Wow! I can’t believe how quick this study abroad experience has flown by. It feels like just yesterday we were stepping off the plane but, yet we have had our last day in China today. It was a long day but a rewarding day with new experiences.
“Fulfilled individual and actively compassionate citizens,” a meaningful statement from a faculty member at Moon Shot Academy as he described one of the visions for their students. Moon Shot Academy is a new innovative and developing school for students in Beijing, China. As we got the opportunity to visit this emerging school, I learned that they have thirty-seven students and about thirty teachers. With the one to two student teacher ratio this school is very motivated to do something new for the Chinese educational system. Starting their first year (2018-2019), Moon Shot Academy only offers classes to ninth and tenth grades, making their curriculum from scratch, and are expected to grow in the next school year adding about forty-three students with an eighty student capacity. I believe my classmates and I were very impressed and inspired by the motivation and enthusiasm this school has to improve education. As I reflected on my experience at Moon Shot Academy, I loved the opportunity to see the lengths they are taking for improvement as well as getting the chance to converse with the students and faculty members who are fighting for educational reform. A few of their goals is to focus their curriculum on competency education and implement project-based inquiry getting away from what they consider traditional Chinese education. As I return to the states I hope to stay connected with this school and witness their continuous growth.
As the day continued, we spent the afternoon at the Hong Qiao Pearl Market. We split off into groups experiencing different vendors and bartered our way through the five different floors. The first floor had the cheapest things and fifth floor was occupied with the most beautiful and expensive pearls. It was a very overwhelming experience, fighting to knock down prices and choosing between the many trinkets and souvenirs to take back to the States. The pearl market was a great experience and I really enjoyed myself, finishing the last of my shipping as we prepare to return home.
Lastly, we ended our day with our last round table dinner comprised of amazing food and even better conversation. We discussed our thoughts on education as well as reflected on the take always that resonated the most from the past two weeks.
As I finish out this experience, every moment of it was worth it. It has truly been something special to learn so much about another culture and experience the Chinese educational system. I learned more than I could have expected in a short time. I’ve made some meaningful connections with my classmates and some of the people that I have meet throughout China. I know that this experience will leave lasting impressions with all of us. I hope that in the future, our group will be able to use what we have learned for our professional and personal growth. And when we return home we are able to stay connected with the new associates we have made in China as well as with one another!
Farwell China, we will all miss you!