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Our Executive Director, Todd Reeves, is spanning the globe with International Coordinator, Wenru Niu to learn more about the countries and programs Overbrook School for the Blind supports world-wide. Can you guess where Mr. Reeves is?
Hello Overbrook Students! Today Ms. Wen and I were in the city of Siem Reap at one of 5 schools for the blind in this country. Like Overbrook, the school has a museum, but unlike Overbrook, it's history only dates back to 1991 because for the previous 20 or so years, schools and universities were destroyed under the reign of the Khmer Rouge. The school leaders constructed the museum as a way to re-educate (repatriate) the children about Khmer culture. A picture in the museum shows a train car arriving in Siem Reap full of children from a refugee camp, many of whom were orphaned because their parents perished under the Khmer Rouge.
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| WHERE IN THE WORLD IS TODD REEVES? |
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ANOTHER ISSUE OF WHERE IN THE WORLD IS TODD REEVES?
Mr. Reeves is traveling to do work with our International Partners. As always, he has our students in the forefront of his mind. He is sending daily clues until his return on Christmas Eve, and the students are encouraged to discover where he might be in the world. Feel free to submit your own answers on our Facebook Page!
Hello, Overbrook! On Friday I flew two airplanes, starting in Philadelphia and landing in this country about 24 hours later. I was flying in-country 6 hrs later and had a hotel reservation so I could sleep a little before my next flight. A taxi driver said he would take me to my hotel for 250,000 rupiah. "250,000 rupiah?! No thank you, sir! My next flight is just 6 hrs from now -- I'll just nap in the airport!" I hauled my luggage back to the airport. What I didn't know was the airport closes at night, so I slept outdoors on the sidewalk with about 400 other people. Luckily, it is very warm here.
I have a 100,000 rupiah bill to show you. Where in the World Am I?
And....
a) Am I rich? Should I retire immediately?
b) Should I have paid the taxi driver and slept on a comfortable bed? |
Student Clues and Submissions for WITWITR
OVERBROOK’S NEW DIRECTOR, TODD REEVES, IS ON A WHIRLWIND JOURNEY WITH IP COORDINATOR,
WENRU NIU TO LEARN EVERYTHING HE CAN ABOUT OSB’S INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS.
While Mr. Reeves travels with Ms. Niu he will be sending clues to our students on campus and the public on Social Media to help them locate where he is visiting each day! Even if he’s half way around the world, he is connecting with our staff, students, curriculum, and community daily. We can all learn something about Overbrook’s long history of International work and our School’s current global impact. |
Day 1 Clue:
Hello Students! On Friday, Wenru Niu and I flew 14 hours from Washington DC to our first destination. We arrived at 6:15 in the evening on Saturday when it was 6:15 in the morning on Saturday in Philadelphia. The Days Hotel we stayed in has the same logo as Days Hotels in Pennsylvania but they look much different. This is an example of a "joint venture" between businesses in this area and businesses in our country.
The City we are in has another "City" that is within it that is "Forbidden", but not really.
Where in the world am I?
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Day 2 Clue:
Hello Overbrook Students! Great job yesterday. Yes, Wen and I were in Beijing, China. We flew to a neighboring country and I bought a box of candy to bring back to Miss Trish that cost me 6,799 tughrik. I don't think it was on sale.
"Golden Gobi" is the candy-maker. The Gobi Desert (not Dessert) occupies the southern region of this country. The box has an illustration of nomadic herdsmen leading a caravan of camels loaded with belongings. The illustration shows sheep and goats grazing. In the far background there are very small pictures of two special tents called "yurts".
This country is fascinating. Where in the World am I?
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Day 3 Clue:
Hello Overbrook Students! Today Wen and I visited the only School for the Blind in the entire country of Mongolia. The day before we visited a blended preschool. At first, the children were very timid and wary of me because I spoke a different language and seemed more different from them than the same. But I wore them down with waves and smiles until I received a high-five from each of them. If we have the right attitude, eventually we all seem more similar than different.
Today you need to guess what city in Mongolia the School for the Blind is located. It is the same city where the Parliament building is situated, which has a gigantic statue of Ghengis Khan in the center. Here in Mongolia, his name is spelled Chinggis Khaan.
