Apis update 2013 march

APIS UPDATE

Address: 57 Wolgye-ro 45ga-gil, Nowon-gu, Seoul, 139-852, Korea Website: www.apis.seoul.kr

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Issue 11.

March 2013 GCP Special Issue Thailand Philippines Indonesia Korea China

APIS Global Citizen Program Whether it was just being away from the comforts and routine of home, or the excitement of visiting a new country, or the deepening of friendships through shared experience, the Global Citizen Program excursions this past March provide students opportunities to grow and connect in ways that transcend the local classroom. They gained invaluable leadership skills, greater global awareness and an international perspective that only comes from traveling together outside of school. More colleges and universities are making cultural awareness part of the curriculum, and no matter what your college targets are, experiencing life abroad can give you the edge you need on college applications. On top of all this, the students grew closer together as a school family and had a lot of fun!

Through the GCP program our students learn many new things that they wouldn’t otherwise experience in the normal daily classroom routine. When our students are abroad they learn both inside and outside the classroom. Students have the opportunity to learn about a new culture, foreign language, increase self-confidence and ultimately prepare to be more academically competitive, and their experience translates into tangible academic benefits and personal maturity. Many students returned from trips and shared how much they grew as a result of pushing their limits and working together with schoolmates to complete community service projects. For others they came back with a new appreciation for the things they have and expressed a deeper compassion for those less fortunate. Though each student may have returned with a slightly different feeling, each returned richer for having gone.

The Global Citizen Program at APIS is an important part of meeting the school’s goal of creating “Globally enlightened citizens who are able to bridge the gap between the East and the West and are ready to welcome the exciting challenges of the New Pacific Century.”

Through the GCP program our students had the opportunity to develop an understanding of the interconnectedness between individuals, societies, and countries and to consider the cultural, environmental, economic and political dimensions of global issues. The GCP involved activities taken in all aspects of school life at APIS: across the different disciplines and year levels, and in curricular and extra-curricular activities.

Most importantly, the Global Citizen Program provides students the chance to have an authentic experience with global education and embrace cultural learning while creating life-long memories with their friends.

Scott Paulin Secondary School Principal

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From the GCP Coordinator This year APIS launched a new Global Citizens Program to secondary school students. Guided by our school goals and mission and getting excellent advice from other top international schools in Asia, we sent 188 secondary students to over five different countries for a week-long trip. With the idea of educating the whole child; enabling them to better understand and prepare for the continually changing world and to become globally enlightened citizens of the New Pacific Century, the program was developed with five goals in mind: Service Learning, Spirituality, Culture Exchange, Adventure, and Team Building.

The feedback we received from the students has been fantastic. After reviewing student surveys and comments it became very clear that the GCP is having a very positive impact on our students’ lives. The GCP allows APIS students to gain experience that simply cannot be taught within the classroom walls.

I really look forward to next year’s Global Citizens Program and I am confident that each year the program will continue to grow and expand and remain an impactful educational experience for all APIS students.

Andrew Murphy GCP Coordinator

Program

Division

Trip Date

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Middle School

March 9-16

Chiang Mai, Thailand

High School

March 9-16

Philippines

High School

March 8-16

Telunas Beach, Indonesia

Middle School

March 9-16

Telunas Beach, Indonesia

High School

March 9-16

Camping in Korea

Middle/High School

March 11-16

Beijing, China

High School

March 10-15

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THAILAND Middle School Trip to Chiang Mai, Thailand

By Ms. Sharon Lee and Mr. Chris Stapleton Day 1

Arrival

Day 5

Service / Teaching / Boat Trip

Day 2

Team Building / Rafting

Day 6

Service / Teaching / Wall Climbing

Day 3

Service / Teaching

Day 7

Service / Farewell

Day 4

Service Teaching / Thai Cooking

Day 8

Departure

Maekok River Village Valley Resort in Chiang Mai, Thailand hosted an energetic group of APIS students and teachers. Middle Schoolers experienced the physical demands of digging, painting, and moving sand to help lay the foundation of a kitchen for a local Thai school. They continued their service work by preparing English lessons and teaching the children at this school.

Through teamwork and risk-taking, students overcame group challenges and personal fears. Raft-building, Thai cooking, rock-climbing, archery and hiking were some of the many activities that they participated in.

One middle schooler expressed his realization that fear lies only in the mind. He conquered his mental fear of heights by ringing the bell at the top of the rock-climbing wall.

