Reach the World Traveler
Soon after arriving in Mexico last fall, I received an invitation from Fulbright to apply to be a “Reach the World Traveler.” Reach the World connects U.S. citizens studying abroad with K-12 classrooms in the U.S. I applied to volunteer with this unique non-profit and was just paired with a classroom in January. It has been enriching to share my experiences with kids back home.
I am paired with a bilingual fifth-grade class in New York City. Each week, I publish a blog-style entry about an aspect of Mexican culture to the Reach the World portal. So far, I have written an autobiographical journal as well as an article on Mexican food. Upcoming articles will cover Mexican music, Mexican holidays, and soccer.
I just had my first of three video calls with the classroom yesterday! They had read my articles and were eager to ask questions: “What are your favorite Mexican foods? What is something you don’t like about Mexico? How many kinds of mole have you eaten?” Some students were very curious about what blue corn tortillas taste like and why some kinds of mole have chocolate in them (both things I mentioned in my article about Mexican food).
Traveling or vacationing outside one’s country of origin is a privilege. I was 18 years old before I traveled outside the United States. Even so, I am glad I was able to connect with other cultures by meeting immigrant friends, reading books, and watching videos and movies. As a Reach the World Traveler, I hope that I can spark curiosity in these students about other cultures and opportunities to learn and travel.
Take a look at my Reach the World Journey here:
You can also browse journey pages from other RTW travelers: