Cultural Education & Study Abroad Readiness

I have successfully completed both my CPR and First Aid training with
about a month and a half left before C.E.S.A.R. leaves for Mexico. We have
been generating many fundraising ideas for May.

We will be having a C.E.S.A.R. Rummage Sale, a raffle and a penny drive at
there schools. We have continuously been practicing our Spanish. The kids
are remembering more and more. This has been exciting for and I know the
kids have enjoyed our activities as well. We have gone to the Milwaukee
Art Museum and Also participated in Earth Day activities with the Urban
Ecology Center of Milwaukee.

Teneisha

Posted by Aaron Bos-Lun at 12:46 AM | Permalink

Hello all,

My name is Aaron Bos-Lun. My mother, Michelle, is Teneisha's co-leader for the C.E.S.A.R. Mexico program. I have been recently hired to accompany the program to Mexico in order to manage the blog, take photos and video footage of the trip, and to document the incredible experience Michael, Nyesha, Shacquan, Sean, Pachan, and Myzel will be having in Mexico this summer.

Until we are in Mexico, I will be posting the updates that Teneisha sends me about the progress of the C.E.S.A.R. program in Milwaukee, as well as any updates Michelle wants to share. Come Mexico, I will be updating the blog at least once (probably more often) per day with pictures, video footage, interviews with the kids and program leaders about their experiences, and summaries of what is happening in Mexico.

On a more personal level, I am extremely excited to be able to to contribute my abilities to the C.E.S.A.R. program. I have traveled internationally on many occassions throughout my life, my most recent trip being a trip to Mexico this past March to learn about immigration. My travels have provided me a deep appreciation of the importance and educational impact of traveling, one reason why I believe so strongly in the goals of the C.E.S.A.R. Mexico program. In terms of my own education, I am about to graduate on May 25 from the United World College in New Mexico, an international high school with 200 students from 92 countries. Before UWC, I lived in South Dakota, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire and, most recently, Vermont. Next year I will be joining Americorps' City Year: Washington D.C. program, which will allow me to do full-time educationally-based community service with youth in the nation's capitol.

My role in the C.E.S.A.R. program is an ideal fusion of my interests in education, cross-culturalism, travel, photography/filmmaking and working with kids. I have immense admiration and respect for Teneisha's vision and motiviation in providing the kids the C.E.S.A.R. opportunity, and I am absoutely thrilled to be able to add to this extremely meaningful and exciting program. I look forward to keeping you all updated!

Until next time,
Aaron

P.S. I will post a picture of myself shortly.

P.P.S. To Michael, Nyesha, Shacquan, Maya, Pachan, and Myzel: I can not wait to meet you all in person!!! We are going to have an amazing experience and I expect you all are extremely excited. If you have any questions or would like to get to know me a little sooner, I hope that you write me at my email address: aaron.boslun@gmail.com. Finish the school year strong and be ready for an incredible, life-changing time in Mexico!

Aaron at dinner in New Mexico

Posted by Aaron Bos-Lun at 12:49 AM | Permalink

Dear Students,

I am so excited to be joining you and Teneisha and Aaron for ten days in Mexico in June!

I very much enjoyed meeting all of you and your families in March in Milwaukee and hope that your preparations for going to Mexico are continuing to go well.

Keep studying and practicing your Spanish as the more you can speak, the better you will be able to communicate when we get to Mexico! I have planned and led programs to many countries and have traveled a lot around the world, but I only speak a little Spanish so I look forward to having you and Teneisha and Aaron help translate for me as we meet with people in Cuernavoca and Mexico City.

You are all about to embark on the experience of a lifetime and I feel very privileged to have the chance to share it with you. There is so much to learn through traveling to another country and immersing in its culture and I know we will all learn a lot together about Mexico as well as about each other and ourselves. My hope for each of you is that you will learn and grow in ways that will impact you for the rest of your lives and I expect that will happen, as each time I go to a new culture I come back changed, and I think you will too!

I live in Vermont, but I am originally from Wisconsin, like most of you! I was born in Waukesha, near Milwaukee and graduated from college at Beloit College in Beloit, Wisconsin. Sociology was the focus of my undergraduate studies and International Education is the topic I got my Master’s degree in.

I have three children (all older than you by a few years) but I have worked with hundreds of kids over the years as a teacher, houseparent, administrator, program planner and more. I look forward to getting to know all of you better in the weeks leading up to our Mexico departure as well as during the time we are traveling together. If you or your parents have any questions you can feel free to contact me at michelle@global-lab.org or 800 984 4522. I enjoy hearing about your CESAR activities from Teneisha as she shares what you are doing on the blog but would welcome any direct messages from you as well! In Mexico, Aaron will help all of you to post messages and pictures on the blog so that your friends and family back home can see and hear what you have been up to!

