Taiwan Buddies
By Naomi Gee-Burko, Evelyn Crowley, & Hazel Russo-Hartung
From April 2nd to the 15th, Newman welcomed around twenty students visiting from New Taipei City, Taiwan. Each paired with a Newman buddy, it was our school’s role to introduce and welcome these students to Boston. About half of the Newman Middle School students had a buddy, along with a few high schoolers as well. There was a range of different backgrounds, which allowed further discussions and connections.
The buddies came to most classes, and it was an incredible experience for them to be in an American school. Newman and BTS pupils learned many things about each other’s cultures. There were many opportunities to connect and gain an understanding of our differences. Because Newman is such an international school, we were able to respect our varying cultures and learn from each other.
Additionally, we had many fun double blocks, such as making fluffernutters or watching a movie, which allowed a fun break from academics. This allowed students to chat and learn more about each other's personal lives or hobbies. Because Newman is such a tight-knit community, we really got to connect and take advantage of this amazing opportunity.
There were many exchanges of gifts as well. Students swapped favorite American and Taiwanese snacks, which created fun bonds through a curiosity to try new things, and a great introduction to the program. Newman buddies got to share their culture and offer a peek into their American lives, while BTS buddies got to do the same with their Taiwanese culture. Additionally, at the end of the two weeks, students exchanged little parting gifts, such as homemade bracelets (from Newman) or a fun boba making kit (from BTS).
Throughout this experience, both BTS and Newman students worked on a collaborative project exploring the negatives and positives of social media. The final result was a poster detailing our relationships with online platforms. Every kid had a different topic, varying from fake news to safety online. Taiwanese buddies thought of and planned their vision, and Newman students helped them get their ideas down in English.
We had the amazing opportunity to interview John Laakso, one of the incredible Newman coordinators throughout this project. He touched on some remarkable instances from this event and highlighted some key moments. Below is the interview:
Why was this beneficial to Newman students?
Newman students had the opportunity to work towards a common goal, learning what it's like to collaborate with students whose previous cultural experiences might be different from their own. Newman students recognized their similarities with their buddies, more so than their differences — and made friends along the way!
This experience reinforced Newman's "Cor ad Cor Loquitur" motto (Heart Speaks to Heart). Newman students compassionately made sure our guests felt welcomed, helping them navigate our school's unique layout. They diligently helped their buddies with their Social Media Research Project, and helped explain difficult concepts from their classes. Communication was everything, and despite some language barriers, Newman students and BTS students went above and beyond communicating effectively.
What do you hope both Newman and BTS students take away from this experience?
"Togetherness" — I hope Newman and BTS students recognize that in order to move into the future productively, as informed citizens of a global society, we must work together! By putting aside our differences, communicating effectively, and focusing on a common goal, humanity can accomplish incredible things.
Was there anything you thought would improve this experience for anyone involved?
This was the first time Newman has facilitated a program like this, thus it was certainly a learning experience for teachers, and students alike. The next time we welcome guests for an immersion program, I believe it would be helpful to pre-arrange daily buddy to buddy "meet-up" plans in order to avoid any confusion during class switches/lunches. Additionally, in our next immersion program Ms. Schafer and I would like to share the program's schedule in advance, avoiding any sudden changes to the schedule. Some "last minute" changes were necessary this time around due to evaluations of student project progress, and field trip scheduling.
Did you enjoy this experience? Why or why not?
The entire experience was incredible and we learned so much. I want to thank Mrs. Porazzo and admin, faculty and staff, and STUDENTS for making it possible! My favorite thing was watching Newman students collaborate with their buddies — the kindness and compassion they showed was truly heart-warming. In addition, I really enjoyed the fascinating results of student research like the Social Media Survey, and our cultural immersion experiences like our trip to the Mapparium, and our History of Boston Tour with Mr. Abdallah. On the BTS students' last day, their reactions were priceless — they suggested plans to keep the collaboration alive virtually moving forward, and I heard BTS students saying, "they don't want to leave".
Overall, the Taiwan Buddies was a one-of-a-kind experience and extremely invigorating. We went on many field trips and walks around Boston, allowing us to connect and share similarities. Even after the buddies left, we still talk from time to time and wish to see each other again. We thank all of the teachers for this two-week-long event, and are incredibly grateful for this opportunity. Thank you, students, teachers, and specifically, Julie Porrazzo, Mazen Abdallah, Hannah Schafer, and John Laakso, for making this all possible!