Hint: If you rearrange the letters of the city name in alphabetical order, it would be
A-A-A-A-A-B-L-N-R-T-U. People in most countries spell it Ulan Bator, but that is not the way people in Mongolia spell it. How is it spelled by people in Mongolia? |
Day 4 Clue:
Hello Overbrook Students! You've amazed me with your correct answers and the smart ways you've found them! Today I am tired. My day started at 3:30a to catch a flight from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to Beijing, China and then flew here to an airport in a "Special Administrative District of the People's Republic of China". Wen and I are waiting for a flight to our next destination that will end the day at about 10p.
This area is a "Special Administrative District" because it isn't governed the same way as the rest of China. Twenty years ago this area was governed by Britain. I bought a Starbucks mug at the airport and paid money in HK $, which is different than our US $.
Where in the world am I?
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Day 5 Clue:
Hello Overbrook students! Today Wen and I met a new friend named Hannah. She showed us her apartment before also showing us where she worked. Hannah recently started a job as a customer services representative answering emailed questions from people in the United Kingdom who use the same company I do when I pay for things online, but don't want to provide my credit card number each time.
Hannah works from 4p to 1a because that is when people in the UK are awake. On one of her two days off she attends the University of the Philippines and hopes one day to work as an advocate for women and people with disabilities.
Hannah was very interested to know what students at Overbrook are taught. She wished she had the chance to learn orientation and mobility before she graduated, but Her mainstream school couldn't provide that. Her friends would take her from class to class.
Hannah was kind enough to give me permission to tell you a little about her.
Wen and I are now waiting for our flight on Cebu Pacific airlines, which is a low-cost airline based in this country. I'm glad I decided not to bring my chainsaw on this trip, because it's not allowed in either checked or carry-on luggage. Whew! |
Day 6 Clue:
Hello Overbrook Students! This past weekend Wen and I ended our stay in Davao City, where we participated in the closing ceremonies of a teacher workshop to support math instruction for students who are blind or visually impaired. The workshop participants were "receiving" teachers -- general education teachers who "receive" students who are blind or visually impaired the Dept of Ed places in their classrooms because no trained teachers of the visually impaired are available.
You might have already discovered that Davao City is in the Mindanao Province, which is under Martial Law due to an earlier uprising in Marawi, a city within the province. Under Martial Law, it is important for visitors like Wen and me to have our passports with us at all times.
During the weekend, Wen and I flew to the capital city of the Philippines. It is considered the most densely populated city in the world! We have already made new friends. We met several massage therapists who are blind. The massage clinics are also managed and operated by employers who are blind. In the U.S., we hear the term "blind consumer groups" but we rarely hear the term "blind employers". It is important for people from different countries to learn from each other.
In this very large and congested city, it seems every kind of vehicle is used to transport students. I saw a motorcycle with a very small sidecar used for school transportation!
Where (city) in the world am I?
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| WITWITR Day 6 |
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School for the Blind in the Philippines |
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School for the Blind in the Philippines playground |
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Students at School for the Blind in the Philippines |
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Day 7 Clue:
Hello Overbrook Students! This past weekend Wen and I ended our stay in Davao City, where we participated in the closing ceremonies of a teacher workshop to support math instruction for students who are blind or visually impaired. The workshop participants were "receiving" teachers -- general education teachers who "receive" students who are blind or visually impaired the Dept of Ed places in their classrooms because no trained teachers of the visually impaired are available.
You might have already discovered that Davao City is in the Mindanao Province, which is under Martial Law due to an earlier uprising in Marawi, a city within the province. Under Martial Law, it is important for visitors like Wen and me to have our passports with us at all times.
During the weekend, Wen and I flew to the capital city of the Philippines. It is considered the most densely populated city in the world! We have already made new friends. We met several massage therapists who are blind. The massage clinics are also managed and operated by employers who are blind. In the U.S., we hear the term "blind consumer groups" but we rarely hear the term "blind employers". It is important for people from different countries to learn from each other.
In this very large and congested city, it seems every kind of vehicle is used to transport students. I saw a motorcycle with a very small sidecar used for school transportation!
Where (city) in the world am I?
