“A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.” – Lao Tzu

“There is no moment of delight in any pilgrimage like the beginning of it.” – Charles Dudley Warner

I'll begin by introducing myself.  My name is Laura Sankey. I am a PhD Candidate in the Department of Agricultural and Extension Education at Penn State University.  I am from Clearfield, Pennsylvania where I live and work on my family's dairy farm.  I taught at the secondary level for three years as an agricultural sciences teacher, mainly focused in agricultural mechanics.  I am passionate about preparing future agricultural educators and seeing their personal growth and development through educational opportunities.  I recently got engaged in March and will be marrying the love my life in August.  So, this trip comes during an exciting (and busy) time in my life!  But I wouldn't change a thing!

How exciting it is to know that in eight days I will be venturing across the Pacific Ocean to the beautiful country of South Korea!  As we embark on this journey I find myself astonished that I have been provided this awesome opportunity.  Other than a 12 day short study abroad experience to New Zealand as a college senior, I have not traveled beyond the borders of the continental United States. This adventure will be the first, of hopefully many, travels to countries that will awaken my senses and help develop new knowledge, skills, and dispositions.  I am eager to start exploring this new Korean environment we will be immersed in for ten days.  There is so much to discover outside the walls of the classroom, where this journey began. 

My role in this adventure is rather unique.  I will be a student and a researcher.  While immersing myself completely in the educational component of this adventure, I will be facilitating and capturing the growth of the students traveling.  Like stated previously, the purpose of this adventure is to develop and prepare globally minded agricultural education teachers by providing the opportunity a short-term study experience within the context of agricultural education in nation’s that have school-based agricultural education and university agricultural teacher preparation programs. We are striving to see how the students develop global competency through an embedded study abroad. Through journaling and reflection, we hope to see student development.  Some questions I am interested in how the students will answer include: What was the biggest cultural shock or difference between your home country and the host? The food ? The people? The university and the education system? What negative reactions did you experience? What positive reactions did you experience?

Thank you to all who have been reading and we hope you join us on our journey to South Korea through our blog.  It is an exciting time for our students and we hope you share in their growth and development.