Enjoy the last weeks of school and keep studying your Spanish ! I look forward to meeting you all again in person on June 15 at the airport before we board our flight together to Mexico!

Sincerely,

Michelle

Michelle with the Prime Minister of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile

Posted by Aaron Bos-Lun at 1:15 AM | Permalink

The participants of the C.E.S.A.R. program wanted to tell the world a little more about themselves, so here are introductions from 5 of them! (All except for Maya)

Michael:
Hi my name is Michael and I am 12 years old. I was born in September. I
have fun in Spanish class. My hobbies are drawing, playing football and
playing my video games. I am a straight "A" student and I always turn in
my homework on time. My best friend in school and in Spanish class in
Shacquan. My brother, Sean, is in Spanish also. I am very smart and
intelligent.

Michael, displaying a poster he made during a CESAR child labor unit

Nyesha:
Hi, My name is Nyesha. I am 11 years old and I am in middle school. Some
of my hobbies are dancing, skating, shopping and hanging out with my
friends. I like this Spanish class because I get to see my friends more
often. I am very fun and outgoing and I think that going to Mexico will be
a great experience for me.

Shacquan:
My name is Shacquan. I am 12 years old and I like going to Spanish class.
My best friend in Michael. I like football and video games I have never
been on a plane before but I did climb a rock wall once. I can't wait to
go to Mexico.

Shacquan, displaying his poster from the CESAR child labor unit

Pachan:
Hello my name is Pachan. I am 11 years old. The thing I like about the
C.E.S.A.R. program is going to Spanish class and spending time with my
friends. I take some Spanish at school but Spanish with C.E.S.A.R. helps
me practice. I can't wait to go to Mexico.

Myzel:
Hi, I'm Myzel. I am 11 years old and I was born in Milwaukee. My favorite
hobbies are to play basketball and football. I like to learn Spanish.

Teneisha teaches Spanish to CESAR participants in preparation for Mexico

Posted by Aaron Bos-Lun at 1:18 AM | Permalink

Download file

Posted by Aaron Bos-Lun at 1:25 AM | Permalink

When I (Michelle) visited Milwaukee in mid-March, I asked the parents of CESAR students to respond to these questions:

What has been of the most benefit to your child, being in CESAR?

How do you feel about your child going to Mexico in June?

Here are the responses:

Sue McCarthy: Parent of Maya McCarthy Neal
1. I feel like there are many benefits of this program for Maya. Learning Spanish, being able to appreciate and learn about other cultures and experiences with peers; exploring all that Milwaukee has to offere
2. I am thrilled for Maya to have this opportunity. For me this opportunity is comparable to learning to read and developing a love of reading. It opens up the world and possibilities in life.

Yolanda Haines: Parent of Sean and Micheal Copening
1. I am very thankful for this program because I really can’t teach them all the things they are learning with Ms. Teneisha. I bless her for coming into my kids’ life with this program

Sarah Brier: Parent of Nyesha Brown
1. Being in a social group outside of school, interacting with other kids from different schools. Nyesha is really enjoying the program
2. Mixed feelings (still have them!) However, I know that I can’t let that hold me back from letting her experience this opportuntity. I feel comfortable knowing that if/when I have questions, I know I can ask and receive an open and honest answer.

Aric and Tomeca Cunnigham: Parents of Myzel Arbunkle
1. Learning Spanish- that alone will be beneficial to Myzel’s future.
2. At first I had mixed feelings about the trip. Just the thought of your child being out of the country for two weeks is scary, but after meeting with Teneisha as well as Myzel’s feedback and experiences we have come to handle our fears and realize this will help our child so much. It will change his entire outlook on life

I asked the students what they most enjoyed about the program and specific memories they had. Some of their responses were:

Michael Copening: I enjoyed when we made a Mexican meal and when we went to the Mall on a scavenger hunt (while we were learning about child labor). We learned where many different things come from. I also like to do art projects (like making posters about child labor and maps of the world).

Shacquan Ellis: I enjoy every Saturday (we go on field trips on Saturdays). Those are the best days. And I am looking forward to Mexico because I want to learn how to cook Mexican food and to learn how to say things I don’t know how to say yet.

Sean Copening: I enjoy the Spanish class because it teaches me a new language and learning Spanish is fun.

Myzel Arbunkle: My favorite is the Spanish claas and the fact that they are taking us to Mexico! Also the Saturday activities are awesome…

Dacolis: I like when we had frozen yogurt and nachos.. and the Saturday activities. I also liked the visit to the Black Holocaust Museum.

