Mr Baxter Weed
Reflections from the 2009 Toyota International Teacher Program to Costa Rica
Weed, front right, after a hike in the rainforest.
Reflecting back on the two weeks spent with other educators traveling and learning, I realize the trip made more of an impact than I though it would. Numerous things along the way and after have opened my eyes to different ways of thinking. The people I met and the lectures attended all contributed to how I now feel about the whole experience. Overall, it was an extremely positive event to be involved in.
First of all, the program was extremely well run and planned. I have to give credit to the staff of IIE, and of course, to Toyota. The effort of their pre-trip planning was evident once it began. I’m not sure if I had planned a two-week trip on my own to the Everglades and Costa Rica that I could of packed in so many diverse experiences into one package! It would have been especially hard to have knowledgeable speakers and visits along the way. This was hard to see in the whirlwind of the trip, but reflecting back on it has allowed me to see the scope of what I experienced in such a short time.
Secondly, traveling with a group of the “best of the best” educators was an unparalleled chance at gaining knowledge. The knowledge was not necessarily education based, but included learning much about the country that I live in as I did about Costa Rica. Spending two weeks with educators from all over the United States allowed me to see how different parts of my country differ in policies, geography, and social issues. This made the transition even easier to the people of Costa Rica and their social, environmental, and economical differences. Learning what others did in the classroom was great, as was how involved everyone was outside of the classroom; whether it be coaching or backpacking with kids. The group was incredibly talented and diverse, thus making the contacts made over the two weeks even more important. The things I have learned from my travel companions have filtered down to the classroom and my thinking. Every educator should have a chance at experiences like this, it makes for better teachers.
However, the thing that I keep thinking about the most is how the trip has changed my thinking. I did not realize this was going to happen. Now when I read an article about water issues or developing country pollution, I have something to relate to. I didn’t have that before. I had never seen a country that was very different from my own with their own beliefs and customs. It really makes a difference in social policy. Seeing how people actually lived while in country was a real eye-opener. I made me realize that people do what they have to with what they have and are generally happy. At least in Costa Rica! Even those who had small farms were still trying to be sustainable, which is more than can be said for many in the United States. This was what got to me the most.
Upon returning, it seems everywhere I go and everything I do I have some train of thought that is tied to a Dunne lecture or something I saw on the trip. It has definitely made me more aware of how my actions affect the environment and future generations. I feel responsible for taking care of what I can for future generations. This of course comes out when working with the students, and I hope that they will have that same feeling about the world they live in. These kids will be the next generation to continue on making a more sustainable world, and I feel the Toyota International Teacher program has helped to make it happen. It was a honor to have been part of it.