junior program summer site : conversations : first session



	esther from korea (7/29) Esther is a 5th grade international student from Korea enjoying her first Explo summer. She says that the students and staff are very kind, making it easy to make lots of new friends from around the world. How do you like Explo so far? It’s awesome. They have great staff members and I have a great hall of friends. I have fun at Explo. What have you been doing today? My first class was “Magic for Muggles” [chemistry + physics]. We did an experiment with changing colors. Next, I went to ESOL [English for Speakers of Other Languages] with Van. We played a game called “Um,” where we couldn’t say the word “um”. It was so hard! I could only talk for 40 seconds without saying it. Then I went to the first activity period and I picked free swim. What do you think you want to do next activity period? I think I want to do “Googley Eyes” with [staff member] Jessica, or maybe free swim again, because it’s so hot. The pool is very cool, and you just think, “It’s good to be here!” Tell me more about your experiment in “Magic for Muggles”. We had to measure water and pour it into a beaker. Then we had to mix liquids with the water, and then boil it until it’s 70 degrees. Then we poured something in and it changed from pink, to dark green, to black, to orange, and then to pink again. What are you taking for your mini-courses? I’m taking cheerleading and web design. Cheerleading is a little bit hard, but I practice a lot and I’ve been adding more dance moves. Katie [the instructor] said it was awesome and great. I love that class. I was glad I was able to switch into it. How is web design? I’m making my own website and I’m so excited! We go to a sticker website, and we have to put the stickers onto our website. I love it! Which trips did you go on last weekend? On Saturday I went to the [Roger Williams] Zoo, and on Sunday I went on the “mystery trip”. How was the zoo? I got to see some cool animals -- especially flamingos, seals, and penguins. And I had never seen a red panda before. It was cool and it was little, but it was sleeping. It was really, really cute. So what did the “mystery trip” end up being? Oh, I loved that trip! I didn’t know where we were going. I was like, “Where are we going?! Where are we going?!” Bethany wouldn’t tell us where we were going, though. When we arrived at the place, there was mini-golf and bumper boats. This was my first time riding a bumper boat and I didn’t know how to drive it. I tried driving with my friends, but I was spinning around like crazy! Did you get wet? Yes, I was absolutely soaked. Whenever somebody bumped you hard, it just splashed so much. How was the mini-golf? Mini-golf was awesome! There was a waterfall and there were things we had to go into. There was a hole in a fake tree, too. It was awesome. Did you do anything after mini-golf and bumper boats? We went to a butterfly park. We went through and it was cool, but I was so scared of butterflies. I saw a silk worm and a “moving stick.” It was so gross and strange. It looked like a stick, but you couldn’t see the legs. The butterflies were pretty, though. A butterfly sat on some staff members’ shoulders -- especially Nate. Since the staff wears bright orange t-shirts, the butterflies kept circling around them. Would you recommend Explo to a friend at home? Absolutely, yes! We get to pick activities and classes. You will have awesome friends here. On the first day, you’ll get your new room and you’re in a new place with new friends. Is it easy to make friends here? Yes, it is easy. All the girls on my hall -- we always talk to each other and hang out in each other’s rooms. My RA’s are so kind. On the Harry Potter theme day, Bethany made us all hats. What is it like being an international student? It’s similar to being an American student. We get treated the same and we aren’t compared to other students. The staff treats us very nicely, just like everyone else. I have a lot of fun. My roommate is also international -- from Korea. Did you know each other before Explo? Yes, but I didn’t even know she was coming to Explo. When she came, I was like, “Oh, she looks familiar.” We go to the same school! Of course I’ve also made friends from the United States, like Florida and California and New York. What should Explo’s mascot be? I think it should be a lion, because there are many, many lion pictures and statues around St. Mark’s. Also, lions are strong and brave. more conversations > first session \| second session