There are certain events that happen in ours kids lives that are turning points. That ah ha moment when they start to understand things about the world that they had never considered before. My daughter’s experience with EDventure was one of those moments. From the start of her trip she faced obstacles and opportunities that taught her so many valuable lessons that she is able to continue to draw from today – 3 years after she returned. Some examples:
She left for her trip to Cambodia out of LAX. Just figuring our how to get on the plane proved to be challenge. The airlines decided to request paperwork that she didn’t have and we weren’t quite sure how she would be able to get at that point. As she dissolved into tears I remember talking with her and telling her we always face obstacles and we have to find solutions – not just give up, We managed to get on the phone with people in China, as well as with Jaime and we got it worked out and she made her flight. She learned a valuable lesson before she ever left in perseverance. She would say today that this was a huge growing experience for her – That bureaucracy is sometimes hard but you have to have PATIENCE and authority and take charge of your life.
Before she even left on her trip she had to work hard to raise the money to pay for the trip. This meant learning to speak with adults in a professional manner and to ask for what she needed. She learned that she had to ability to accomplish big things by making a plan and following through on it. Of course, she also had to learn all about adult responsibilities like going to get vaccine shots, and making sure she had her passport ready. No more waiting for mom or dad to take care of these things for her.
I think the most unforgettable thing for me about her experience was my taking her to dinner on her return and listening to the stories she was able to share and to really get a picture of the depth of this experience for her. Her eyes lit up as she described the experience of watching a child sleep in a bed for the first time ever. She laughed as she talked about how she realized the camp songs the kids were singing in their language we the same ones she grew up singing and how fun it was to teach them the words to the song in english. She gained an awareness of her own privilege in the world and an appreciation for her opportunities and education. She learned patience from the Cambodian way of life where things don’t go quite as planned and that’s ok. She learned that people who have so little by our standard, have so much more love for life than we often exhibit. She witnesses the children’s passion for education which increased her own appreciation for the opportunities that she has been given. She learned to take risks. She learned that she had a passion for travel and service and being a global citizen. All of these things have continued to be her passion today to help others at home and abroad.
As a parent, there were scary things about sending a child off on a trip like this, but it was a growing experience for me as well. Not only in learning through Kaylena’s eyes, but realizing how small the world really is that we live in today. After the difficulties of leaving LAX, the third leg of her flight was cancelled, stranding her for a night in a small town in China where little english was spoken. As most of her communication with Jaime to that point had been Facebook chats, she discovered that because there was no Facebook in China she had no way to get ahold of him to let him know she was delayed. From deep in China she was able to text me in California and I was able to communicate with Jaime in Cambodia all in real time to get it worked out. That was my ah ha moment realizing how connected we all really are.
The experience she had with this program was incredible. I would strongly encourage anyone who’s interested in this program to jump in with both feet. The program is well run, and most importantly, exposes our children to so many things they would not otherwise be able to experience.
Jeff
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