkeye Community College (HCC). However, after one year, I realized I was not on the right track schedule-wise and needed to be closer to my family until I was in a better mindset. In April, I decided to transfer to HCC.

After starting at HCC in the fall, I quickly found an opportunity to travel to Haiti with other agriculture students and two staff members. Fun fact: one of these staff members was actually my high school agriculture teacher. After our 8-day trip to Haiti, I quickly realized I had a strong desire to travel abroad very soon! Luckily, Meghan Bond, the staff from HCC who was my old high school advisor, sent me an email one day about a travel opportunity called #AgEd2Malaysia. Instantly, the idea of travelling to Malaysia intrigued me. That’s halfway around the world from Iowa!

After the news that I was going to be able to travel with the #AgEd2Malaysia crew, I began to do some research on the country. I quickly learned a few fun facts: there are over 70 species of snakes, over 400 species of spiders, a diverse array of food selections around the country, and a crazy, colorful, diverse cultures across the country.

As I sit here in my bed, 10 days away from flying out of Cedar Rapids to head to Malaysia, looking at my half-packed suitcase, I have so many questions running through my head: What will the feeling be like walking off of the plane? What will be the first thing I see when I walk out of the airport? What will the people I meet be like? How can I keep myself from standing out as much as possible? What does their fresh air smell like? Do their farms have that same fresh, rich smell? Will I be able to smell their soil like I can in Iowa? What are their classrooms like? How do their students act? Do their teachers and students have a good relationship?

While all of these thoughts run through my head, there is little room for fear of this adventure. All I feel is excitement and anticipation. I am anxious to learn about agriculture on the other side of the world, what a classroom is like on the other side of the world, and to learn about a country rich in history and diverse in culture.

 

T-10 days until I hop on a plane leading me to this next adventure.

T-12 days until I step foot onto the ground of a new, exciting country.

 

— Tessa 

 

A Taste of Malaysia

Jessica WeyerFood!

Whenever I am getting ready to travel somewhere food is the first thing that I think about. Am I going to like it? Is it going to cost a lot? What is it going to taste like? As soon as I found out that I was going to Malaysia for a month I had to learn more about the food. After doing some reading and watching some you-tube videos. I thought that it looked

a lot like Indian food. I thought that I have cooked some Indian food before so why couldn’t I cook some dishes served in Malaysia. After spending

some time trying to find a recipe that I thought that I could find all of the ingredients for I decided to do a google search to try and find a restaurant. I found Jenny’s Kuali.  I made a phone call to one of my adventurous friends and we were off.

Image result for Jenny's Kuali

Little did I know that I just found one of the best restaurants in the area. When we arrived it was packed! The restaurant was filled with the smell of curry! Once we got a table we looked over the menu and I started to get worried. The menu was filled with a lot of little chili peppers next to the descriptions of each menu item meaning spicy!!

Normally when I see those I do not order them because I do not like spicy food but I figured that I am going to have to eat it for one month I can eat it for one meal. We ordered Dim sum and Roti Canai for appetizers, Mee Goreng and Nasi Goreng for entrees and followed up the end of the meal with banana fritters and black rice tapioca pudding. We were clearly hungry. We were really surprised at how good all of the food tasted. Some of the food was a little spicy for me. I did learn how to handle some of the spice though. You can always order white rice and mix the food with rice to cut down on the heat. I noticed that the hot tea that we were drinking really helped to cut down on the heat as well.

Pictured from left to right, Roti Canai with curry dipping sauce, Nasi Goreng with Shrimp, Mee Goreng with Chicken and one Dim Sum, black rice tapioca pudding, banana fritters

Overall we loved it and if anyone is ever in Allentown, PA and want to go out to eat I will go with!!

The next thing that I did was try to cook at home. I made beef randang. It took a long time to make but made my house smell so great. When I was done cooking I was so excited to eat it! When I started to eat it my mouth was on fire!! I ate a lot of rice that night but my husband really liked and did not think that it was to spicy.

After eating and trying these things I summarize the food in Malaysia to be a cross between Chinese and Indian food. I am really excited to see if the food will be as good as I think it will be! Since trying some of the food, doing some research, and increasing my tolerance for spicy foods I feel that I am ready to take on eating in Malaysia!

Emerging Trends in Malaysia on the Business End

Carson T LetotPreTrip Observations

Objectives 

  • exposure to more domestic goods than just palm oil
  • compare US recreation to Malaysian forms
  • look ahead to the future of Malaysia

Current Climate “highlights” 

  1. Malaysia’s unemployment stands at 3.4%, which is less than the US (4.1)
  2. Petronas is one of the largest employers in Malaysia and is VERY diversified. Maybank however is less diversified, but controls more of a share of the currency flow through the country.
  3. The service Industry is also growing, but it’s putting a strain on the local ecosystems that people are there to explore.

This is where I found the most interesting content in regards to the research on the topic. Malaysia was actually ahead of most of southeast Asia in this endeavour. They started shutting down tourism in certain sectors to let the ecosystems recover and “rest.” I think this could be a great idea here in the US. Our national parks bring in a lot of money, but how long are some of their features going to last when people are constantly leaving trash and trafficking delicate ground? 

Future Climate “highlights”

  1.  Due to the growing Muslim population, halal food is on the rise.
  2. Tropical fruit and herbs can give Malaysia a niche on the global exportation stage
  3. The water around Malaysia will continue to used in the development of more fish farms.

I may be a little biased, but the future of Malaysian business, the SUSTAINABLE options for the future of Malaysian business, are really rooted in agriculture. and how cool is it that we get to go see it in person as Malaysia ushers in a new era in the provision of money and jobs for their people?!

Recreation

I was so impressed by this. I wanted to share more about other forms, but Sepaktakraw is way to cool to be overshadowed by anything else. Its like hacky sack and volleyball combined, plus shades of badminton? I really hope we get to see a little of it while in country. 

Take Away Points

It comes down to Malaysia diversifying its industrial side as much as its cultural side continues to do. Diversification and niche markets will give the country stability and a chance to take a larger market share of southeast Asia.