Tag: Reflections

Small Moments, Large Impact – A Final Reflection from Thomas Gabel

tsg5162Post-Trip Thoughts

As I take time to reflect on the past month, I simply cannot believe how different things would be if I decided to pass on this life-changing experience.

Over the past five years, a good portion of my time has been dedicated towards activities through the National FFA Organization. As that chapter came to a close with my retirement as a Pennsylvania State FFA Officer in June, I found myself struggling to find my place. However, I was blessed with the chance to find a home in a different facet amongst the agricultural education community. This experience has been the perfect transition for me as I prepare to tackle four years at The Pennsylvania State University.

How do you capture all of the feelings, emotions, lessons learned, connections made, and impact felt over the course of one month?

The ability to make lasting friendships with agricultural and life skills educators in both Malaysia and the United States is so special, that I cannot capture the feeling properly in words. Somewhere in between developing lesson plans, interacting with students in the classroom, and all of the traveling, cultural experiences, and conversation in between, I found myself growing and learning in order to better myself as a future agricultural educator and agent of change for the next generation of leaders in the classroom. And while that is fantastic, it still does not solve the problem of how to capture the authentic #AgEd2Malaysia experience. However, sometimes the smallest of moments can leave you speechless, and these moments truly bring to life my journey in Malaysia

Students are the future of this world. How lucky are we to have been able to interact with schools across Malaysia and to teach in three of them! At each and every school, I have been amazed at the passion and dedication of each student towards expanding their horizons and learning more about agriculture and the world around them. I also came to realize how similar students everywhere are, as I shared a moment discussing Fortnite, dance moves and Shawn Mendes at Kolej Vokasional Dato’ Lela Maharaja. These individuals have the passion, humor, and dedication to make an impact on this world and I have been blessed to get to know them.

The aquaculture class after our lesson on innovations in agriculture!

Childhood excitement leads to adulthood joy. Growing up, I had dreams and aspirations of becoming a paleontologist and therefore made sure to study everything there was to know about dinosaurs with the assistance of many documentaries. Somewhere along the line, I became fascinated by a certain bird that shares some commonalities with the legendary velociraptor.

As our group ventured into Kuala Lumpur’s Bird Park, I never could have imagined that this very bird would be waiting for me. With Shelby and Kaitlin as witnesses (and due to the superior scouting of Dr. Husna), I found myself rushing to and marveling at the world’s most dangerous bird, the cassowary. This mesmerizing specimen’s middle claw has the ability to cut through most surfaces and can prove deadly. After spending over 40 minutes admiring this bird, Manny and I found ourselves passing the exhibit later as the cassowary showed off its territorial call, registering at around 23 Hz. Pure fascination is something that is rarely attainable, but happened multiple throughout this trip, whether it was pineapples, mangroves, cultural exchanges or a cassowary.

 

Lifelong friends and one of kind socks!

Socks can bring tears. Everywhere I go I buy socks. From Indianapolis, the Statue of Liberty, the U.S. Capitol Building, Boston and even a layover in Amsterdam, I have purchased socks to document my time there. Much to my dismay, touristic socks are nearly impossible to find in Malaysia, even at places such as the Bird Park (cassowary socks would have blown my mind), the Petronas Twin Towers, Sabah, Melaka and any other location we visited. Defeated, I was prepared to board my flight heading back home without any socks. Until a few individuals left me completely speechless, as Yazlin, Fatin and Suhanna risked missing our bus earlier to rush back into a store, purchase socks, and then transform into custom Malaysian socks. It is little things like this that show how amazing our friends at UTM and in Malaysia truly are. Forever thankful.

Family transcends all borders. After over a week spent at the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, our group transitioned into the FELDA Ayer Hitam community for a homestay. I had no idea what to expect, but what I found has impacted me for the rest of my life. Love is universal and can be shared with every individual you come into contact with. My new family of Ayah, Ibu, Eno and Izzat showed Huzaimi and myself nothing but love, hospitality and compassion as they opened their home to two complete strangers.
Huzaimi and I’s new family

Over the course of four days, we shared many laughs, stories and Izzat found a way to beat me in every game he could think of. These four days showed me how small the world really is when you are lucky enough to find people who will share their love. As Huzaimi and I prepared to depart, we were given some parting gifts, including a stitched cat(in the spirit of the family’s two cats, Baby Shark and Mamma Meow) with a quote that nearly brought me to tears.

“Life is full of quiet moments,
big dreams, joyous laughter, heartfelt tears.”