-Michelle-

Posted by Aaron Bos-Lun at 3:05 AM | Permalink

Michael and Shacquan rock wall climbing

Myzel looking at animals at the Urban Ecology Center

Sean getting ready to climb

Posted by Aaron Bos-Lun at 3:44 AM | Permalink

C.E.S.A.R. MEXICO PROGRAM: JUNE 15-24, 2007

Viernes/Friday, June 15th
7:30 p.m. Arrival from airport
9:30 Arrival to CCIDD / Settle in

Sábado/Saturday, June 16th
8:30 Desayuno / Breakfast
9:30 Introduction to CCIDD
10:30 Hopes and Fears
11:30 Intro Cuernavaca Quest
12:00 Personal / Journal time
1:30 Comida / Lunch
2:30 Cuernavaca Quest
5:30 Cuernavaca Quest Debrief
6:30 Cena / Supper
7:30 Intro to Social Analysis

Domingo/Sunday, June 17th
8:00 Desayuno / Breakfast Pack Picnic Lunch
8:45 Morning Reflection
9:45 Leave for Tepoztlán: Free time to explore market and hike to ruins of Tepozteco
Lunch on your own: Packed lunch or in one of many restaurants
5:00 Return to CCIDD
6:30 Cena / Supper
8:00 Mariachi Mass at Cathedral

Lunes/Monday, June 18th
7:00 Desayuno/ Breakfast
7:15 Leave to serve breakfast in La Estación Squatter Settlement
10:00 Visits to families and Community Center in La Estación
1:30 Comida / Lunch
2:30 Intro to compost by CCIDD gardener, Manuel
3:00 Personal / Journal time
4:30 Debrief La Estacion
5:30 “A matter of interest”- Intro to Economics
6:30 Cena / Supper
7:30 Free evening

Martes/Tuesday, June 19th
8:00 Desayuno / Breakfast
8:45 Morning reflection
9:30 Liberation Theology, Sister Kathy Long
11:30 Personal/journal time
12:30 Helping in CCIDD kitchen (cooking Mexican food!)
1:30 Comida / Lunch
2:30 Visit to Cuernavaca downtown and Diego Rivera´s Mural at Cortez´ Palace
4:30 ISM Project
6:30 Cena / Supper
7:30 Intro to Social Analysis
8:00 Free evening

Miércoles/Wednesday, June 20th
8:00 Desayuno / Breakfast
8:45 Morning reflection
9:30 Shopping in small groups
12:00 Dynamic of the four quadrants in the garden
1:00 Comida/lunch Pack picnic supper
2:00 Painting a mural with young people from El Pregon
9:30 Leave for Cuentepec: visit to Telescundaria and Bakery cooperative
6:30 Packed picnic supper
7:30 Free evening

Jueves/Thursday, June 21th
8:00 Desayuno / Breakfast Pack picnic lunch
8:45 Morning Reflection
9:30 Leave for Cuentepec: visit to Telesecundaria and Bakery cooperative
Comida/picnic lunch
2:30 Visit to orphanage, Nustros Pequenos Hermanos (NPH), Miacatlan
4:30 Return to CCIDD
5:30 Debrief day visits
6:30 Cena / Supper out

Viernes/Friday, June 22th
8:00 Desayuno / Breakfast
8:45 Cross-cultural dialogue
10:00 Leave for Recycling Center, EPATAC, Tejalpa
1:30 Comida / Lunch
2:30 Personal / Journal time
4:00 Visit to "VAMOS" organization´s project CASA TATIC
Shopping opportunity with Artisans at Casa Romero (optional)
6:30 Cena / Supper
7:30 Pinata

Sábado/Saturday, June 23th
8:00 Desayuno / Breakfast
8:45/9:00 Walk / Drive for Botanical Garden
9:15 Morning reflection at Botanical Garden
12:00 Social Analysis group work
1:30 Comida / Lunch
Pay final bills
2:30 Personal / Journal Time
4:00 Social Analysis Presentations
5:30 Action Plan
6:30 Cena / Supper
7:30 Final Liturgy, Closing Celebration

Domingo/Sunday, June 24th
4:25 Leave to the airport
8:57 Flight to Chicago

Posted by Aaron Bos-Lun at 2:47 AM | Permalink

Saturday the kids and I visited another town in Wisconsin called
Janesville. We went to visit a woman from Tunisia named Ibtissem (which
means smile in Arabic). Ibtissem shared her experience with what schools,
clothing and shops were like in Tunisia. She also taught the kids some
words in Arabic and how to write their names. She is a great dancer and
she also gave the kids a chance to practice while they showed her some of
their dance moves that she tried. It was a wonderful experience and I want
to thank Sue Nelson for setting up this actitiviy. I worked with her last
year and this gave the kids something that they have talked about nonstop
since we got back.

Group picture with Ibtissem

Helping the kids with Arabic pronounciation

Ibtissem showing an example of dress in Tunisia

The kids asking questions

Posted by Aaron Bos-Lun at 6:57 PM | Permalink