By Mr. Smith

I was going to write a post about my friend, Kecou.  I was going to write about his warm welcomes, his infectious smile, his calming presence, and his incredible generosity.  But, Kecou already is a virtual celebrity to the followers of Christchurch Global Education.  While talking to our new chaperone, Censei Steve (an old chaperone of Mr. Alter from the days of both of their relative youth, a new topic came to mind.  This blog is dedicated to the students of the trip.

As one of the caretakers of 27 young souls, I get to observe and interact with students on Global Ed trips in a way I do not experience at home.  We experience the places, the people, and the events together on these trips.  At home, I show students the world in my classroom.  Here, I live the world with them.  We share so many experiences.  There are too many to list, but they run through my mind right now in no particular order.  

We arrive at the most beautiful waterfall I might ever see together (ok, they get there before me…I’m old and slightly injured, but you get the point).  I translate for them as they meet new people.  I watch them speak to a German couple crossing Africa.  I help them negotiate purchases of goods.  I watch a movie synchronously with Robert as we cross the Atlantic (pausing when he pauses, and vice versa).  I am their leader (until Alter arrives).  I am their caretaker (with the other adults).  I am their teacher.  But most enjoyably, I am their equal in a way I will never be in a classroom, or on a sports field.  When we see a herd of buffalo (my favorite animal in Africa) in the trees next to the road, we all experience a “first” together.  As the Senegalese say “On Est Ensemble,” or “We are one.”

Senegalese culture helps us live “En Ensemble” in so many ways, but perhaps the best way is the culture of eating.  Growing up, we always had family dinner.  My dad might not get home until 8 p.m. sometimes, but my mom was not going to serve dinner without him.  Those dinners helped create a family bond.  I carry on the tradition with my own family as an adult.  Senegalese culture takes “family dinner” one step further.  We gather around large serving dishes, and the oldest person divides the communal dish into portions (6 in my group each night in Kecou’s village, Niognani).  Every night, my group of four students, me, and Mr. Evan Pausic, resolve to finish our dish.  We decide that Kecou’s wives, Fatah and Seerah worked hard to prepare our food, and we will not insult them by leaving leftovers.  We are quite literally knee to knee (some on the ground, some in chairs).  If one of us starts getting full, the others pitch in to finish their portion.  The food is delicious, but the amount is…prodigious.  When another group taps out, our group is selected to finish their food.  “Boys, we got some work to do,” one of us says.  And we set to work.  Again, the food is delicious.  Again, the conversation is both deep and fun.  Again, we finish together.  On est ensemble.

When we drive across the country, it is a LONG drive.  The road is two lanes.  The terrain does not change for much of the trip.  It is a beautiful country, but the change from coastal marsh to near desert, to forest is a very gradual one.  It would be easy for the students to complain, but they do not complain.  The conversation is lively, the playlist is unending, as we all take turns suggesting songs. Yes, they sleep as I drive.  Yes, it is the most active driving I have ever experienced (passing donkey carts and trucks, trying to keep our three vehicle convoy together).  But, I have never experienced such a long drive that passed by so quickly.  The students are remarkable in the little community they create to pass the time. On est ensemble.

We are one, because these are incredible children.  They are your children, your students, your friends, or maybe they are just people you read about, and I am honored to watch them on this trip.  And this is where Censei Steve made me decide to write about the kids on this trip.  As we broke up from one of our meetings, Censei Steve said something we don’t always hear, or acknowledge, as teachers.  You see, Steve is a teacher of incredible experience and quality.  Mr. Alter credits him with starting Alter’s love of these trips, so he has to be pretty good.  Steve has seen it all.  And what did Steve say about the kids?  He said “these are incredible kids.  No, they really are.  You should be proud, because your school is doing something right.”  He is not wrong.  I am proud, and for a few more days, I am one.  One with all these incredible kids. 

On est ensemble.