Jacqueline's Global Scholars Blog

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa congratulates South Africa's captain Siya Kolisi. The pride in Siviwe’s voice as he spoke of his country’s victory in the recent Rugby World Cup inspired me to search for news related to the topic. What I found in the sports section of the CNN and BBC News websites is a story refreshingly hopeful during what sometimes feels like a trend of “bad news.” The Springboks’ victory over England in November, which won South Africa its third World Cup equalling New Zealand’s record, is “not just about rugby. It is about the social cohesion that the country is still trying to achieve 25 years after the end of apartheid” (BBC News, Johannesburg). Siya Kolisi, the team’s first black captain, serves a symbol of hope for multitudes of South Africans. Siya’s remarkable journey out of poverty began with his birth “in a slum to teenage parents who could not afford to keep him just a year after the former president Nelson Mandela was freed f...

Last week, Polytechnic students met with Siviwe Mbinda to discuss this spring’s GIP trip to South Africa. Siviwe is the co-founder and director of the iThuba Innovation Hub, a STEM school located in Langa that Poly students will visiting. The purpose of iThuba is to provide STEM education and experiences not readily available to youth living in Langa. The end-goal is to “close the gap” between these students and their more advantaged peers so that all students are prepared with the skills necessary in an increasingly technological world. “Not only does STEM open opportunities for employment, it also enables whole new sectors of employment to be created”(ithubahub.com). Poly students are excited to be involved in this innovative collaboration with iThuba and are looking forward to working with students. Currently, we are in the process of fund-raising and writing grants to support teacher training, community activities, and a "maker-space" area to build and make science p...

  This week, my family and I hosted Thomas, better known by his nick-name Moose, a water polo player from New Zealand. I had heard New Zealanders are some of the friendliest people around, and after meeting Moose, I can understand why. I learned so much about New Zealand - and Auckland, in particular - that it’s now a new destination on my “bucket list.” According to Moose, most New Zealanders live in cities, although it’s true what they say, “There are more sheep than people in New Zealand - 10 sheep for every person.” Auckland, the city where Moose lives, is New Zealand’s most populous city. The city is surrounded by dormant volcanoes and hills covered in rainforest. Aukland is unique because it is among the few cities in the world to have harbors on two separate bodies of water. It’s also very cosmopolitan, and Moose shared that Aukland has seen an influx of immigrants in recent years, especially from China. Not too surprisingly, Moose relayed that most New Zealanders ten...

“The first GIP event of the decade,” as noted by Poly seniors Alex Bertran and Phillip Zhou, showcased American comedian, Joe Wong. As timely as it was entertaining, Mr. Wong’s performance shed light on the contrast between American and Chinese culture in a comical yet thought-provoking manner. In an hour jam-packed with laughter, Wong covered a gamut of topics, ranging from the Chinese practice of shaming versus encouragement as a motivational strategy, to the ludicracy of American laws that legalize guns yet outlaw fireworks on Chinese New Year. An American citizen born and raised in China, Mr.Wong’s affection for both countries shines through in his jokes. “America is my wife, and China is my mother.” The punch line, “...and they both have nuclear weapons,” unexpected, funny its “Wong-style” delivery, and disturbing at the same time, speaks to an alarming 21st century reality as well as the critical need for a positive relationship between the two superpowers. On a lighter note...

Before my outing with Maya, Poly’s AFS student, I had never met anyone from Bulgaria, a country situated in the Eastern Balkans. Hoping to acquire some background knowledge about her country before we spent the day together, I read a bit about Bulgaria’s recent history. I learned that Communism didn’t end in Bulgaria until 1990. For the next few decades, Bulgaria struggled with its transition to a market economy. Today, Bulgaria is an  upper-middle-income economy securely anchored in the European Union (workbank.org). Easy-going, friendly, and appreciative of everything - even the everyday conveniences such as “Jamba Juice” that I take for granted - Maya’s grateful attitude was infectious. As we window-shopped together on Colorado Boulevard and enjoyed the views from the top of Angeles Crest, Maya’s positive presence led me to forget about the often stressful, “trafficy,” fast-paced living in LA, and focus instead on all the city has to offer. My day with Maya impressed upon...