Getting to Know Your International Contacts—Part 2

            This week we are reviewing the topics of excellency and equity.  The questions that I asked my person this week were very basic and to the point.  I started off by asking how are the children prepared for excellency within the school system in their country.  The response I got was that children learn how to live together through respecting, sharing and believing in one another.  As well they tend to take plenty of pictures because it is later shared with the next generation and placed on display.  They pass down the family traditions as it is important for the upcoming generations to follow.  Next, I asked what were three things that are valued by the parent to ensure that the child is successful in school.  She answered respect, learning and discipline.  The three factors that she listed are also factors that were important within my household as a child as well.  I was told by my grandmother for many years that respect will take you places that nothing else will.  Respect is not always earned but passed out freely.  Learning is required not praised.  Letter grades below a "B" were never accepted.  Discipline was always reinforced.  You were expected to know how to behave within the public arena without embarrassing the family name.  I asked about the challenges that were faced by her children in school but there apparently was none.  She just repeatedly told me that she wanted her children to be respectful even when they felt like injustice was been done.  She taught her children to accept and understand differences in regards to education, society and family environment.  Always perform the tasks that are expected by the teacher.  I followed up by asking her how did she feel the school did with supporting the needs of the children and she told me that they did  not support her family at all, but she did not need them either.  Finally, the last thing I asked was for her to tell me about a happy event that she remembers from her child's childhood.  She mentioned the school fair.  She discussed that this was an event where the child was allowed to dance or display a talent for the audience and she remembers being a proud parent.  Every conversation that I have with her is always warm and allows me to see exactly how much she cares about her children.  It is nice to be able to see how people provide  are in different places of the world and compare and contrast upon it.