“We are living in an era of rapid change, one in which understanding the societies, histories and cultures of other nations is a prerequisite, not a privilege, of a first class education.” — Peter Kraft, introduction of visiting EFZ students and faculty to Peddie community, Ayer Memorial Chapel, December 6, 2010
Andrew Caglieris and Yiquin “Beverly” Chang
EFZ Update
Helping Others
Just months after the Peddie community hosted thirteen students and their teacher from our Shanghai sister school Number 2 High School of East China Normal University (EFZ), faculty members Andrew Caglieris, Ph.D. of the math department and Yiqun “Beverly” Jiang, Ph.D. of the language department journeyed to Shanghai to broaden and strengthen the relationship between the two schools. In the fourth year of the sister school partnership, EFZ and Peddie continue to delve into one another’s culture, educational practices and lifestyles, developing strong friendships and deep ties.
The 42 Peddie students who spent their spring break working with children in a Dominican Republic orphanage were motivated to pack light. The fewer personal items or clothing they brought for themselves, the more toys, books and school supplies they could cram into their suitcases and leave behind for the children of the Caribbean island.
“Through face-to-face interaction with faculty members, students and administrators, I hope to learn about EFZ’s educational philosophy, discover how they prepare students for the challenges they face, compare the similarities and differences between the two schools and discover how the culture and society of China impacts education,” said Jiang just before her month-long trip. More specifically, Jiang observed English language and Chinese classes and presented to EFZ’s foreign language department, sharing her teaching practices and methods. She also spent some time sitting in on history and political science classes and got involved in some of the students’ extra-curricular activities. Caglieris, meanwhile, observed classes in mathematical modeling, taught integral calculus lessons and participated in a forum with EFZ’s mathematics department to share teaching ideas. “Having lived most of my life in Western Europe and North America, and with limited travel to Central America, this trip was an opportunity to experience significant personal growth in terms of my own life experiences,” said Caglieris of his first trip to Asia.
In the remote village of Jaibon on the northwestern edge of the Dominican Republic just a few miles from the Haitian border, the students and six faculty members taught and played with the young children and helped with construction projects at an orphanage. In addition to teaching English to the schoolchildren, the Peddie students worked on projects ranging from construction, sorting donations, and agriculture to building dorms for future volunteers and picking up litter. Before leaving the Dominican Republic, the Peddie travelers trekked to Dajabon, a town on the Haitian border that on Mondays and Fridays becomes a frenzied marketplace with Haitians selling used clothing, shoes and house-wares while Dominicans go to market with their locally-grown produce. A hike to the beach concluded their trip. “It was definitely a hard-earned day after a week of working at the orphanage and in our classes,” said Michael Mirelman of the language department, who helped organize the trip. Prior to their trip, students enlisted their classmates to help in collecting clothing, toys and other donations which they brought with them to donate to the orphanage.
Caglieris, who serves as the international student advisor, said the trip gave him a more complete perspective on the cultural background of those students in our community who come from China and make Peddie their home away from home. “The more knowledgeable we are of other cultures,” said Caglieris, “the better positioned we are to create a welcoming environment for all members of our community.”
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