... I just returned from Taiwan last night with 10 of my 4th graders and saw the Kidlink request. . We were there for 2 weeks living in Chinese homes and taking in the culture as well going to a Chinese school. I hope the Hawaiian teachers feel really welcome and jump in!

Terry

Hi Patti - the whole thing is/was incredible. I'll make a web posting when jet lag leaves me... The trip originated from doing internet projects with the school for the last two years. I did World Problems with Hannibal-Taiwan kid partners last year. Then, this year out of the blue, they invited us to come visit, but being a public school (and the poorest one in the community) we had to decline their invitation. Then they offered to cover 2/3 of the cost if we could raise the remaining 1/3 - and away we went! We washed cars, sold food, sold silk roses, made a radio commercial, had newspaper support to get the word out, and lots of contributions came in from local people, plus we got a $2000 grant from a local foundation.

http://home.dstream.net/~tksmith/proj/taiwan/tai-class.htm

We went through the process of deciding which kids could go based on desire to try new things, good behavior, friendliness, basic good readers and writers (didn't have to be "A" students), and finally being mature enough to be away from families for two weeks. Six girls and 4 boys were the lucky kids. Lots of education had to follow - parents and kids. For two months kids studied Chinese that I added to their spelling lessons. By the time we left, most knew 20--25 phrases and could add and subtract using Chinese character numbers, as well as count out loud with them. Then there was all the paperwork: letters of consent to travel, passports, immunizations, etc. Lots of learning at every step of this process.

About a zillion e-mails went between Taipei and me in the planning, setup, home stay info, phone numbers, insurance questions, lessons we would teach, and on...

The flight to Taipei was about 21 hours each way - St. Louis -Detroit - Osaka- Taipei. The airplane ride was the biggest thrill of all - these kids had never been on an airplane before, much less for a 7000+ mile journey halfway around the world. So once in Taiwan, we were met by our host families at the airport. After exchanging gifts, the kids disappeared into the night to stay in Chinese homes with their e-mail pals. The next morning, we all met at school. Over a two week period, the kids stayed in 2 homes, learned more Chinese, ate lots of Chinese food, experienced Chinese classrooms and teaching - I taught lessons on USA history, flight and forces and airplane building, USA weddings, USA holidays and festivals, and Mother Goose nursery rhymes. My wife did a Foods USA lesson then a cooking class where kids made popcorn balls and burritos. Out of the classroom we visited the world's tallest building, Taipei 101, the Aboriginal Museum, Discovery Center, Water Park, Dragon Boat races, Night Market, Taipei Zoo, Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial, a day and a half at Jinshan beach on the north coast, hot springs, rode the MRT mass transit, visited the Wedding Cookie Museum and made cookies, and personally met the mayor of Taipei and presented him with the key to the city of Hannibal, Missouri..and more..

My wife and I had many opportunities to get out in the evenings to ride around Taipei on the trains and had a great time - incredible food. There were several teachers at the school from South Africa and Canada and even one from Missouri - all who helped us get acquainted with Taipei.

The two weeks went way too quickly. Even a couple of kids who were feeling homesick at first said they wished they could stay another week. We'll continue our partnership and hope to have some kids from Taiwan visit us next year if possible.

Here is an online news story about our return. The paper has some archives of stories I sent in while we were there also.

http://hannibal.net/stories/071204/hap_0712040003.shtml

If anything, I want teachers to see what amazing things can happen when they stretch themselves and venture outside their classrooms using the Internet.

Terry

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