Global Girls by Emma Willard

E M M A W I LL AR D SC HO O L

Spring Break brings Emma Girls around the planet to listen, learn, and serve

Global

Girls 24 Udaipar, India Lauren Yerry ’15 Justine Hu ’15 26 Beijing, China Daniela Pontaza ’16 27 Madrid, Spain Samantha Kreda ’13 28 London, England Beatrice Apikos-Bennett ’13

While Spring Break for many teenagers means warm beaches and far too little clothing; Emma Girls could be found around the world wrapped in Mackintoshes and traditional Indian dupattas learning about other cultures, flexing their language muscles, and performing acts of service in the communities they visited. What follows are snippets from their personal travel journals.

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1 2 Lauren Yerry ’15 & Justine Hu ’15

india

3 1 Justine Hu transporting rocks on the site of what will soon be a new school. 2 The girls help protect homes from the elements with a mixture of cow manure and water. 3 Ranakpur Temple 4 Visiting a completed school where children learn, community members pump clean water, women gather for alternative income projects, and students eat from the nearby community garden. 5 The girls experience a water walk similar to the one women in the community make multiple times a day.

“ We were really going to give children the gift of education, and therefore the chance for a brighter future.” Culture Shock Lauren

…When we finally arrived on the soil of Udaipur, a sudden rush of adrenaline came over us. After countless flights and bus rides, we had reached our destination and our excitement grew, as we were about to embark on the journey of a lifetime. Our trip leaders surprised us all with the gift of colorful dupattas. Our community facilitator showed us how to wear them on our head like the women do in the culture. Then we had another bus ride to a little village called Lai where the Me to We program completed their first school and it was where we first learned about the five pillars: educa-

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tion, alternative income and livelihood, health care, clean water and sanitation, and agriculture and food security. Me to We tries to introduce these specific life needs into little communities in India that don’t have the right resources to create them for themselves. I’m not gonna lie; our arrival was a little overwhelming. I was extremely homesick. It was a brand new experience for me and it took some time to adjust… Building a Connection Justine

…After eating breakfast at a hotel by a gorgeous lake, we visited a school that had already been built by Me to

We. The school the community had before was just one small classroom in a small building made of brick and mud. There were no windows, so it was pretty much pitch black inside. The new school Me to We built was much more comfortable and spacious. This got me excited because I finally realized this is what we were going to do in India. We were really going to give children the gift of education, and therefore the chance for a brighter future. Afterwards, we visited children at [another] school, and participated in a welcoming ceremony. The students

sang two songs for us, so we sang them two in return–one in Hindi, and the first verse of our Alma Mater. They also painted a red dot on our foreheads, gave us a colorful string bracelet, and a marigold flower necklace. Once the welcoming ceremony was over, our bus took us to the new school construction site. I loved

5 working there–it was super fun. My group’s first job was to move the rock pile to a different place. My favorite part of the job was shoveling; putting rocks into bowls. We developed an efficient system that involved teamwork… Wishes Lauren

…We went to the work site for the first half of the day and we continued our jobs from the day before. Then we went to the Ranakpur Jain temple, and learned about the traditions of Jainism, and the history of the temple itself, and how it was constructed. As we left, we got to make a wish under the wishing stone that was put above the entrance.

A Day in Her Shoes Justine

…This morning we experienced what it would be like to actually be an India woman living in Udaipur. First we fed some animals, then we fetched water on our heads (balancing the pots of water on your head is actually not as easy as it looks; I got completely soaked), then we made some bread, known as roti, and finally, we strengthened the woman’s house with a material made from water, mud, and dung. In the afternoon we visited a women’s self-help group. We ground corn to turn it into chicken feed. I was so bad at this I think I broke the record for distance in splattering unground corn everywhere. At night, we did an alternative income activity where we were in groups and had 400 rupees to buy essential things we needed for our “family.” We got pretty good deals. But in the end, after learning the actual prices and figuring out we could feed the family if we only had two meals a day, those deals didn’t seem too great… Writing on the Wall Lauren

…Today was a full work day. We did foundation filling and we finished painting a mural for the kids. In the end we were all given a rock. We threw it in with the foundation filler and made a wish. I think back on it now and I realize how much it meant to me that our group went into this project together and grew closer as the days went on. It felt nice to know we accomplished so many tasks that were given to us as a collective group. It made me feel like we made a difference… Colorful Goodbyes Justine

