Welcome Video from Taiwan

Taiwan...FINALLY!! :)

As many of you know I went to Taiwan over Christmas break...I thought I should post some of my favorite pictures and I also including the blog I wrote for the Graduate School while we were there...

Since we have arrived in Taiwan, the people here have been very welcoming and gracious. The communal culture has been very rich and apparent in everything they do. We have experienced multiple professional classes and my favorite was on Solution-Focused Brief Taiwan. This class was very interesting because even though the goal is the same as in America, the approach is very different. Because it is a communal society, everything is collaborative effort between student, teacher, parent and counselor. They believe that everything they are doing is for the benefit of the child and that is why it is important to work together. Even when discussing family matters they highlight that it is important for the child to have a balanced home. The approach describes what the community can do to improve the person in needs well being. Students welcoming us...

Since I am a first generation American who parents both come from a collectivist culture, I understand this approach. What I have realized is that many of the experiences in Taiwan are similar to family’s culture. However, I find myself flustered and anxious in different settings. What I realized during our group process time is that even though the culture is very similar to mine, I do not connect Taiwanese people to me because they do not look or sound like my family. Thus, even though I understand the culture I still may feel lost because I am not used to experiencing it with them.

Some of my classmates at the Ministry of Education

Along with attending professional classes, we have visited counseling psychology training centers and museums. Yesterday we had the opportunity to visit the Native Taiwanese Museum. Where we learned about the 14 tribes in Taiwan that are remaining, they are also known as Aboriginals. We learned aboriginals have occupied the island for almost 8000 years because the Han Chinese immigrants came to Taiwan in the 17th century. The Taiwanese Aborigines are Austronesian peoples, with linguistic and genetic ties to other Austronesian ethnic groups, such as peoples of the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Madagascar and Oceania. There were over 26 different languages, but now many are extinct and some of the smaller tribes’ languages are in danger of becoming extinct.
My Host Family

After going through the museum, I began to see many parallels between the aboriginal culture and history to our American Indian culture and history. I found it fascinating that two different areas in the world can have almost the same experience. The museum was a great learning experience about the history of Taiwan and its people. They welcomed our group with an amazing aboriginal ceremonial welcome dance. Where they pulled all of us to join in and dance with them. This is another display of how welcoming and warm the culture is here.
However, the greatest experience for me has been the reaffirmation in my beliefs is that the relationships we build are the most important thing in life. We sometimes become so wrapped up in life that we forget why we are working so hard, we lose sight of our original goal. The warmth and graciousness that the Taiwanese people have shown our group is astounding. It warms my heart to have built so many friendships in such a short time. Connections such as this will continue to shrink the bridge between the east and west and one day we will make the world a better place by working together.

National Taiwan Normal University and University of Missouri Students

The Coast, It was awesome! :)

Memoirs of a Boy Soilder

I read the most amazing book this past week (I know you are thinking, how do I have time to read). Anyway, it is a memoir of Ishmael Beah who was a child solider during the civil war in Sierra Leone. This book drew me in and I could not stop reading it! There are many parts of the book that are just heart breaking and you cannot believe this happened to a real person. Actually, the whole reason I read the book was after I went to meet him and hear him speak. I went into my boss’s office and she said she was going to see a speaker tonight. I saw the pamphlet and I told her that I had bought that book about 6 months ago and had yet to read it. She invited me along and I ended up staying for 2 hours because I am just fascinated by him! His story was truly amazing, heartbreaking and just makes you want to get involved and help the children who suffer from the effects of a civil war. It makes you count your blessings and realize how lucky we really are.

VAGINA!!!!!!!!!!

It is over! I performed in my very last Vagina Monologues this past weekend and it was bittersweet. I was lucky enough to have Jerods’ whole family and mine in attendance (even though Oni and Jerods dad were thoroughly embarrassed by the entire play being about Vaginas). I love the Vagina Monologues for so many reasons. Not only because I love the stories that are told, but because it is truly a bonding experience with the cast. We met every Sunday for about three months. You really get used to seeing these wonderful women every Sunday and then you feel a little lost when it’s done. The Vagina Monologues is very close to my heart this year as the spotlight issue was to Stop Rape in the Congo to young girls and women. Civil war is something that no one in our generation or even our grandparents’ generation has experienced in America. However, my parents have both experienced the effects of a civil war and what it can do to a country. This year the new monologue hit me the hardest. It spoke about how we as Americans perpetuate civil wars in other countries. How in America we do not care about where the goods we buy come from, we just care if it works properly or looks nice. Like most countries in Africa, natural resources are in abundance. In the Congo, one of their major natural resources is rubber and the materials needed for cell phones and game machines like play station three. Which we do not realize that over here because many times we do not care to know. However if you have a minute take some time and explore the website below and read up on the aftermath of this civil war in the Congo. Moreover, the next time you look at your diamond, your cell phone, pump your gas, or play basketball stop and think where these items may be coming from.

Peace, Self Love and Vagina.

http://newsite.vday.org/drcongo