GYE Shifting and Connecting

A component of the Global Youth Exchange journey was being connected with 10 Minnesota-based young people, as well as 10 Vietnam-based young people. We exchanged art and conversation with Vietnam-based youth at Renaissance International School Saigon (RISS) throughout the program. We unfortunately could not travel and host each other as originally planned. Nonetheless, we found ways to connect with each other through object exchange, art challenges, cultural mixed-media projects, Zoom calls, Instagram and more. We are grateful for the connections that we have made and look forward to continuing those beyond the GYE program.

Sharing Vietnamese Culture

Student participants from Renaissance International School Saigon (RISS) created the following videos to share with us in preparation for international travel to each other’s countries and societies.

Sharing American Culture

We created the following projects for our youth partners at RISS. We wanted to share our interpretations of American culture.

American Culture Collage by Nouchi

 

Reflections on Our Change of Plans: COVID-19

This is from our first virtual session, meeting Vietnam-based youth from Renaissance International School of Saigon.

“The video chat with the Renaissance youth was one of the best and most exciting video chats I ever had in my life.” —Nouchi

“We have heard so much about them, so it was exhilarating to be able to actually meet them and get to know them.” —Asharia
“When hearing the news of our plans and having to do our sessions virtually, it was difficult for me to adjust to it. Especially because we are all in our homes and practicing social distance, it’s hard to have motivation and do things at a quicker pace. As of now, my adjustments to doing everything virtually are going all right, but I would rather meet my peers soon and hopefully be able to explore Vietnam.” —Mackenzie

“After hearing about different institutions closing because of the virus, I was disappointed to hear that our Vietnam trip had been canceled. I didn’t know what procedures we would take next. Luckily, we were all still able to keep in touch and work with each other remotely. (Who ever said technology is a bad thing?) We even got to meet our Vietnam-based students. It’s been great being able to reach out to everyone.” —Asharia

“The announcement about our Vietnam trip being postponed due to COVID-19 was heartbreaking. Me and the others were so excited to explore the Vietnam culture and meet our Vietnam-based peers. However, we didn’t let COVID-19 stop us! We video chatted and connected with each other through social media. Although it is devastating to not meet in person with my peers, I am thankful that my peers are being active in the video chats.” —Nouchi 

“To hear the news of our trip getting postponed was very saddening. Me and my group members were all waiting so long for that day. However, it didn’t stop us from staying in touch and communicating about different plans coming our way! I am excited every time we communicate again and just getting the chance to hear from everybody else!” —Christina

I am From… Poems

By Nouchi
I am from a family of 9
11 if you count the dogs
I am from a childhood filled with sorrows and joy
Day goes by fast when I’m outside of the house
Running with kids I never met before
I am from a mother who cares for her young ones
Money spent for the taste of sweetness and happiness
I am from a father who is overprotective
Constantly asking about my whereabouts and health
I am from a generation that struggles to keep my native culture and traditions alive
from gender stereotype to assimilation
I lost a part of me that should have been implanted in me from birth
I am from failure is a lesson
No one is perfect
I am from ashes
Spreading my wings high
Soaring for the impossible
I am from “fear is beatable”
Challenging myself to go beyond my fears
I am from a soul that expands her self-acceptance

By Asharia
I am from; localization, causing me frustration, confused in my nation
I am from; but nowhere else to go, so I’ll stay here, it’s all that I know.
I am from; pretend content, I am hell bent, on loving the land from where I have been sent.
I am from; the love art, that’s where I start, and the music seeps into my brain, continuing all through my veins. This feeling cannot be tamed. And with every paint stroke relieved a choke and a pencil pressed against paper, every lead curve makes me feel safer. Arts not meant to be held, it’s meant to be shared, I have to loosen my grip, and shift my cares.
I am from; my thoughts everywhere, no time to focus, my thoughts in the air
I am from; daydreams, they take control of me, and take up all my time, to a lesser degree.
I am from; somethings will never be written, they will remain in the brain that they live in
I am from; an uncemented tree, that branches out, beyond belief. But the leaves that are closest to me, are the ones I find the most relief. They are my favorite reflection to see. And so refreshing, feelings as deep as the sea. The only faces that I want to see.
I am from; maybe temptation, the sensation, of having power.
I am from; owning every hour, like time is mine but it’s not really ours.
I am from; Time will leave me behind, and it’s something I still yearn to find, and the clock will be a visual remind, it’s just one way that I’m defined.