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| WITWITR Day 7 |
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Audience view of man speaking to classroom |
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motorcycle with Student Service sidecar |
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Day 8 Clue:
Today Wen and I visited a computer camp for 30 students with visual impairment hosted by IBM and sponsored in part by Overbrook and the Nippon Foundation. Earlier, we met a prior attendee who has since graduated from college and teaches licensing and professional preparation courses. He said, "Teaching itself really isn't my passion, but inspiring people is and Overbrook has been a great part of my story .... so, thank you."
It's altogether fitting that October began with a fundraising event called "The Overbrook Experience" in which friends who believe deeply that you deserve an education equal to that of anyone else contributed money for that purpose. They join your parents, staff and others who share that commitment. And the month will end with Socktoberfest, in which you participate in benefiting those less fortunate. Giving compels giving, and in so doing, we demonstrate that blind students, wherever they are, don't rely on the kindness of strangers but rather a strong community fabric composed of people who want to see great things for students with blindness and, in turn, for students with blindness to do great things in the lives of others.
YOU can be great, every day, because Martin Luther King said so: "Everybody can be great, because anyone can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love." Though we want your subject and verb to agree and for you to attend college if you desire, you don't need to wait for those things to happen to be great.
What matters more than where I am in this world is where YOU are. Reflect on MLK's statement about greatness and how it applies to you, no matter where YOU go and what YOU do in this world. Then tell someone. And then they will know what it means to be "Straight Outta the Overbrook School for the Blind". (Grin)
Credit to Mr. Kevin for inspiring the closing line! In about 8 hours Wen and I will leave for the airport to begin the long journey back to Philadelphia. I'm looking forward to seeing you all again very soon.
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| WITWITR Day 8 |
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Teacher working with man at monitor |
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teachers working with students in computer lab |
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DAY 2
Hello Overbrook Students! Today I was on an island that is considered the most popular tourist destination in Indonesia. I knew pollution in the world's oceans is a major problem and I witnessed just how much. So much garbage was washed up onto the beach that it was dangerous to walk barefoot. The hotels and resorts on the beach hired many people to rake up the garbage into large piles. But the portions of the beach for local residents were untouched.
I passed a sign apologizing for the garbage, stating it was a natural phenomenon that occurred between the months of December and March. Do you believe that garbage on a beach is a natural phenomenon? The "natural" part involves changing winds and currents.
As I was walking, I noticed a mother and her two young girls smiling and waving to me as each was video recording me on their smart phones. I realized they were recording me because there are not many men here who are bald. I smiled and told them it was a natural phenomenon that only occurs between the months of January and December. They didn't understand me but they giggled anyway.
Where in the world am I?
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Day 3
Hello Overbrook Students! Today Miss Wen and I participated in a planning meeting at our hotel, which is in the largest city in Indonesian. It has rained hard each day I've been in Indonesia and especially hard today. In the afternoon, I visited an organization the Overbrook and The Nippon Foundation has supported for many years, called Mitts Netra. I met a man named Sugiyo who teaches computer classes to other blind children and adults. He is one of the first blind adults to be enrolled in technical manor at the first university in Indonesia that has allowed blind students to enroll. He is very thankful to Overbrook because he attended different computer trainings supported by Overbrook in past, which inspired him to pursue this major if he found a university that would allow it. He is standing to the right of me in the picture.
It is good to surround yourself with people who inspire you. Fortunately you don't have to travel farther than your own classroom! You should continually thank your parents and Overbrook staff for that.
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Day 4
Hello Overbrook Students! I learned once again that foreign travel requires patience, flexibility and resiliency. For example, many fast food restaurants you've been to in Philly are here in Jakarta as well, but the menu items are much different and there are no brailled menus. I went to a fast food restaurant I like and didn't see anything to eat I recognized and finally decided on the "Chicken Mango Pocket Meal" that included a cup of rice wrapped in paper and an orange drink. Which restaurant do you think served me? I'll provide the answer in tomorrow's note.
A) McDonald's Corporation
B) A&W All American Restaurant
C) Burger King Corporation
More important than what I ate today was what I witnessed -- a blind mathematician from the Philippines providing a training to leaders in Indonesia. It's always inspiring and important to see people who are blind in leadership positions, both in developed and developing countries.
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