by Kathryn Cleveland, Short-Term Professional Business Team Volunteer
“Where on earth is Kazakhstan?” was people’s first response.
After years of procrastination, roadblocks and a global pandemic, I was planning my trip to Central Asia. Ron and Jeanine Wiley, my dear friends from college days were hosting me. I was looking forward to hiking, riding horseback across the steppes and sleeping in a yurt. Then Ron said he was preparing for a cohort to speak at the Kazakhstan American Free University (KAFU) in Oskamen, Kazakhstan. “Would I be interested?”
Without hesitation, I said, “Sure, why not.” He assured me I could share whatever I wanted, they just wanted native English speakers for the students. How hard could that be?
I’m a widow and live alone in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Beside the wrap up on my current projects, I had my usual preparation for leaving my home before the winter weather. I reassured my concerned children that I wasn’t going to be that close to Russia. I promised I would stay with my group, hold my buddy’s hand, etc. I got information for them and myself from embassies in both Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. I reassured them I wouldn’t fall off a horse. It was going to be the trip of a lifetime.
I should have known what was coming when my plans to “just share” became teaching British Literature and presenting a cultural discussion with a PowerPoint of travel photos. I was asked to consider teaching writing skills, so I quickly wrote up some writing prompts, just in case.
And overnight my carefree sightseeing trip became a work week at KAFU. I scrambled to interface with classroom computers when my flash drive wasn’t compatible. Using my writing prompts for conversational English led to candid discussions on emotions (‘A’ is for apples, alligators and anxiety - “Have you ever had anxiety, ma’am?”) and American elections (‘E’ is for elephants, electoral college and excitement). I didn’t hike or ride or sleep in a yurt; I did so much more.
Most of my students had excellent English language skills so I didn’t have translators. I loved engaging with them, even with the questions I didn’t expect like, “Do you have any regrets in your marriage?” or “How does the electoral college work?” Wow- my fault, I gave them the prompts. But these opened-ended questions led to real engagement as I bounced the topics back to them.
By the end of the week, I recognized students in the hall, in another class or in the student cafeteria, and I had the opportunity to enjoy time with students and staff at the nearby mall and coffee shop. The support staff at KAFU were so helpful. They found translators for a drug store trip, student guides for sightseeing to a historic park and guided us on a walking tour of the architecture around the university. We even did a quick trip through a classic Central Asian market.
Our short-term team included three professionals: an airline pilot, a manufacturing processing expert and an IT executive. As for me, I kept hearth and home together while my military husband found exotic places for us to live. I did homeschool for twenty years and I’m sure I taught British Literature but that was almost 20 years ago. I was intimidated by the professional proficiency of the rest of the cohort. But those pros transferred my Lit notes and set up my slide show. We became a team as we helped and encouraged each other. We ate wonderful food, walked in the beautiful fall leaves under sunny skies and rode a trolley to the school. We shared our lives for a short and memorable week. KAFU ’s focus is servant leadership, and I certainly saw that as the team lectured in their areas of expertise.
I hope I encouraged the young adults in my classes who come from the region directly around Oskamen and will stay there, starting their families and building their community. Travel has certainly opened my eyes to the beauty of our diverse world. I trust my time with the students will spark their curiosity, enrich their lives and strengthen the common bonds of our humanity.
I didn’t have the restful vacation I anticipated. And it wasn’t even “a trip of a lifetime” – I’m already thinking about when I can return.
Kommentare