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- Bee L. •
- Programs in Thailand & Italy •
- Studio Arts & Art History Majors
“I’m
really interested in going into teaching now, because of visiting
all of the schools in Thailand. It would be great to get a
chance to teach abroad.”
—Bee L. |
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Bee has taken part in two Global Seminar programs during May sessions. As an art history and studio arts major, she enjoyed the chance to see famous works of art up close in Florence, Italy. As a Hmong-American student, Bee traveled to Thailand and Laos to get a deeper understanding of herself and her heritage.
Her experience in Italy helped Bee gain knowledge in her field, by exposing her to original pieces of art within their cultural context. Her experience in Thailand, on the other hand, gave her a new direction for the future. Much of the focus of the Understanding Southeast Asia seminar was on education in Thailand and Laos. Students visited schools, interacted with teachers and students, and learned about the national system. Bee was especially interested in the time she spent at a school in a Hmong village, where the class was able to witness a ceremony for students. “I’m really interested in going into teaching now, because of visiting all of the schools in Thailand. It would be great to get a chance to teach abroad. Now I’m enrolled to get into the educational licensure program here at the University. I’m going into art education, but I hope to eventually get a degree in ESL. I’ve been volunteering at a St. Paul elementary school, and I’m working with some Thai refugee kids who recently came to the US. I’m doing some translating and just helping around the classrooms, and it has inspired me to go in that direction.”
In Italy and Thailand, Bee found many ways to explore culture and life outside of the US. Excursions to Tuscany, Rome, and Venice in Italy, as well as visits to Hmong and Khmer villages in Thailand, made her journeys rich with different lifestyles and stories. In Thailand and Laos, especially, Bee felt a connection to her family and her heritage. “We got to go to a Hmong village in Thailand, and it was overwhelming, emotional, and just great. The people were really friendly and welcoming, and they wanted to know about us, and how our families were, and how life is in America. I felt really comfortable, like they were an aunt or an uncle talking to me.” Another highlight of her trip to Thailand was a visit to an alternative Buddhist community. “I think that was my favorite part of the whole Thailand trip. We took part of their everyday lives, waking up at 4 am, exercising with them, and eating foods that they grew in their fields. We also learned how to plant rice. That was so much fun and hard work! My parents grew up planting rice, and it was my first time doing it. I felt I was able to join in and connect that way with my family, roots and culture.” Take a look at Bee's Digital Story to get a multimedia picture of her experience in the community.
Last modified on November 21, 2008 |