…After our last yoga session, we headed over to the school we went to on our first day, the one where the welcoming ceremony took place…except, this time, it was a

farewell ceremony. We were given handmade cards the children had made for us. I think that card is going to be something I will keep for a very, very, very long time. After that, we were free to play with the children. By the end of the visit, I had learned an Indian hand game. Next came our three surprises. For the first one, they told us a quick story about the Hindi festival usually celebrated in March called Holi. Then, they told us to line up in front of the building and then… SPLASH! We were all soaked from head to toe; water had been poured on us from the balcony! Well, at least it was a good way to refresh ourselves from the heat. ;D We were split into two teams. The goal of each team was to hide their own colored powder in imaginative places within their territory and to find the other team’s colors and cover the other team with their own color. It was such fun! Our second surprise was henna. It was wonderful, and the intricate art was just so…beautiful! It was awesome. Our last surprise was a little activity called “The Tunnel of Love.” Basically, there were two lines of people facing inward. One blindfolded person would start from one end of the tunnel and walk forward. When she passed one person, that person would whisper something in her ear—something positive they feel towards the blindfolded person—and lead her to the next person. This would go on until the blindfolded person got to one of the trip leaders, where she would receive a beaded necklace. I thought about all the things I said I wanted to do, and the reasons why I wanted to come. I smiled because I had made a difference, a small one, at least. I had learned things only a handful of people had ever experienced, and I had gained skills that would benefit me—and hopefully the world…

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“ I had some time to practice my Chinese and learn more about the culture.”

Daniela Pontaza ’16

china

1 The Great Wall 2 Teaching English

and learning Chinese at the same time!

3 Dani [right] at

the Forbidden City

3 visited a Muslim mosque and had time to shop at a street market. After that we went on an overnight train to Shanghai.

2 Working Through Language Barriers

We went to visit a children’s school in Beijing. This school is run by donations! The kids were very patient when I tried to speak with them in Chinese.

sat in on an English class and talked to some of the students. They were really nice and friendly. Later, we went to the summer palace. It was beautiful! We went to dinner at one of China's famous colleges. Then we had a bike tour!

Great Wall in the Snow

Today we visited one of the Seven Wonders of the World. We went to The Great Wall of China. Not only was it an unbelievable sight, it was snowing. It was incredible! Afterwards we went to a market where you could haggle. It reminded me of Mexico!

Forbidden City

The Forbidden City! It was huge and full of history. Then we took a ride on a rickshaw, which is a cart connected to a bicycle. The rickshaw got us to the house of a local family. We had dinner there. The Warriors

Biking Through Beijing

We visited a local high school in Beijing. While we were there, we

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I had a great day today! We started by seeing the famous Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses. Then we

…And Singing Ensued

Hi! Today we went on a trip to Suzhou. It was a beautiful water village! I did not know this until today, but this village was where Mission Impossible was filmed! After this, we went to karaoke. It was fun! We sang to pop songs and had a good time. The Journey Home

Our last day in China is here! How fast does the time fly! Wow...It was an unforgettable journey. I will always remember this trip! I had some time to practice my Chinese and learn more about the culture. Well, right now we have been flying for 10 hours. We are almost in New York! I can't wait to see my family to tell them all about this adventure.

4 Segovia 5 Rain doesn't stop Sam [right] from enjoying the Plaza Mayor in Madrid6 Sam [far left] at the aqueducts of Segovia

SPAIN Gelato and the Plaza Mayor

5 The Rain in Spain Falls Gently on… Everything

…“Rain, rain, go away,” quickly became a popular phrase. It seemed if you walked outside and the sun was shining, the next minute rain would be pouring down on your head. We were all troopers and refused to let the rain get us down. We trekked on and on through Madrid, looking at the famous cathedrals and buildings surrounding us. I was extremely elated that at the last few minutes of packing for the trip I decided to include my sunshine-yellow raincoat. Although it made me stick out like a sore thumb, I found protection from the downpours inside that little yellow wonder. Although all of this may seem dark and dismal, I learned that a little rain can’t get me down, because after the rain comes the rainbow, which makes up for everything…