One particular highlight was the ‘Confidence Course’ on site at the resort. Above an intimidating pool of water lay loose chains, a suspended rope, balance beams, and monkey bars. Students were challenged to move through this obstacle course without plunging into the cold murky water below (helmets and life jackets provided, of course). With encouragement from one another, every student accepted this seemingly daunting task, and for this, they were all victorious.

After a full day of delicious meals, free time, work, and activities, students recorded their new experiences in personal journals. While complaints could be heard during the day, quick-moving pencils and thoughtful expressions at night revealed the great extent to which they had been impacted by the day’s events. And at the end of the week, when asked how the trip went: “AMAZING!!” they responded. It was unanimous.

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STUDENT QUOTES: This ‘Global Citizen Program’ made me experience other people’s culture. Also the trip made me brave enough to go anywhere. I liked the rock climbing and the raft building.

At the rock climbing I was scared the first time. But when I tried it, it made me realize how brave I was. The raft building showed how creative students can be. I think this program was about showing each other’s feelings and sharing their culture with one another. I hope next year’s trip will be as awesome as this one.

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After crafting their own rafts out of inner tubes and bamboo, students took a leisurely ride down the Mekong River.

A group of boys helped each other descend a steep mountainside.

Two 8th grade ladies taught English to eager students.

Between English lessons and constructing the school kitchen, students formed relationships with the Thai students.

Students worked together to paint the roofing for a new school kitchen.

Team building and communicating were emphasized through various activities.

Students conquered their fears through challenges like wall climbing.

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THAILAND High School Trip to Chiang Mai,Thailand

By Mr. Nathan Walker Day 1

Arrival

Day 5

Service / Teaching / Boat Trip

Day 2

Team Building / Rafting

Day 6

Service / Teaching / Wall Climbing

Day 3

Service / Teaching

Day 7

Service / Farewell

Day 4

Service Teaching / Thai Cooking

Day 8

Departure

Team Building and Global Leadership were the words of the day during our week-long stay at the Maekok River Valley Resort in Chiang Mai. The centerpiece of our stay was a visit to a local elementary school, where we taught English to the children there and helped to build a new kitchen for the school.

Our students fell in love with the local children they were assigned to teach - and it seemed that the feeling was mutual! Each student team designed their own lesson plans based on topics that they were assigned. Ranging from games to role-playing, singing to drawing, our students succeeded in making unique and creative lessons that drew the children in.

While at the school, our APIS students also learned the meaning of hard work - and were amazed at what the Thai children (who were much younger) were able to do. As we shoveled dirt, moved it in buckets, and flattened it to make the floor of a new kitchen, our students were regularly outpaced by students much younger than themselves. The younger local students really showed us what we can do if we really try.

It wasn’t all work though: we also had a chance to play games like soccer and volleyball with the children. By the end of the second day, when we had to leave, it’s fair to say that there were more than a few tears shed. Everybody left realizing that they had just had an amazing experience.

At the Resort, there were also many fun team-building activities, including group cooking lessons (yum!), rockclimbing, raft-building (and sailing!), archery, and hiking.

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By the end of the week, although everyone was happy to get back home, we all understood that we’d had a week that we’d never forget.

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STUDENT QUOTES: The GCP trip I participated in was very interesting; I really liked the activities we did. Although the flight and the car ride to the Maekok River Village Resort took a long time I still enjoyed it, all because I was with my friends. The highlight of the GCP trip to Thailand was the 2 day community project, which included building work and teaching English to the young students at Huay NamYen village school. When we were given the time to plan our classes, I was nervous and excited. I never had a chance to teach young students and I could experience what teachers do every day to prepare our classes.

It takes a lot of dirt to build a kitchen!

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Testing our balance skills on the obstacle course!

Our students and the local children really connected together.

Teaching some navigation vocabulary.

Team-building exercises were well-designed for the hot, Thai weather.

Getting to know some of the local children.

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PHILIPPINES THEIA Volunteer Trip, Philippines

By Ms. Janice Young & Pastor Samuel An Day 1

Orientation / Team Building / Visit to Logos Hope Community

Day 2

Morning Devotion / Teaching Day

Day 3

Worship with Logos Hope Church & Youth Ministry

Day 4

Teaching Day / Cooking with Joy Disabilities Families / Traditional Dance Party

Day 5

Teaching Day / Visit to Payatas Community

Day 6

Visit to Leprosy Hospital and Community Prison / Graduation Ceremony with Community

Day 7

Teaching Day / Farewell Party

Day 8

Wrap Up with Joy Disabilities Inc. / Fly to Seoul With a mission of proclaiming “Love is Louder,” 17 students and 2 faculty from the THEIA club of APIS traveled to the Philippines. Some were excited to reconnect with staff and children we had met last year; others were excited to discover what God had waiting for us during our week with Joy Missions, which ministered in one of the poorest communities of Quezon City.