By Janet
I am from a fine point sharpie
From post it notes and pencils
I am from the middle of nowhere, empty and quiet, but smells of life
I am from the vast waters, full of secrets, beauty, fear, and experiences
I’m from 30 dishes and 18 clans
But specifically, from Thaos and Xiongs
I’m from stubborn, but well meant words
And difficult, but ambitious minds
From the faults that hold me back and hopes that keep me going
I’m from two worlds, one I am blinded of and one I’ve been kept from
I’m from the room that desperately awaited the morning,
meals that take 3 ingredients but also 3 hours,
and a language rewritten for nationless fighters
From the barrier-breaking marriage within a home of the old world,
The grant to live nine lives, and the boxes that bear more years than I have
I am from more than a fine point sharpie, post it notes, and pencils

By Mackenzie
I am from books
From pencil to paper
I am from the picture frame
gentle, alive, and filled with sounds of laughter
I am from baby’s breath
Something my grandma cherished as if it were her own child
I’m from sewing and ghost stories
From my mom teaching me how to stitch to my dad telling about his life as a kid
I’m from the many homes I’ve lived in and the scent of burning joss paper
I’m from the strands of a special bracelet to protect me from bad omen
From the time my grandpa fought in a war to my parents leaving their homeland for a better future
Holding the journey of who I am

By Molly
I am from calloused hands that carry our family, hardships, and breaks through the barriers
I am from Saturday mornings at the farmers market with strangers who are somehow still the closest family we knew
I am from boiled and chicken that fed our bodies and souls and gave us the strength to run
I am from the music from our fathers that reminds us where our hearts lay
I am from the needles through the cloth that binds our past and future
I am from eyes that continue to watch even if the body is no longer present
I am from the music of flutes and the banging of the drum that keeps our spirits alive
I am from the ancestors that guide us through the dark forests and bring us lights
I am from our mother tongue that screams stories of bravery and whispers opportunities of change
I am from our people that have the world in our hands

By Touger
I am from crops that my mom and dad work months for
I am from a family that smile when hard time come so the little ones won’t worry
I am from the tragic war that my ancestors were forced to face
I am from the caring mother and father that has a hard time showing their love
I am from, Yellow River where my ancestors built their house near there although I was born in America
I am from gratitude that the earth was here to let me breathe its air and live on its land
I am from what they call,
“The Land Of Opportunities”
I am from the lost knowledge of my culture waiting for it to be found
I am from couches that I sat on everyday watching Wild Kratts when I was little
I am from papers that was assigned to me so I wouldn’t forget what I learn
I am from books that store knowledge of my culture

By Christina
I am from a father who no longer knows how to give respect
I am from a father who is no longer considerate of his words
I am from a father who has made me stay up countless nights in my thoughts
I am from a father who used to be lovable
I am from a father who has worked at a job he dislike to be able to support his family
I am from a father who used to be so well known for his generosity
I am from a father who’s experienced lots of loss and forced himself to stay strong or it’s a sign of weakness
I am from a brave father who has came a long way
I am a daughter who has built a tight bond with a father that now has changed, yet still holds the same love
I am once called a daddy’s girl.

What we Learned from the GYE Journey

“Throughout this journey, I have gained lots of knowledge on not just my culture but others as well. Being able to work as a diverse group has made it possible to connect more on how others view things and learn from each other. It has definitely made me more open-minded on global perspectives, etc.!” —Christina

“Through the GYE program, I was able to not only connect with my native culture, but also learn about other cultures. I was able to expand my global perspective and address social/cultural issues and my identity through many forms of art”. —Nouchi

“During my time in the GYE program I have been inspired countless times; I have felt a sense of connectedness and vulnerability among strangers that I now consider peers/friends. My eyes and ears have been opened up some more, and my motivation to create meaningful art from on the stage or in a discussion has grown. Everyone has a story to tell and none of them are the same and opening up to hearing other’s lived experiences has helped me live in mine. I think that’s what the world needs—more listening.” —Inayah

“In the GYE program, I learned a lot about exploring narrative, and I was able to explore my own narrative and also that of other cultures. Having a lot of different perspectives in the group helped me connect, expand my thinking, and ask questions.” —Sachan

“I got the ability to focus on the importance of narrative when it comes to learning about others and their culture. Having the opportunity to exchange our stories with one another is so essential when expanding our thinking. I got the chance to learn about the Southeast Asian diaspora, where I otherwise never got the opportunity. I got the chance to expand my knowledge. I feel like there is always an opportunity to learn more, and I’m a little more closed off than I may think. I should make more of an effort on continuing to expand.” —Asharia

“During my time in the program, I’ve gotten to express myself through art, learn the history about different cultures/societies, and gain an open perspective on the world. It’s also made me feel more connected with others as we share our strengths and weaknesses.” —Mackenzie

“Being a part of GYE has given me opportunities to learn about identity and narrative and how that plays into my growth and experience as a Hmong woman living in America. It has allowed me to be vulnerable and converse on more intense topics, especially around Southeast Asians and just social issues in general. Once we were able to get into these conversations, we could take what we’ve learned from one another and create art that reflects our own personal narratives and the messages we want to bring to light.” —Molly

“I learned a lot from being a part of the GYE Program, and I’m very honored to have been able to learn alongside peers who are passionate in our experience. Through the program leads, Wennicha and Crystal, the many guests we had gotten to meet, and the content to which we were exposed, I was able to explore much deeper about art for art’s sake: the expression of the human heart.” —Maxwell

“During the program I learned about other race’s identities and cultures. The Global Youth Exchange has given me so many opportunities to meet such amazing people who would come in and tell us stories of how they came into the U.S and many other activities. As I continue with this program to the end, I learn about diaspora, history that was barely taught to me, perspective, and much more. This program has opened my eyes to see the world in a whole new light” —Touger

Jumping for joy after the second GYE session at Mia.

Thank you for joining us on our GYE journey!