Official Start Time: 9:00 p.m.
Date: 11/23/08
Official End Time: 11:30 p.m.
Its been a little bit over 4 months since I began my journey on helping the website grow and I think that's its about time that I be as brutally honest with myself and all the members of the site. If I want to be successful in what I plan to do and it's key that I remain honest with myself and honest with the people I am working with. The moment I begin to lie and dishonor the people around me is the moment I lose purpose in what I am doing. The incentive must remain pure and I should remain honest to the people I meet along the way and more importantly to myself. There's no point in going forward if I am only heading in the wrong direction.
Hopefully the answers to the questions listed below will give you a better idea of what I am doing and how it relates to the site. I hope that by doing this I can clarify what my role is on this site and what I hope I can help the site accomplish with the time I have.
Why are you working with students in northwest China?
I'm working specifically with students in northwest China because of the fragile and rich culture that exist there. Very few Westerner ever visit a place like northwest China and I believe that their is a rich cultural side to China that lays deep within the students, people, and scenery there. When you visit a place like northwest China you get a new understanding of the world we live in and the way life is pushing us forward onto bigger and better things; often sacrificing the age old traditions that made us the people we are today. Northwest China is at that fork in the road and by working with students in northwest China, I can help provide new opportunities to its students will keeping the rich culture that exists there.
What do you know about northwest China?
Northwest China is a place of rich cultural and environmental beauty. Contrary to places like Shanghai and Beijing, northwest China remains industrialized but has a certain respect for the ecosystems that already exist there. The scenery is almost paradise. The climate is temperate and the people are understanding. Many minority groups live in this region and share the space in relative peacefulness. I often use the phrase "city within the trees" to describe the rich cultural region that makes northwest China and the people who are almost indifferent to the changes society is undergoing.
Why is it important? Why should US students care?
The impact that a cultural exchange to northwest China has on US participants can be measured in various ways. The impact can be measured in the blogs and stories participants share after this experience. The impact can be measured in the initiative US students take upon themselves after such an experience. And finally, the change that students undergo after such an experience is another way of measuring the impact of a cultural exchange to northwest china. US students are given the opportunity to see a side of China that very few Westerners ever get a chance to see. They are welcomed into the homes of the locals and have the chance to make a real difference in the lives of these students. The service you are providing as a student is what makes this experience so important and valuable to US students.
What does it mean to live in a global society?
Living in a global society means having a general knowledge of the world around you. We are all members of this global society that shares and collaborates together. The connectivity we share makes it possible for US and Chinese students to come together and share cultural experiences in an educational fashion. Students have the chance to make new friends both far and wide. The connections that are made make it possible for students to take on new challenges and learn something along the way; accepting the responsibilities and meaning of life in a global society.
Why is globalization something you should care about?
Globalization is the next step after cultural diffusion. It can be a great thing that spreads new ideas and opportunities to a part of the world that is innocent to these things. But oh to often it can fringe on the cultural ecosystem that already existed there that made this place so unique. Therefore, moderation must be kept in mind and change must be acknowledge when you think of globalization. I plan to help bring new opportunities to China and its students while respecting the rich culture and heritage that makes China so unique. It is important to keep globalization in mind when looking at the incentive of our mission and the impact it will have on the students, teachers, and people of northwest China.
Is our current economic crisis just affecting Americans or the world?
The current economic crisis is slowly but certainly affecting the global economy. America is a global power and our economy is responsible for not only maintaining a safe haven for its recipients but a safe haven for other countries. Our economic crisis cripples America's ability to protect and serve the global community we have created. Thus, it is crucial we educate and motivate the future leaders of America and China to make a difference and establish a connection that corrects the economic crisis we currently have through project-based participatory learning.
What happens in China when we can't buy what we're use to buying?
