What IS VGM? Since I am the first person to speak that went to Dongshi, I’ll explain that to you right now. It’s a program with various churches where we travel to Taiwan in various locations to teach the local kids English as a summer camp. I first heard about this opportunity when my Mom and Dad approached me with it. After much nudging and pestering (maybe audience laugh so pause), I agreed to go. But why did I end up choosing to go? When I look back, I don’t know. But for one, I needed Volunteer hours for school, and my Dad advertised that I would get 40 or so hours. I think what really attracted me to go though, was the fact I would be working with children of the elementary school age. I have a younger brother who is currently 9 years old. I had developed my own observations about children at that age and their behaviors. For example, you can almost always tell if a kids is lying about “the last cookie they stole” by looking at them with a serious face, and asking it “if they did it”. Usually the younger ones will burst out laughing.

Everyone had a unique experience in Taiwan and I just want to share my perspective on the week-long curriculum. As newbies, My Dad and I were assigned to teach First-Graders with two Taiwan team members called Summer and Wendy. Now I have never been good at Chinese, but this trip was good practice for my Chinese. The constant switching between Chinese and English was interesting. It felt really magical and I think my favorite time period in Taiwan was the three days before the camp started-when us and the Taiwan team were hammering out a curriculum, practicing the dance as well as the games we had planned; and I believe it really was a bonding experience for all of us. The thing I hated the most about VGM was the 12-hour workday. From 7am to 7pm we prepared for lessons, reviewed the day, etc. For the camp, we had prepared many games and activities for the children in the 3-day preparation period. One of the Taiwan team introduced what in English is called a “Cobra weave.” It involves many popsicle sticks weaved in a zig-zag pattern, held together by pressure. When you pull the piece that holds the Cobra weave together, it springs apart, and it looks very cool.

Usually in the US your teacher is your teacher, your superior. You respect him or her. But it appears in Taiwan (based on the children’s behavior) the teacher is your FRIEND. This was reflected by the student’s behavior towards us. They called us (older) brother and (older) sister as well as playing and climbing all over us.

This was really my first time teaching younger kids, and it did feel like it prepared me for the madness at the BOLCCIS soccer camp. Thank you for listening and have a good day.