For the majority of the trip, we served at Logos Hope Church, leading Children’s Bible Study Classes. Through our morning praise sessions and creative skits, we focused on spreading the message that God’s love is greater than our worries, pains, and deepest insecurities. We then sought to provide lessons and crafts for 60 children across a wide range of ages. Although it was exhausting, we could see moments when every child was engaged and learning.

We also did trips to visit other communities with our message of God’s love. On Tuesday, the Theia team traveled to Payatas, a community built on Manila’s largest trash site. We exchanged hellos and distributed clothes and medical supplies. Although we saw crushing poverty that made us realize how fortunate we truly are, we also saw beauty and laughter in spaces carved out of the garbage dump.

One of the most fulfilling experiences of the trip was our visit to the Leprosy Hospital and the Community Prison. After singing praise songs, performing skits, and sharing a brief messages we were able to spend one on one time with the patients and prisoners. Some told us stories of their past, others listened as we told them ours, and many asked for prayer.

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Overall, the trip was an amazing experience that left all of us with a sense of responsibility to serve those around us. We all learned to love and reach out just a little bit more, whether it was with each other, our gracious hosts, or our brothers and sisters around the world. Thank you again for supporting Theia throughout the year, and for giving us the opportunity of a lifetime. We will never forget our experiences there.

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STUDENT QUOTES: Best trip ever! The food was amazing, the place was amazing, and most importantly the experience was amazing. I grew spiritually and learned so much from this trip about what it means to love. I not only fell in love with the THEIA members who I went on the trip with, but also the kids and the ministry who gave us so much love. I cannot begin to describe the types of relationships and bonds we made with the kids there and how my heart is with them even though I am not physically next to them. I remember how hard it was to say goodbye and I know that if I could go on the trip again and again I would. This trip has given me so much - all the work I put into it cannot possibly compare to what I received.

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Some of the children of the Logos Hope Community performing during worship on Sunday.

Worshipping at the Leprosy hospital. After songs and a brief message, we shared stories and prayers with the patients.

Our visit to Payatas, a community built on one of Manila’s largest garbage sites.

Kyle Park (10th grade) being a good sport during our face painting activity with the children.

Michelle Kim (Grade 10) playing with one of the children of the Logo Hope Church Community.

Enjoying worship time with the children of the community.

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INDONESIA Middle School Trip to Telunas, Indonesia

By Ms. Carly Althauser Day 1

Arrival / Team Building

Day 2

Jetty Jumping / Raft Building

Day 3

Visit Local Village / Service

Day 4

Visit Local Village / Service

Day 5

Visit Local Village / Service

Day 6

Local Fishing / Adventure Race

Day 7

Jungle Hike / Bonfire

Day 8

Departure

Perhaps one of the most amazing parts about the Telunas GCP trip was the setting: sandy white beaches, jungle backgrounds, and warm and calm ocean waters perfect for swimming. The trip there and back was long—a plane ride, a bus ride, and two boat trips each way—but well worth the effort. Telunas Beach is located on a fairly secluded island in western Indonesia, off the coast of Singapore. Students stayed in rooms built on stilts over the ocean, perfect for catching ocean breezes.

While there, students worked on their team-building skills through a number of games and activities.

One of the highlights was students working together in teams to build rafts out of bamboo, rope and large plastic containers.

The trip also involved a degree of risk-taking: students challenged themselves to jump off of the short and high deck (or jetty) of the resort into the ocean. Indeed, after the initial hesitation, “jetty jumping,” became a favorite activity for students at Telunas. They also challenged themselves to hike through the jungle to a small waterfall, spotting two types of monkeys along the way.

Probably the most important part of the trip was the service learning component. Students helped build a wall around a school in a nearby village. The work was tiring in the heat and humidity, but students worked hard, often reminding themselves they were doing it for the kids. In the afternoons, they played with the children they were working so hard for, exchanging games, art, and language along the way. Whether they were improving old friendships, making new Indonesian friends, or learning to better understand themselves, students were constantly engaged and challenged at Telunas Beach.

