Sunday, October 31, 2010

Learning to be BIG

Saturday, October 30, 2010

What an exhilarating day! The session was on Theater and Arts as a Tool for Civic Engagement lead by Shaan, Lucky and J.R. It's nice to experience the session as a participant instead of actually conducting it. Now I know how my actors and students feel when I demand so much of them.

This session was especially good for the kids to learn the soft sell approach through the arts to convey their messages and causes. It challenges them to rethink their own strategies on how to speak to their peers and even the community to influence them to take action or to support a cause that they drive. An educator commented that perhaps he can even start using this method to teach history - not new, at least he is now open to more approaches and ideas.

The day ended with a Halloween Party, an evening that I did not get to go to as my head was spinning for some strange reason and decided to turn in early. Age is catching up for some of us... I'll let the rest of the group to share their experience and fun of the party...wish I was there....

from Teri, adult leader from Malaysia

Friday, October 29, 2010

Media Training & The Sorting Hat

Drawing her theme from The Sorting Hat.
SEAYLP participants used a journalist's Sorting Hat (a la Harry Potter) to sort themselves into the main themes they will be reporting on in this blog. The themes are: "American Life," "Lincoln's Legacy," "Making Things Happen," and "Water Is Life." There are several stories under each theme to which pairs of students have been assigned.

Journalist Liz Denius, of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies, taught the students the essentials of good news-writing. To reinforce the lesson, the students divided into pairs and interviewed each other. One student said, "I was so surprised, because I thought I knew him, but I found out so much!"

Caroline Quinlan, also of the Center, then introduced the students to the mechanics of the blog and showed them a sample of the photo book they will author. The book will include selections from the blog, illustrated by photos taken by the Center's graduate students who are assisting the SEAYLP program.

SEAYLP FALL 2010 - DAY 2, Diplomacy Simulation & Pumpkin Festival

It's 730am and it's minus 2 degrees outside. Day 1 started with orientation and lots briefing. Teams were assigned. Debbie Armstrong from the Dekalb Chamber of Commerce Department gave us a quick tour of Dekalb and Sycamore. The evening trip won't be complete for everyone (except me ;-)) without shopping at WALMART! Day 1 ended with Ryan and Shahin both GAs graciously took the Malaysian team to Junction near the campus for some real American Diner Food. The Malaysian team met for 90 minutes before heading to pick out some cool Halloween costumes from Shahin courtesy of the lovely Nancy, my host family.

Day 2, Friday, we will start with Diplomacy Simulation Training. Later, we'd be taking in some sights in Dekalb town to check out the 49th Annual Pumpkin Festival! Can't wait for more to learn and share.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Safe Arrival in DeKalb

The six SEAYLP groups arrived safely and early. Their plane landed in Chicago a half-hour before its scheduled arrival. Immigration and customs made up for that, but everyone and all the luggage was on the shiny white NIU bus and leaving O'Hare Airport by 4 p.m. The group stopped for a pre-arranged dinner in DeKalb before heading into Holmes Student Center, their new home for the next few days. All of the boys on are the seventh floor while the girls are on the eighth. Before settling in for the night, they all picked up their Wellington-style boots for use on the field trip. The program starts Thursday morning at 8:30.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Excited to Post

Hello, I'm excited to see the great stories that will be posted here, about young leaders who will learn about Lincoln and conservations, who will develop great lifelong friendships, and who will grow into great advocates, humanitarians, and world leaders in the future.
Rai

Monday, October 25, 2010

SEAYLP arrives Wednesday, 10/27!


SEAYLP participants against the Chicago skyline,
Fall 2009

SEAYLP participants arrive Wed., 10/27! The group will have dinner and check into the Holmes Student Center to get a good night’s sleep after their long flights to Chicago.

Training begins in earnest on Friday and continues through the weekend with workshops that include "media training" and "theater and the arts as tools for civic engagement.

Saturday night will see the group experiencing an American-style Halloween party.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

SEAYLP Fall 2010 ready to begin

This is the first entry in the Northern Illinois University Center for Southeast Asian Studies' fall session of the Southeast Asia Youth Leadership Program (SEAYLP). Our participants, who hail from Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam, are scheduled to arrive on Oct. 27. As they go through the 25-day program, which is sponsored by the U.S. State Department, they will post blog entries about their experiences and what they learn. These entries eventually will be put together in a book for limited distribution.