Explain how your experience affected you as a person
After this experience, I feel like I understand a lot more about cultural differences. I know want to learn more about other cultures and I still want to learn more about Chinese culture. I definitely will be missing my new friends and I will continue to try and incorporate Chinese culture into my day!
How did you change?
I feel like after this experience, I have learned more Chinese. At first, I was scared to speak Chinese barbecues I felt that I was not good enough. But now, I have a new confidence that I can try anything and speak Chinese even if I do mess up.
How do you see the world differently as a result of your experience?
As a result of my experience, I see the world as more connected. Getting to see how others live showed me that people are more similar then what others may think. Yes, there are definitely cultural differences, but its fun to see how
How did this experience impact or reveal your character?
This experience has shaped my character by allowing me to experience something that I would not normally experience on my average day. I was pushed out of my comfort zone to learn more about a different culture and I would do it again in a heartbeat. I learned that I love learning and trying new things and being pushed out of my comfort zone isn't a bad thing!
Was this a meaningful experience? Why or why not?
I believe that this was a very meaningful experience. Because I did this program, I was able to experience a new culture a that I would not have ever been able to experiences if I had not volunteered. It shifted my view on the world and allowed me to realize and appreciate cultural differences. I now have a strong urge to travel and learn about other cultures!
What new knowledge or skills did you learn from this experience?
From this experience, I learned a lot more Chinese words. I learned how to write and read characters that I had not previously known how to. I also learned more about the Chinese culture. I think that this was the most beneficial to learn because it is something that I would not get to learn inside of school.
What would you do differently if you were to start over?
If I had to do something different, I would have invited friends from my Chinese class to volunteer with me. It would have made me more comfortable going in and it would have benefited my friends by teaching them more about Chinese. Besides that, I don't think that I would change anything else. I had a really fun time and made many life long friends. I will definitely be volunteering again in the near future!