In part funded by:
3M Company
Benno says...
"Most amazing experience"
Fairmont is only a three-hour drive south from the Twin Cities. Just 11,000 people living in a small community among endless fields of soybeans and corn -- and snow in the winter. Even though the town might seem to be in the middle of nowhere, its citizens think international: they have been arranging annual visits to their schools by international visitors for many years.
I recently participated in this MIC-sponsored program for the first time. I am an old-fashioned speaker, a former high school teacher (English as a foreign language in my native the Netherlands), I don't do PowerPoint or show flashy computer-generated graphics. I just stand in front of the classroom, talk, wave my hands and scribble on the blackboard (or in modern schools: whiteboard). But even the fourth graders were wide awake (at least most of them) during my presentation and I had a spirited debate about the differences in what kids their age can do and cannot do between the US and the Netherlands.
The visit yet again confirmed what I have often encountered in the 31 plus years I've been in the US. Americans may not speak another language (although there were a few Spanish speakers in the classes I addressed), they may not have traveled extensively outside the country (only two kids with passports in the ninth grade class), but they DO know there's a world out there and they are very apologetic about their lack of language skills and international experience (a sharp contrast with the inhabitants of some countries that will remain nameless).
Most amazing experience: after feeding me for two days, providing a comfortable bed and driving me around, they thanked me for visiting.
By Benno Groeneveld — An ICC speaker from the Netherlands and a resident of St. Paul, MN
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This story is a personal essay authored by Benno Groeneveld, an ICC international speaker. The Minnesota International Center is not responsible for any and/or all parts of its content. The opinions and comments expressed in this article are not the opinions and comments of the Minnesota International Center or its staff.
Copyright 2007. Minnesota International Center | www.micglobe.org
Founded in 1953 as a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, the Minnesota International Center is dedicated to supporting Minnesota’s growing interest and involvement in the world. Our mission is to inspire our community to understand global issues and cultures in an ever changing world.
MIC does this by providing international education opportunities to open global doors for our community, allowing the people of Minnesota and visitors from around the world to meet - both formally and informally - and learn about and from one another.
Each of MIC’s four program areas endeavors to organize and facilitate learning experiences for children and adults alike. Activities range from formal lectures to small group discussions to mealtime conversation, and occur on-site in K-12 classrooms, the workplace, homes and the community.
In 2006-07, MIC organized in excess of 1,700 activities involving more than 35,000 participants from 120 countries.
Online at www.micglobe.org.