As this experience ends, I am left to ponder this phrase once again and am thankful for all of these moments that I have experienced with all of you. Here is to all of the memories to be made and new opportunities to tackle.

Thomas Gabel (gabel_thomas) is a pre-service agricultural education candidate(#psuaged22) at The Pennsylvania State University(@TeachAgPSU).

 

Be a tourist in your own town: Thoughts from Jeanne Case

Jeanne Rose CasePost-Trip Thoughts

Holy Smokes! That was a busy month! It is hard to process all the emotions right now. Even though we talked about it on the last day in Malaysia, how do you answer the question, “how was Malaysia”, it is hard to even for me to answer that question even for myself.

I know that I had an unforgettable, once in a lifetime experience, that probably changed me consciously and subconsciously.

I learned during this trip that I can really push myself.

I can push myself through the heat.

I can push myself through language barriers to form connections.

I can push myself to eat new food — sometimes I would just put things in my mouth and hope for the best.

I can push myself to take advantage of every opportunity, even when we were given downtime.. because “When in Malaysia…”

Sometimes with our normal routines, we become complacent and comfortable. We think we’re living our best life. When in reality we’re constantly spending time with the exact same people that have the same views as us. We’re going to the exact same restaurants and hangout places. We’re reading the same type of books and watching the same type of tv.

Where is the growth with that lifestyle? 

The Malaysian students we were with I think could be guilty of that as well. Their religion sometimes restricts what kind of food they can eat and their country sets the norm for who they can marry (Chinese marry Chinese, Indian marry Indian, Malay marry Malay) but they also have their own routines, their own likes, spending time with people like themselves. Even though we were in their country, we traveled to places that they know of, but don’t really know. I think the trip pushed them to try new things and reach outside of their comfort zone. They were local tourists.

However, 48 hours of traveling to a time zone that is 12 hours different is not something that can happen frequently for your average person.

How can we continue to push ourselves and not fall into the rut of complacency and comfortably?

  • try new food in ethnic restaurants
  • attend a religious service or event different from your own to better understand it
  • volunteer to tutor students with English as a second language
  • attend a cultural festival or show
  • be a tourist in your own town – there could be new opportunities and ways of thinking right under your nose.

While I believe it is hard to measure how much this trip has impacted me right now, when the past two days I was just in travel survival mode, I do know that is has impacted me. I look forward to seeing those impacts crop up with the new people that I meet or the random ones I see on the street and the way that my subconscious brain reacts to those interactions.

I also look forward to experiencing Pennsylvania as an adult rather than only as an adolescence. I plan to be a tourist in my own town, my own state. It will be interesting to see what it has to teach me. Because again.. apparently I’m good at change.

Jeanne Case (@_J_CASE) is a U.S. secondary agriscience teacher. She will be teaching at Cumberland Valley High School in Mechanicsburg, PA in the Fall.

#AgEd2Malaysia: Kristi Mensen’s Final Reflection

Kristi J MensenAgriculture

Today I left, from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and will return home after a 28-hour flight to Dyersville, IA. As the #AgEd2Malaysia team had arrived in Malaysia 27 days ago. Our time has flown by- just as I was told it would. Our study abroad program has been an experience. I have tried to replace or come up with another word or perhaps a better word than experience. Yet, each time I try to come up with a better word I scratch it out. I think this is because there is no adjective to describe my experience in teaching and studying in a foreign country.

Over the course of this trip, I have often heard and found myself saying it is a “life-changing experience.” This may be true for some, but not for me. Every time I have been abroad studying the experience has taught me to bring myself to the world and bring the world to myself. For this typical exchange, it is something very different. I am the same person with additive perspectives. Studying abroad in Malaysia has provided me with teacher enrichment, opportunities that have empowered me to engage globally, and learn the intricacies. Studying abroad has given me a greater sense of the world and my place within it.

During my time in Malaysia I lived in Johor Bahru at the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Kuala Lumpur, Sabah, Malacca, and FELDA Ayer Hitam Kluang with a host family. I was fortunate to interact with so many different nationalities, cultures, and lifestyles; no two people were alike. I am certain after what I have experienced that I have been fortunate enough to receive everything I could ever ask for in my life, and will never take the luxuries in my life for granted.

The month spent in Malaysia was full of knowledge about tropical fruits, religious values, wildlife, and Malaysian secondary schools. I have prepared, instructed, and reflected for forms 2-5. (high school) The teams made up of one student from UTM, one per-service candidate, and one teacher candidate objectives where to always have cooperation, creativity, and innovation for the agricultural topic assigned to the Malay students.

