Heeding the words of experience, even when they are a bit confusing

Before we TGCs (Teachers for Global Classrooms) even left the USA we were cautioned to be ready with an elevator pitch aka a less than 90 second summary of our experiences and/or our position on global education.

But we were also warned against the danger of the “single” story (which is eloquently explained in Chimamanda Ngozi’s TED talk ) To put it much less elegantly and eloquently than she it, it is the danger of stereotyping or oversimplifying a culture.

These are two things worthy of consideration, but just how are we supposed to balance the need for brevity with the desire to do a complicated situation justice?

I suspect every TGCer who comes back from their field experience has the same dilemma.

 

Exploring the world right here in our state!

One of the surprising things that has come out of my year of living globally aka Teachers for Global Classrooms program, is learning the diversity of other cultures right in my own back yard.

 

I know my home town, Tuscaloosa, AL has a long standing Sister Cities agreement with Schorndorf, Germany and Narashino, Japan (largely due to joint manufacturing ties). But it has recently expanded to include Sunyani-Techiman, Ghana! I can’t wait to find out more about that city. I have been to Ghana long ago but don’t recall much about it other than it is English speaking. I’m looking forward to learning more about it.

But what I am most interested in, largely due to having traveled to Morocco, a Muslim country, for my TGC field placement, is learning about the Islamic culture here in our state. I have discovered that one of my favorite places to eat is run by an Egyptian family. And tonight I am attending a Ramadam breaking the fast dinner at the Islamic Center in Hoover. More about that tomorrow!