…Gelato. Sweet, creamy, velvety, chocolaty goodness. Mix all of those sensations with fudge and chips of almonds and you have Ferrero Rocher gelato. I am an ice cream fanatic. Anything with ice cream in it makes my taste buds tingle. I fell madly in love with Ferrero Rocher gelato the first time I put the taster spoon into my mouth. I walk to the Plaza Mayor almost every day to get a cup of mouth-watering gelato. At the Plaza Mayor you can find anything from an authentic Spanish pastry to a burger from McDonald’s. I was able to find souvenirs for my friends and family, grab lunch at a café, and finish with a bowl of scrumptious gelato for only a few euros. We were able to get a real taste of the culture and practice our Spanish with the local shop owners all in one delightful, convenient location… Language Immersion

…The language classes we were taking at Colegio Delibes [in Salamanca] add to all of the

Samantha Kreda ’13

fun. During class, I was able to talk about issues in the United States and hear the viewpoints of people from all around the world, which was really interesting… Sainthood and Segovia

…We are off to another adventure: to witness the allure of two exciting cities, Ávila and Segovia. Our first stop was Ávila. We were able to see the famous City Walls, taste the traditional egg yolk candies, and witness the people’s devotion to Saint Theresa through the monuments and statues devoted to her. Our next stop was Segovia. When we first arrived, the sky-high aqueducts that guard the city greeted us. We ventured onto the Plaza Mayor to have lunch, walked around the side streets, and ended at El Alcázar de Segovia, a castle and tower located on the outskirts of the city. We climbed all the way to the top of the narrow tower and took amazing pictures of the spectacular view…

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1 Big Ben 2 Beatrice

[left] on the plane ride "across the pond" 3 The whole group before St. Paul's Cathedral in London 4 221B Baker Street for the Sherlock Holmes Museum 5 Face-to-face with the Rosetta Stone

Beatrice Apikos-Bennett ’13

england “ I would go again in a heartbeat—for the things we saw, the knowledge passed on to us by the people we met, and the experiences I would not have gotten any other way.” JFK to LRH

…Arriving in London, we met up with the assistant drama director [from Felsted School] who took us by bus the 80 minutes to Felsted School in Dunmow, where we stayed for the majority of our trip. We were given a bit of time to get situated in our dorm rooms before we were whisked away for a tour by Charles, the theater director who brings Felsted School to Emma to perform every other year. Later,

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it was off to the Lord Rich Hall, or the LRH as we called it, for an international dinner. We were seated by age and quickly struck up conversations. Dinner was served, followed by a performance of different talents. [Emma Girls and fellow travelers] Melodi Dincer and Acacia Larson represented America. The two seniors sang I Will Follow You Into the Dark, accompanied by Acacia on guitar…

Museums to Musicals

…We were introduced to the quintessential and aptly named “English Breakfast” or fried toast, beans, sausage, eggs, and chips (French fries). Then it was off to London for the day. Charles gave us a walking tour of the big important things to see. We even experienced a bit of the St. Patrick’s Day parade, which was centered in Trafalgar Square. After seeing the important buildings we took a walk down Carnaby Street, a major shopping street, and down Oxford Street to look at the shops… Harry Potter and the Rosetta Stone

…We packed up our things, loaded into a mini bus, and went to a surprise location—The Making

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You can help too! Many of the girls were able to take these trips thanks to the generous support of Emma alumnae and friends. If you would like to consider a donation to help support a global learning or service opportunity for an Emma Girl, go to www.emmawillard.org/support-emma.

It’s Elementary, My Dear Beatrice

of Harry Potter Warner Bros. Studio Tour! Then, after a quick lunch, it was off to The British Museum. There, we had quite a while to look around and marvel at the worldly treasures collected in that one place. Our group went straight to the Rosetta Stone. From there it was back to the hotel to get dressed for dinner and a show—We Will Rock You, a Queen rock opera. Over the top in every way, but crazy fun!…

Theatre in London

…We walked through London and across the Millennium Bridge to see the Globe Theatre and the Tate Modern Museum. We then began the long walk back into London to go to the Apollo Theatre to see A Curious Incident of The Dog in The Night Time…

…On our last day in London, I chose to go to the Sherlock Holmes Museum; Sherlock Holmes being one of my childhood literary idols. I was very excited to get to see 221B Baker Street. This entire experience was invaluable to me, mainly because I got to spend it with the incredible people I met at Emma. A trip to London is a gift in and of itself, but a trip with the strong, independent women I got to go with created lasting memories. I would go again in a heartbeat—for the things we saw, the knowledge passed on to us by the people we met, and the experiences I wouldn’t have gotten any other way…

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