The American economy works hand-in-hand with the Chinese economy. When America does well economically, China does well economically. When America is unable to buy the basic commodities that we're so used to, we can only predict the worst. The balance that once united America and other countries will be offset and will raise prices and only make life harder for the average man to get by. We must prevent this from happening and take the necessary steps to establish a strong connection between the US and China.
Will that cause any trouble for Chinese students?
It will make life not only harder for Chinese students but for Chinese citizens as well. Times are tough and its hard to make expenses that aren't absolutely necessary. The basic commodities we are so use to buying will slowly disappear and I fear that we will have to adapt instead of rise above in this situation. That is why I am driven to make it possible for good Chinese students to participate on the cultural exchange of a life time. I was fortunate enough to go on the cultural exchange of a life time and wish to give back to the community that has given me so much by making it easier for Chinese students whatever way I can; building a website, crossing a few bridges, or working towards the trip of a lifetime.
How does it benefit your local community in Waterbury for you to be involved in a global project of cultural and educational exchange?
Waterbury believe it not shares a lot of characteristics with northwest China. It's a "city within the trees" that is home to people who are diverse and at peace. Not a lot of opportunities are available to students in Waterbury and often it takes leaving the city and making it your own initiative to succeed and excel where others have failed. Being involved in such a global project of cultural and educational exchange has made it possible for me to see parts of the world that I probably would have never seen in my lifetime. It has given me the opportunity to make a difference in my community and in the community of others. And it overall has taught me to take the initiative and make the changes that I as a student wanted so badly. That instead of accepting things the way they are I should be taking the steps to making things the way they should be. This experience has molded my life tremendously and I hope that I can make a real difference in the life of Chinese students whatever way I can.
What I Believe the Site is Capable Of To reiterate what has already been said I believe that the site is capable of something great and wonderful. The service we would be providing to hundreds of Chinese and Americans students is what makes my role on this site so important. I don't mind throwing in the extra hours and hope that my work will bring us closer to meeting that goal. That my work will give back to the community that has given me so much. Until then I will continue to work hard and I hope you will stand by me as I make my journey. The road ahead is unclear and I'm batting against the dusk.
425 today, 1000 tomorrow.
With your help I hope to meet my goal and many other goals that may come along the way. That's if I have I can count on your help and your support.
Sincerely, Hector Guzman
Date: 11/23/08
Official End Time: 11:30 p.m.
Its been a little bit over 4 months since I began my journey on helping the website grow and I think that's its about time that I be as brutally honest with myself and all the members of the site. If I want to be successful in what I plan to do and it's key that I remain honest with myself and honest with the people I am working with. The moment I begin to lie and dishonor the people around me is the moment I lose purpose in what I am doing. The incentive must remain pure and I should remain honest to the people I meet along the way and more importantly to myself. There's no point in going forward if I am only heading in the wrong direction.
Hopefully the answers to the questions listed below will give you a better idea of what I am doing and how it relates to the site. I hope that by doing this I can clarify what my role is on this site and what I hope I can help the site accomplish with the time I have.
Why are you working with students in northwest China?
I'm working specifically with students in northwest China because of the fragile and rich culture that exist there. Very few Westerner ever visit a place like northwest China and I believe that their is a rich cultural side to China that lays deep within the students, people, and scenery there. When you visit a place like northwest China you get a new understanding of the world we live in and the way life is pushing us forward onto bigger and better things; often sacrificing the age old traditions that made us the people we are today. Northwest China is at that fork in the road and by working with students in northwest China, I can help provide new opportunities to its students will keeping the rich culture that exists there.
What do you know about northwest China?
Northwest China is a place of rich cultural and environmental beauty. Contrary to places like Shanghai and Beijing, northwest China remains industrialized but has a certain respect for the ecosystems that already exist there. The scenery is almost paradise. The climate is temperate and the people are understanding. Many minority groups live in this region and share the space in relative peacefulness. I often use the phrase "city within the trees" to describe the rich cultural region that makes northwest China and the people who are almost indifferent to the changes society is undergoing.
