by TISH MELTON and JEANIE CHUA
Chadwick prides itself on its unique ability to provide students the opportunities to become global citizens.
Each year, there are wide varieties of global excursions offered to Upper School students who are eager to take these opportunities and learn more about the world.
The annual Global Programs fair and assembly was held Oct. 10, with both new and returning programs on the docket.
One of the most popular trips is a spring-break trip to Chadwick International in Songdo, South Korea.
Last year, Chadwick students including juniors Nathan Castro and Dami Ogundimu, along with senior Lizbeth Lopez, collaborated with students from CI to dive deeper into the relationship between DEI, cooking and art.
Aside from exploring Korean culture through food and Korean city life, many students described the best part of the trip as strengthening their bonds with each other and creating new friendships with CI students.
“Connecting with the students was my favorite part,” Ogundimu said. “I got paired with a student named Alice, and I loved her so much. I just really loved meeting her and we’re still friends now.”
Another recurring trip is a two-week-long language immersion venture to Salamanca, Spain, over the summer.
Chadwick sophomores Dani Morales, Peyton Brantley and Abi Ogundimu (Dami’s sister) were a few of the many students to participate last year.
“The trip really enhanced my speaking skills and the ability to communicate effectively,” Morales said. “It forces you to be more outgoing because you’re in an uncomfortable situation and a foreign country. You’re not doing things that you would normally do, and it’s a great experience.”
The students praised many aspects of Spain’s rich culture, including the cuisine and tight-knit community.
“I gained a new relationship with food,” Abi Ogundimu said. “I really appreciate the food in Spain. I also think it strengthened a lot of my friendships being with people for two weeks. The trip gives you new experiences and friendships.”
Chinese teacher Selina Yu and math teacher Erika Peterson are offering a brand-new option this year: a trip to Vancouver, Canada, to offer students the chance to connect with authentic Chinese culture.
“This trip will enhance students’ understanding of the diverse population Vancouver has to offer,” Yu said. “They will gain a deep understanding of the value of diversity in one city, as Vancouver is a city with cultures melting together.”
Similarly, a new French Polynesia trip will be a blend of expanding students’ understanding of the French language and learning about the island’s diverse ecosystem and marine life.
This trip is a collaboration between Global Language Department Chair Steve Stella; Innovation and Design Department Chair Dijanna Figueroa, and Danner Bradshaw, Co-Director of Chadwick’s Outdoor Education Program.
“There is nothing more exciting than snorkeling in a pristine lagoon on Moorea and Tetiaroa, loaded with healthy corals and other marine life,” Stella said. “Black-tipped reef sharks, moray eels, hundreds of types of fish, giant clams … they’re all there.”
In addition to marine life, the chaperones on this trip plan to educate the students about the culture of those inhabiting Tahiti.
“Students will learn about the rich cultural heritage of the Tahitians, their deep connection to the land and the sea, and the importance Tahitians place on respecting and protecting their environment,” Stella said.
“They will come to see Tahiti and its neighboring islands as much more than a beautiful place to vacation.”
Finally, math teacher Dina ElGhitany, computer science teacher Mariam Tamini and sixth-grade social studies teacher Alec Turner have come together to offer a new global adventure: a trip to Jordan that gives students a chance to immerse in Middle Eastern history and culture.
“Chadwick students can have this amazing experience of visiting the Middle East and experiencing the language and the culture, while visiting some of the Seven World Wonders like the Pyramids in Egypt and Petra in Jordan,” Tamini said.
Besides the sightseeing, the trip’s aim is to challenge the current perspectives that students may have regarding the Middle East.
“The Middle East is usually viewed stereotypically as a place where there is so much unrest,” ElGhitany said. “While this might be true for some areas, the region is enormous and has many locations and countries where people live their usual peaceful lives.”
The trip leaders hope students will experience the day-to-day lives of Jordanians through interacting with locals, partaking in Ramadan and cooking food with a Bedouin family.
Chadwick’s wide variety of global trips for Upper School students differ greatly, but they have one common goal: to immerse students in new and unfamiliar cultures to gain experience that takes them one step closer to becoming global citizens.
“As a global citizen, it is beneficial to understand every part of the world and every culture,” Castro said. “One of the best ways to do that is to put yourself in that culture.
“I think going on a global trip forced me to learn and try new things, to lean into the discomfort that you feel in a new place.”
The Mainsheet 