Teacher finds new learning experience on remote island journey
Retired Ashland teacher Julie Romberg, joined several others from around the nation for a visit to the sandy beaches of Cook Islands.
But Romberg's vacation wasn't a walk on the beach. Rather the group she worked with spent three weeks tutoring children in reading skills, befriending individuals with disabilities and tackling labor and library projects on the picturesque South Seas island of Rarotonga. Romberg was one a seven-member team with Global Volunteers, a St. Paul, Minn.-based nonprofit organization that offers short-term service opportunities in 19 countries, including the United States.
"It's such an incredible organization," Romberg said. "I'm planning on going back again next year. I'm a firm believer in this."
By immersing themselves in the island community, the volunteers gained unique, non-tourist insights rarely possible through the window of a tour bus. They learned that behind the travel poster images, even in "paradise," people struggle with issues such as unemployment, poverty and lack of educational opportunities. Romberg taught in an island first grade classroom.
"I fell in love with the beautiful Maori children," she said. "I'll never forget hearing the Maori music both in the school and the churches and — seeing the first-graders dance. They must be born knowing how to move their legs and hips!"
Romberg, who taught for 15 years at Helman School, enjoyed the opportunity to return to the classroom.
"It was kind of like being a teachers aide, but because I had some experience I got to teach a few lessons. I did some art and integrating math and art, and I did some literature. I read to them, and taught some poetry."
Romberg has traveled before, even living in France. Still the different culture, far less modern than the typical tropical tourist zone, afforded many lessons to the traveling teacher.
"I was in New Zealand before-hand, sort of on my way there. But when I got to the Cook Islands it was just a brand new culture for me," she said.
Despite the cultural difference, Romberg saw many similiarities between these kids and Ashland's kids.
"The kids were so curious and interested, just like the children in Ashland," she said.
The group's veteran was Danice Brown of Beaverton, who stayed from September through December. The lengthy stay helped Brown feel more immersed in the island culture.
"Because I served on three consecutive Global Volunteers programs, I had the opportunity to really get to know my students as well as their teachers and principal," she said.
She noted several interesting cultural differences. "In the United States, we have a very high-tech culture, driven by the latest gadgets — cell phones, I-Pods, computers and so on. One gets a sense that everyone is always 'plugged in.' In the islands, in the absence of the latest technology, people listen and talk to each other and family and friends look to each other for enjoyment," said Brown.
Brown is a believer in this type of "citizen diplomacy," saying, "These cultural opportunities open up the door to one-on-one communication and understanding of each other and the similarities and differences we face in our own lives."
Romberg said the cultural provided a learning lab for her everyday.
"They are trying very hard to keep the culture alive," she said. "For me it was a reminder about how big, but also how small the world is."
During other free time in the evenings and on weekends, Romberg and her fellow volunteers took in the natural beauty of the island, touring its wild interior, strolling its beaches and attending dance shows.
"We'd get out of class around 3 p.m. and I'd go for a swim or a walk on the beach," Romberg said. "It reminded me how the Hawaiian islands must have been 100 years ago."
Global Volunteers short-term service programs in 19 countries with work projects ranging from teaching English to caring for at-risk children to constructing community buildings. All projects are locally initiated and directed and volunteers work shoulder to shoulder with local people. For more information, call 800-487-1074; or dial email@globalvolunteers.org. Web site: www.globalvolunteers.org.
The experience made Romberg a true believer in the mission of the Global Volunteers. She said the organization truly waits to be asked for the help, so they are focusing on the needs as expressed by the people they service, said Romberg.
"For sure I probably learned more than the kids I helped. It was just a wonderful experience being exposed to so much of the culture. The program really tries to immerse into the culture."