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STUDENT QUOTES: I had such a great time at Telunas Beach. At first, all I had was complaints and sighs about the long ride and the hot weather. However, as the days went by, I was able to adjust myself to the weather and stuggles. My favorite part of the trip was visiting the small elementary school at Jaga, a small island located close by the Telunas. Although it was hard to mix cement and build walls, I had a great time communicating with the kids and eventually enjoyed building the wall. On the last day of our visit to Jaga, a little girl named Nadia handed me a letter. She drew a picture of me and wrote that she loved me. I was really touched because I was the only person who received a letter from her. When it was time for us to say good-bye, we exchanged meaningful looks and tears were rolling down our cheeks. That’s when I promised her that I would come back for her sometime in the future. I really want to keep the promise of visiting Jaga again whether it’s from the APIS GCP program or just my family and friends. I am really looking forward to next year’s GCP, and I really think I had a better time than last year.

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I really enjoyed being able to experience Indonesia. I liked talking to the kids at the village, learning their names and teaching them Korean.

The food was great, especially the breakfast. The team building games were great. I wish we’d done them longer. I loved the scenery, when I was in the boats. The campsite was very beautiful. I slept much better than I expected I would.

When we went to the jungle, looking at the mangroves was amazing. I also enjoyed getting to know the people I was traveling with. Everybody was really nice and encouraging, and I was comfortable with them.

Students build rafts made of plastic barrels and bamboo poles.

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Students playing in the water at Telunas Beach.

In one activity, students learned local fishing techniques. Here, Lia Kim (Grade 8) holds up one of the fish they caught.

APIS middle school students, with their new Indonesian friends, smile for the camera.

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INDONESIA High School Trip to Telunas, Indonesia

By Mr. Ryan Niman Day 1

Arrival / Team Building

Day 2

Visit Local Village / Service / Kayaking

Day 3

Visit Local Village / Service (teaching) /Spend the Night with Host Family

Day 4

Service / Fishing / Star Gazing

Day 5

Adventure Race / Jetty Jumping / Low Ropes Course

Day 6

Jungle Hike / Camp

Day 7

Hike Out / Bonfire

Day 8

Departure

The most memorable moments of the high school trip to Telunas Beach in Indonesia involved jumping.

Likely the first jumps to come to mind were jumping off the jetty at Telunas Beach into the ocean and off the cliffs into Black Water Pond.

But there were plenty of other jumps - into new experiences, trusting others, and into our own abilities - that will be fondly remembered.

The most dramatic was experiencing life in Jaloh, a small fishing village about an hour away from the resort we considered home. Surrounded by excited children, greeted by women who were singing and drumming, and working shoulder to shoulder with men that spoke a different language, the students helped build a low wall around a soccer field that hosts a huge inter-island soccer tournament in May. We were all initially shocked by the trash around the village, the holes in the bathrooms that went directly into the ocean, and eating with our hands. But these experiences taught us all about the powers of human connection, inter-cultural communication, the impacts of economic development, and pressing environmental issues around the world.

Our next big jump into the unknown involved an overnight stay in the jungle. We had to both trust and work with our jungle guides who spoke little English. We had to set up our own hammocks and mosquito nets. And we had to sleep through the darkness of night knowing that there were wild boar, snakes, and all sorts of insects out there in the jungle.

Back at the resort and tired from the work and hiking of the past few days, students pushed themselves further with the low-ropes course and a team competition that tested their teamwork and leadership abilities.

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A final reflection session around a bonfire had students deeply analyzing their own abilities and the group. We left knowing that we had made the most of our trying week in paradise and sure that those insights shared around the bonfire would have an impact on our lives back in Korea.

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STUDENT QUOTES: I enjoyed building the wall in the school. It was very tiring but satisfying. I enjoyed making the kids happy with me. I played ping pong, soccer, and the cube game with them. and I showed them how to balance the shovel on my pinkie, palm, and the index finger.

I enjoyed jetty jumping from the high deck. It was very fun jumping from there.

I learned the satisfaction of helping others, how to teamwork, new culture, decision making, and most of all I learned how to have fun.

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Mr. Woodrow carves a soccer ball in the wet concrete.

We helped build a low wall around the village soccer field.

Jeho tries the ropes course while Eddie ‘helps’ out.

A boy from the village fans Peter and other 11th grade boys with a piece of cardboard.