During the classes I wanted to see the students become successful by showing engagement, collaborating with their peers, and the obvious one; excitement. Reflecting post workshop was beneficial to me, questioning myself what did I do to become a better Agriculture Educator? The impact of connection is so crucial for students. I want to be able to relate to the students; knowing the topic was relevant to the scholar. While I am sad to leave my UTM family and friends, I am feeling a lot of mixed emotions right now, but I most strongly feel a sense of appreciation and gratitude. Thank you #AgEd2Malaysia participants,  Jeff Zimpleman Iowa Sister States Scholarship, and UTM for the experience abroad in Malaysia.

Ms. Kristi Mensen (@kristi_mensen) is a
pre-service agriscience educator candidate
at Iowa State University (@AgEds_IaStateU)
who graduated from
Hawkeye Community College
(@GALC_Hawkeye, @HawkeyeCollege)!

 

Why Do We Travel? Final #AgEd2Malaysia Thoughts from Darla

Darla Joanne RombergerPost-Trip Thoughts

“Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.”

I found this quote in October 2017 when I was creating my application video for #AgEd2Malaysia. This phrase struck a cord with me because each time I reveal to my family that I’m going away for a trip, they always ask “why.” This 27-day journey in Malaysia was the longest period of time I’ve been away from Central Pennsylvania. Fully immersed in a culture drastically different than my own, this trip has helped me answer “why do you go away?”

  1. Travel to Learn. I was eager to participate in #AgEd2Malaysia to learn about the Malaysian Education system, the Islam religion, and how agriculture impacted the development of Malaysia post-independence. I had done some preliminary preparation with our #AgEd2Malaysia team, but no preparation could compare to the in-country learning opportunities. The most meaningful learning experience for me happened when we were visiting a Sikh temple on Harmony street in Johor Bahru. A youth leader from the temple dropped what he was doing and welcomed us inside. He never asked what religion we were—he treated us an equal. After this humbling experience, I spent a lot of time thinking about how much I don’t know about world religions (I had never heard of Sikhism) and what would I have done if a group of Muslims/Hindus/Sikhs showed up at my church and asked for a tour. Before this experience, I probably would have said no out of fear of these unknown religions. I gained many valuable insights into Malaysian culture by experiencing it firsthand.

 

  1. Travel to Escape. My life in the United States is driven by schedules, deadline, and constantly working to stay ahead of the next curveball that may be thrown. This trip reminded me about the importance of truly understanding people, developing genuine friendships, and taking a break from a predictable routine. The point in the trip where I realized there is more to life than working was on our island-hopping adventure in Sabah. Snorkeling in clear-blue water, I was mesmerized and could have continued looking at tropical fish and coral reefs for hours. Sometimes traveling is a chance to enjoy time away from our daily routine and enjoy time in a new country.

 

  1. Travel to Discover. Discovery was a very important facet of this trip. I discovered the value that Malaysian culture places on hospitality. From the day we were greeted at the airport, to the numerous meals prepared, and the elaborate welcome to secondary schools, we were always treated as guests of honor. I also discovered the value placed on family after staying with a Malaysian family in FELDA. In this home, 3 generations lived under the same roof and worked together to cook meals, care for children, and complete daily chores. Finally, I discovered my ability to overcome language barriers and communicate with my host family at FELDA. With an initial fear about the language barrier, I finally discovered common interests we both shared, which allowed the final days of my home-stay to go smoothly.

 

  1. Travel to Meet New Friends. We were very fortunate to have spent 27 days with 10 students and a variety of lecturers from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. From the second this group met us at the airport, I knew this group of individuals would leave an unforgettable impact on me. They greeted us with open arms, graciously showed us around 4 states in Malaysia with class, hospitality, and a positive outlook for future collaboration. I will never forget this group and hope I can somehow repay the hospitality they have shown us.

 

  1. Travel to Experience a World Different Than Our Own. Traveling 9,000 miles across the globe opened my eyes to how different cultures solve the same problems that we all experience. Just because another culture does something different does not mean it is wrong. This was a very important sentiment that was repeated by several members of our group throughout the trip. I also experienced religions other than my own, which was perhaps one of the most impactful opportunities in my life that I plan to share with members of my church upon returning.

 

Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving. When I arrive home in rural Central Pennsylvania, I will never take any tradition, cultural norm, or religion for granted and seek to understand the people behind these valued pieces of daily life. The challenges of adjusting back to a daily routine/schedules/deadlines will be intriguing to me and I look forward to my new perception about the United States after being away for 30 days.