Why is it important? Why should US students care?
The impact that a cultural exchange to northwest China has on US participants can be measured in various ways. The impact can be measured in the blogs and stories participants share after this experience. The impact can be measured in the initiative US students take upon themselves after such an experience. And finally, the change that students undergo after such an experience is another way of measuring the impact of a cultural exchange to northwest china. US students are given the opportunity to see a side of China that very few Westerners ever get a chance to see. They are welcomed into the homes of the locals and have the chance to make a real difference in the lives of these students. The service you are providing as a student is what makes this experience so important and valuable to US students.
What does it mean to live in a global society?
Living in a global society means having a general knowledge of the world around you. We are all members of this global society that shares and collaborates together. The connectivity we share makes it possible for US and Chinese students to come together and share cultural experiences in an educational fashion. Students have the chance to make new friends both far and wide. The connections that are made make it possible for students to take on new challenges and learn something along the way; accepting the responsibilities and meaning of life in a global society.
Why is globalization something you should care about?
Globalization is the next step after cultural diffusion. It can be a great thing that spreads new ideas and opportunities to a part of the world that is innocent to these things. But oh to often it can fringe on the cultural ecosystem that already existed there that made this place so unique. Therefore, moderation must be kept in mind and change must be acknowledge when you think of globalization. I plan to help bring new opportunities to China and its students while respecting the rich culture and heritage that makes China so unique. It is important to keep globalization in mind when looking at the incentive of our mission and the impact it will have on the students, teachers, and people of northwest China.
Is our current economic crisis just affecting Americans or the world?
The current economic crisis is slowly but certainly affecting the global economy. America is a global power and our economy is responsible for not only maintaining a safe haven for its recipients but a safe haven for other countries. Our economic crisis cripples America's ability to protect and serve the global community we have created. Thus, it is crucial we educate and motivate the future leaders of America and China to make a difference and establish a connection that corrects the economic crisis we currently have through project-based participatory learning.
What happens in China when we can't buy what we're use to buying?
The American economy works hand-in-hand with the Chinese economy. When America does well economically, China does well economically. When America is unable to buy the basic commodities that we're so used to, we can only predict the worst. The balance that once united America and other countries will be offset and will raise prices and only make life harder for the average man to get by. We must prevent this from happening and take the necessary steps to establish a strong connection between the US and China.
Will that cause any trouble for Chinese students?
It will make life not only harder for Chinese students but for Chinese citizens as well. Times are tough and its hard to make expenses that aren't absolutely necessary. The basic commodities we are so use to buying will slowly disappear and I fear that we will have to adapt instead of rise above in this situation. That is why I am driven to make it possible for good Chinese students to participate on the cultural exchange of a life time. I was fortunate enough to go on the cultural exchange of a life time and wish to give back to the community that has given me so much by making it easier for Chinese students whatever way I can; building a website, crossing a few bridges, or working towards the trip of a lifetime.
How does it benefit your local community in Waterbury for you to be involved in a global project of cultural and educational exchange?
Waterbury believe it not shares a lot of characteristics with northwest China. It's a "city within the trees" that is home to people who are diverse and at peace. Not a lot of opportunities are available to students in Waterbury and often it takes leaving the city and making it your own initiative to succeed and excel where others have failed. Being involved in such a global project of cultural and educational exchange has made it possible for me to see parts of the world that I probably would have never seen in my lifetime. It has given me the opportunity to make a difference in my community and in the community of others. And it overall has taught me to take the initiative and make the changes that I as a student wanted so badly. That instead of accepting things the way they are I should be taking the steps to making things the way they should be. This experience has molded my life tremendously and I hope that I can make a real difference in the life of Chinese students whatever way I can.
With your help I hope to meet my goal and many other goals that may come along the way. That's if I have I can count on your help and your support.
Sincerely, Hector Guzman
Post a Comment