Kyunghwan, Chris, and Jeho enjoy the delicious food provided by our host family.

A pause for water as we hike into the jungle to spend the night

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KOREA MS & HS Camping & Service Learning, South Korea

By Mr. Andrew Murphy Day 1

Set up camp

Day 2

Community Service (Tree Planting)

Day 3

Hiking / Team Building

Day 4

Community Service

The Global Citizen Program’s camping excursion in South Korea exposed students to life in the outdoors. Students braved the elements while learning basic outdoor skills and safety lessons.

They learned about preserving the environment and leaving no foot-print. The excursion featured plenty of adventurous activities, service learning, team building, and spirituality.

For service learning, students had the opportunity to meet and learn from world renowned Earth-man Yugi from Japan. They also particiDay 6 Departure pated in planting trees to help improve the environment. The trip had several hikes, highlighted by hikes to a waterfall and an old military bunker from the 1950s. Students had several team building activities including a fire building contest and a scavenger hunt. The camping trip was highlighted with students learning to drive ATV’s and their participation in the high ropes adventure course.

Day 5

Adventure Activity

Overall the camping trip tested our students as they braved the cold, learned how to cook and clean in the outdoors, and were challenged in adventurous activities like the high ropes course.

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STUDENT QUOTES: We had lots of chances to get closer with team mates; there were many team building activities, and I had a lot of fun. Although the weather was freezing, we snuggled with each other and got closer.

I enjoyed almost all the activities that we did, but I especially liked the ropes challenging activity and also really liked the shower room!! It was so warm, we spent most of the time there. Anyway I learned many things and had a lot of fun during this excursion.

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I really enjoyed some activities like riding ATVs, building fires, planting trees.

The tent looked great, too. I liked hiking, because it was kind of different than the mountains I saw in Seoul. There were some great landscapes of the lake, mountains, etc.

I can see how the teachers worked really hard to make a great GCP trip.

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Middle school students are up to the challenge of building their own fire.

Students planted trees to save the environment.

Teachers and students enjoyed preparing daily meals.

APIS occupied the entire campsite for the week.

Students took to the road (and off-road) in ATVs.

A good stretch before team-building activities.

Students and teachers were able to work together and overcome many challenges.

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CHINA High School Trip to Beijing, China

By Mrs. Grace Gao Day 1

Arrival

Day 2

Baseball / Summer Palace

Day 3

Chinese / Taichi / Service / Night Market

Day 4

Chinese Facial Painting / Service / Kongfu

On March 10, twenty high school students and three faculty flew out early in the morning and landed in Beijing. After a bus ride into downtown Beijing, we arrived at Beijing Huiwen Secondary School, where we stayed for the week-long trip.

Each morning, our students learned something new about China. They spent a morning shadowing Chinese students around in Day 5 Chinese / Departure their classes. They took Chinese language courses. They learned calligraphy, Kung-Fu, and mask painting. Our APIS students also challenged the students at Huiwen to a friendly game of basketball and soccer. Both teams played hard, and even though APIS wasn’t victorious in either game, everyone had fun. Evenings were spent at a tea house performance, an acrobatic performance, and a Kung-Fu show. Students were able to experience and learn about China in a way that is not possible in classrooms.

One of the most memorable moments was when we visited and played with the elementary students at a very poor school in Beijing. It was wonderful to see how the laughs and the joy of the kids spread to our students as they played together.

We also had an opportunity to see some of the amazing historical sites of Beijing. The first day we toured Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. At the Forbidden City, we took pictures in front of the huge dragon statues guarding the entrance to the palace and rubbed the Dragon’s claws for good luck. We also visited the Summer Palace and the Great Wall. It was a wonderful trip!

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STUDENT QUOTES: It was my first time to go to China. I learned about different and new cultures, the Forbidden City, The Great Wall, and the Summer Palace. These places were amazing, and I think I had a really good time. I also experienced many things such as making a facial mask and writing Chinese characters.

I also had a good time with Chinese friends. They told us about Huiwen school rules and Chinese culture. It was really tiring to walk all the way but it was nice to enjoy the good scenery of the Great Wall. I hope I can experience this nice trip again next year.

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On the Great Wall

Calligraphy class in Beijing Huiwen Secondary School

15 15 Editorial Team: Euysung Kim Director / Michelle Chang Art and Design Editor / Keumjo Shim Communications Officer / Ashley Stapleton Writing Staff