Ms. Darla Romberger (@DJR_131) [Cumberland Valley High School (@FlyCVEagles)] is a secondary Agricultural Science Teacher (@CV_AgSciences) & FFA Advisor (@CV_FFA1954) in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania!

4 Day Detox – Quick Observation from a Millennial Teacher Candidate!

Tessa C MeyerIn-Country Sharing

You may have noticed the trend lately of people trying the latest “detox” and “cleanses” the last couple of years. They are meant to rid your body of anything that may be harming it or just not the best for it. Myself along with the 11 other U.S. participants just had a “detox” of our own…

We just spent four days without any wifi connection! (Keep in mind, we don’t have a cellular connection here like our 10 UTM friends.) Although we were all very worried about our Snapchat streaks being lost, not being able to check our social media, or check-in with family, this was one of the best experiences for us on this trip.

Our four-day detox of digital connection allowed us the opportunity to fully immerse ourselves in the Malaysian culture and to spend time with our host-families uninterrupted. It took away the distraction of being caught up in our digital lives and allowed us to fully utilize our senses to dive into our physical lives.

We’ve all been guilty of being present physically but not necessarily mentally. In today’s age, most of us have a tendency to subconsciously check our phones more often than necessary. The co-dependency of having our phones constantly attached to our hands has eliminated many of our abilities to be fully present in the moment. Hence, the detox we all just experienced! Not going to lie, I am one who definitely needed this experience to learn what it feels like to be fully connected to the world again! 

After spending the last four days fully focused on creating a stronger bond with our host-families and UTM friends, I would say our detox was a success! We all had the opportunity to reconnect with our family and friends tonight when we arrived back at Scholar’s Inn on UTM campus; however, we aren’t staying put long… On to our next adventure in Sabah! (We will have our wifi connection on our next adventure to keep y’all posted along the way.) 

 

Ms. Tessa Meyer (@tessa_c_meyer) is a pre-service agricultural teacher candidate attending  Iowa State University (@AgEds_IaStateU) and a graduate from Hawkeye Community College [IA] (@GALC_Hawkeye, @HawkeyeCollege)

 

The Beginning of the Best Journey

Darla Joanne RombergerIn-Country Sharing

“The best journeys answer questions that in the beginning, you didn’t even think to ask.”  This quote is very fitting as a group of Agriculture Teachers from the United States begins experiencing the culture, customs, and traditions related to Malaysian culture. Even though our group has been preparing for this trip since January, I wondered about our first few days in Malaysia and several questions began running through my mind during our 24 hours of travel from Pennsylvania to Southeast Asia.

  • Would we be able to communicate with the Malaysian students?
  • What will they think of Americans?
  • Will they want to talk to us?
  • Do they want to know about the United States? 

Upon arrival at the Senai Airport in Johar Bahru, I knew something would be special about our time in Malaysia. We were greeted by a group of smiling students and faculty members from the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM). Even though we were exhausted from over 24 hours of travel, this welcome brought smiles and excitement to our group and set a positive outlook for the next 4 weeks of our journey.

Although this may seem like a traditional airport welcome for some travelers, I felt an instant sense of hospitality, friendship, and camaraderie as our Malaysian hosts made it a point to introduce themselves to each member of our group and offer to assist us with luggage. This sense of instant friendship has continued during each day of our experience as we continue to meet new faculty and students at the Universiti.

Even though we have been on the UTM campus for only 3 days, it seems like we have known our hosts for a week or more as we have talked so comfortably with our hosts about anything from sports, religion, politics, and traditions. As we begin to ask some questions, we find ourselves being very cautious about how we phrase the question because we aren’t sure how our UTM counterparts feel about the topic. However, we are often met with the sentiment, “We are happy to tell you what you want to know about anything in Malaysia.” In return, the Malaysian students are very curious about our lives in America and how they can learn from us as well. In my past international travels, I’ve never experienced a shared sense of curiosity and mutual learning that has been demonstrated by our entire #AgEd2Malaysia team a short 3 days into our experience.

I cannot wait to continue asking questions I hadn’t even considered while gaining a sense of how a country 9,000 miles away from Pennsylvania implements Agriculture Education into their school system with the same passion, excitement, and enthusiasm that we have in the United States.

United States and Malaysian #AgEd2Malaysia participants gather at the #IAmUTM sign in front of the beautiful mosque on the UTM campus.

Darla Romberger (@DJR_131)

Cumberland Valley High School (@FlyCVEagles)

Agricultural Science Teacher (@CV_AgSciences)

& FFA Advisor (@CV_FFA1954)

Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania