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Inaugural ACE Class Checks in Again from China
8/10/2016 12:00:00 PM | Baseball, Football, Rowing, Swimming & Diving, Track & Field, Athletics
DURHAM, N.C. – Six Duke student-athletes – Tanner Johnson (track & field), Domonique Panton (track & field), Anna Quinn (swimming & diving), Isabel Ruby-Hill (rowing), Colt Sessions (track & field) and Zeke Young (baseball) – are in China this summer as part of the inaugural class of the Rubenstein-Bing Student-Athlete Civic Engagement (ACE) program. The program provides one-time funding for Duke and Stanford student-athletes to engage in a three-week international service project.
All six Blue Devils provided blogs on their experiences in China, which can be read below.
---
Where Are You Going?
August 9, 2016 l Colt Sessions, Duke Track & Field
I am waiting for my plane ride home, and I can't help but watch the people passing by. I see people young and old, casually walking by or quickly pacing past others. Some wear sweatpants and carry backpacks, while others wear suits and carry briefcases. I wonder, “Where are they going? Where have they been? What have they seen or what will they see soon?” Just three weeks ago I got on a plane in this same airport preparing for an epic adventure. I had only met some of my team, knew very little about China, and overall had no idea what would transpire over my three-week stay in Shangri-La. Now I sit here, already missing my team, missing our site at CERS, and missing the sense of adventure that encompassed the entirety of our trip.
I have so many experiences to share of my time, but will focus on my final adventure in China for now. On our last day, we traveled to a large and beautiful park within Chengdu, China. Within this park, people were found walking, playing games, paddle boating, fishing, and snacking on popsicles. Life was simple and joyful within the park. It was a place where people got lost in wonder, forgetting to worry or stress. It seemed to perfectly illustrate my experience in China. I was completely lost in wonder over the last three weeks. My attention was captured by beautiful hikes, stunning monasteries, and amazing moments with my team and with the people of Shangri-La. Curiosity had captured me.
Click here for Sessions's full blog post.
---
Get Lost
August 8, 2016 l Tanner Johnson, Duke Men's Track & Field
Wong How Man is an explorer. Ever since his early years in Hong Kong, he's been tapping into what he calls a universal sense of wonder and curiosity. You could say it all started with a bike, on which he wandered into virtually every crevice and corner of that historic island in his teens. After studying at the University of Wisconsin, a world away from the urban, fast-paced hub where he grew up, he returned to China as a photographer for The National Geographic, making quite the name for himself after documenting the true source of the Yangtze River. It was a months-long expedition following one of the lifebloods of China from its immense spout to a small, murky spring in Tibet.
After several other monumental expeditions to river sources in China, How Man founded CERS, the China Exploration and Research Society, turning his focus more towards preservation of culture and wildlife. We had the privilege of working alongside such a Chinese namesake at his headquarters in Gong Bin, a rural village near Zhongdian, Yunnan, known for its free-roaming yaks, delicious Matsutaki mushrooms, traditional Tibetan architecture, and strange sense of wonder it instills in all who visit. It's impossible to tame your curiosity.
Click here for Johnson's full blog post.
---
The Importance of Expressing Gratitude
August 8, 2016 l Zeke Young, Duke Baseball
When initially coming to China, there were many reasons to be excited: for example, new food, new people and a new way of life. All these things were in the forefront of my mind from the time I began to pack to the time we landed in Chengdu. Although all of these elements of the trip were experienced in full by myself and the rest of the team, these elements will most definitely not be the lasting thought or memory that will stay with me for years after this trip has come to a close.
The element of the trip that will stand the test of time in my memory will be the relationships that we as a team (and individually) have been able to make during our time here. The friendships and ties each member of our staff have been able to make with the locals are completely unlike any relationship I have ever made in my life. I think there's something to be said for being able to create a relationship that breaks the barriers of a language and culture separated by the entire length of the Pacific Ocean. The bond is unlike any I've ever made, and it is quite indescribable — but then again, how could you expect to be able to verbally describe a relationship in which no words are are spoken? It's almost as if each side has a mutual understanding and respect for the unknowns and differences between each individual. It's incredible.
Click here for Young's full blog post.
---
The Universal Language of Fun
August 2, 2016 l Tanner Johnson, Duke Men's Track & Field, & Arden Petit, Stanford Softball
Nobody really knew what to expect for camp. The goals were pretty simple: get local kids excited about playing sports, protecting their environment, and learning English. In the back of my mind, I anticipated maybe 10-15 kids showing up, some of whom would take away a positive experience from a week with a few foreign “big kids” who struggle to understand their language. What I didn't expect was this: thirty kids showing up an hour early every day to hang out with the ACE team and each other, constant enthusiasm about learning different colors and numbers, a contagious and competitive spirit that transcended communication barriers, and a whole lot of sad faces on the last day.
On day one, we gave all the kids English names. They were stoked. Paul and I sat together for a while working on new pronunciations. I'm sure we both looked pretty funny exaggerating sounds and mouth movements. While I helped Paul with English sounds, he reciprocated by helping me (not without my struggle) pronounce common Chinese phrases like, “ni hao” and “wo jiao Tanner.”
Click here for Johnson's full blog post.
---
Wrapping Up with Memories
August 2, 2016 l Colt Sessions, Duke Men's Track & Field, Ryan Smith, Stanford Men's Volleyball, and Domonique Panton, Duke Women's Track & Field
The past two weeks at CERS have been a time of reflection. We have spent our days wrapped up in action with planning, exploring, teaching, and coaching. Following our exciting days, we have wrapped up the nights listening to Drolma, Dr. Bill, and How Man reflect on their past explorations and experiences. It has been a pleasure to listen to each of them and to glean wisdom from their experiences. Now, as we wrap up our time here at CERS it is our time to reflect on the experiences and adventures that are coming to a close. Each of us has many memories of the last couple weeks, far too many to share. So, we will each focus on just one memory that truly stuck with us.
On the last day of sports camp, I witnessed a transformation of one of the campers named James. At the beginning of the week he was kind, but aggressive, impatient, and oftentimes a lot to handle. However, as the week of camp progressed, Tanner and I were able to spend a significant amount of time playing basketball and other sports with James. He was an incredible athlete who excelled in nearly every athletic venture, but was also a bully and ball hog because he knew of his excellence. Through example, Tanner and I were able to illustrate teamwork and patience. Slowly James picked up on the appropriate behaviors for athletics and became a great teammate and leader for the other students at camp. On the last day, we were able to play a game of tips (where you jump and throw a ball simultaneously) and connect with James though laughing and playing around. He was fairly hardened at the beginning of the week, threatening a girl and beating up on little kids, but at the end of the week he was soft and enjoyable. Though sports we were able to connect with James and illustrate appropriate behaviors within and without sports. It was truly a joy.
Click here for the full blog post.
---
A Coach Being Coached
August 1, 2016 l Bronson Bruneau, Duke Football
When I became one of the leaders in the “Coach for College” program, I, like everyone else, expected to be the coach. I could not have been more mistaken.
On paper our job description was significant. We were to teach the Vietnamese 8th and 9th graders lessons in various school subjects, instruct them in sports in which they had limited-to-no knowledge, and provide them with life skills that they could take with them for use in their futures.
Truth be told, this was not the case. No student in any of my physics classes ever understood a single word I said. Furthermore, every time I shouted, “Shoot it!” on the basketball court, all I received in return were blank stares. While at the end of the day, the kids may have understood the concepts of kinematics or mastered the art of shooting a basketball, it wasn't because of me. They learned it from the Vietnamese college students who were fluent in English and were tasked with the job of translating everything I said to the kids. To the kids I was the foreign giant they referred to as “Superman” who was fun to play with and laugh it. I loved it. While I provided a glimpse of an outside world different from their own, it proved I wasn't their “Coach.” On the surface I may have been teaching, in reality it was quite the opposite. They were teaching me, preparing me for my life back at Duke. They were my coaches.
Click here for Bruneau's full blog post.
---
Making Connections with Campers
August 1, 2016 l Jenna Frowein, Stanford Women's Gymnastics, Isabel Ruby-Hill, Duke Rowing and Anna Quinn, Duke Swimming & Diving
Throughout the camp, we saw a lot of improvements among the students. However, one camper that stood out a lot was a girl named Gina. Gina was the epitome of girl power: strong, sassy, and passionate. With her sense of power also came stubbornness, and her desire to beat every boy at everything, which came out a lot when we played sports together. At the beginning of camp, no matter the margin or the game, Gina would always find a reason why the other team was cheating. One of our goals of camp was to provide a fun environment where kids could be competitive but also happy no matter the outcome. Gina clearly was not happy when her team lost. Despite this characteristic, we all saw potential in her competitive attitude and desire to succeed. We praised the campers no matter how they did and showed enthusiasm to those who were the most positive and happy. After multiple games, Gina started to realize that the camp was for fun and she didn't have to be winning the game to be having a good time. Even though she didn't beat the boys in a relay race, she found her niche in jump rope and excelled in English. By the end of camp, Gina was constantly smiling and was a main leader on her team, always cheering others on and setting an example for her teammates.
Click here for the full blog post.
---
Memorialized in Photos and Children's Artwork
August 1, 2016 l Zeke Young, Duke Baseball and Jack Keelan, Stanford Men's Cross Country/Track & Field
So today was an interesting day to say the least. We lost about half our crew over night to a bad case of food poisoning / the flu. However, those who survived (including me and Zeke) carried on with the work at hand.
Our last task before leaving the CERS site was to contribute to the museum being set up on site to commemorate all the different projects that CERS has accomplished. So we wanted to design a cool picture exhibit at the CERS museum to showcase our success with the kids' summer camp that we put on the week before.
Click here for Young's full blog post.
---
For additional information on the ACE Program, visit www.ace.duke.edu.
#GoDuke
All six Blue Devils provided blogs on their experiences in China, which can be read below.
---
Where Are You Going?
August 9, 2016 l Colt Sessions, Duke Track & Field
I am waiting for my plane ride home, and I can't help but watch the people passing by. I see people young and old, casually walking by or quickly pacing past others. Some wear sweatpants and carry backpacks, while others wear suits and carry briefcases. I wonder, “Where are they going? Where have they been? What have they seen or what will they see soon?” Just three weeks ago I got on a plane in this same airport preparing for an epic adventure. I had only met some of my team, knew very little about China, and overall had no idea what would transpire over my three-week stay in Shangri-La. Now I sit here, already missing my team, missing our site at CERS, and missing the sense of adventure that encompassed the entirety of our trip.
I have so many experiences to share of my time, but will focus on my final adventure in China for now. On our last day, we traveled to a large and beautiful park within Chengdu, China. Within this park, people were found walking, playing games, paddle boating, fishing, and snacking on popsicles. Life was simple and joyful within the park. It was a place where people got lost in wonder, forgetting to worry or stress. It seemed to perfectly illustrate my experience in China. I was completely lost in wonder over the last three weeks. My attention was captured by beautiful hikes, stunning monasteries, and amazing moments with my team and with the people of Shangri-La. Curiosity had captured me.
Click here for Sessions's full blog post.
---
Get Lost
August 8, 2016 l Tanner Johnson, Duke Men's Track & Field
Wong How Man is an explorer. Ever since his early years in Hong Kong, he's been tapping into what he calls a universal sense of wonder and curiosity. You could say it all started with a bike, on which he wandered into virtually every crevice and corner of that historic island in his teens. After studying at the University of Wisconsin, a world away from the urban, fast-paced hub where he grew up, he returned to China as a photographer for The National Geographic, making quite the name for himself after documenting the true source of the Yangtze River. It was a months-long expedition following one of the lifebloods of China from its immense spout to a small, murky spring in Tibet.
After several other monumental expeditions to river sources in China, How Man founded CERS, the China Exploration and Research Society, turning his focus more towards preservation of culture and wildlife. We had the privilege of working alongside such a Chinese namesake at his headquarters in Gong Bin, a rural village near Zhongdian, Yunnan, known for its free-roaming yaks, delicious Matsutaki mushrooms, traditional Tibetan architecture, and strange sense of wonder it instills in all who visit. It's impossible to tame your curiosity.
Click here for Johnson's full blog post.
---
The Importance of Expressing Gratitude
August 8, 2016 l Zeke Young, Duke Baseball
When initially coming to China, there were many reasons to be excited: for example, new food, new people and a new way of life. All these things were in the forefront of my mind from the time I began to pack to the time we landed in Chengdu. Although all of these elements of the trip were experienced in full by myself and the rest of the team, these elements will most definitely not be the lasting thought or memory that will stay with me for years after this trip has come to a close.
The element of the trip that will stand the test of time in my memory will be the relationships that we as a team (and individually) have been able to make during our time here. The friendships and ties each member of our staff have been able to make with the locals are completely unlike any relationship I have ever made in my life. I think there's something to be said for being able to create a relationship that breaks the barriers of a language and culture separated by the entire length of the Pacific Ocean. The bond is unlike any I've ever made, and it is quite indescribable — but then again, how could you expect to be able to verbally describe a relationship in which no words are are spoken? It's almost as if each side has a mutual understanding and respect for the unknowns and differences between each individual. It's incredible.
Click here for Young's full blog post.
---
The Universal Language of Fun
August 2, 2016 l Tanner Johnson, Duke Men's Track & Field, & Arden Petit, Stanford Softball
Nobody really knew what to expect for camp. The goals were pretty simple: get local kids excited about playing sports, protecting their environment, and learning English. In the back of my mind, I anticipated maybe 10-15 kids showing up, some of whom would take away a positive experience from a week with a few foreign “big kids” who struggle to understand their language. What I didn't expect was this: thirty kids showing up an hour early every day to hang out with the ACE team and each other, constant enthusiasm about learning different colors and numbers, a contagious and competitive spirit that transcended communication barriers, and a whole lot of sad faces on the last day.
On day one, we gave all the kids English names. They were stoked. Paul and I sat together for a while working on new pronunciations. I'm sure we both looked pretty funny exaggerating sounds and mouth movements. While I helped Paul with English sounds, he reciprocated by helping me (not without my struggle) pronounce common Chinese phrases like, “ni hao” and “wo jiao Tanner.”
Click here for Johnson's full blog post.
---
Wrapping Up with Memories
August 2, 2016 l Colt Sessions, Duke Men's Track & Field, Ryan Smith, Stanford Men's Volleyball, and Domonique Panton, Duke Women's Track & Field
The past two weeks at CERS have been a time of reflection. We have spent our days wrapped up in action with planning, exploring, teaching, and coaching. Following our exciting days, we have wrapped up the nights listening to Drolma, Dr. Bill, and How Man reflect on their past explorations and experiences. It has been a pleasure to listen to each of them and to glean wisdom from their experiences. Now, as we wrap up our time here at CERS it is our time to reflect on the experiences and adventures that are coming to a close. Each of us has many memories of the last couple weeks, far too many to share. So, we will each focus on just one memory that truly stuck with us.
On the last day of sports camp, I witnessed a transformation of one of the campers named James. At the beginning of the week he was kind, but aggressive, impatient, and oftentimes a lot to handle. However, as the week of camp progressed, Tanner and I were able to spend a significant amount of time playing basketball and other sports with James. He was an incredible athlete who excelled in nearly every athletic venture, but was also a bully and ball hog because he knew of his excellence. Through example, Tanner and I were able to illustrate teamwork and patience. Slowly James picked up on the appropriate behaviors for athletics and became a great teammate and leader for the other students at camp. On the last day, we were able to play a game of tips (where you jump and throw a ball simultaneously) and connect with James though laughing and playing around. He was fairly hardened at the beginning of the week, threatening a girl and beating up on little kids, but at the end of the week he was soft and enjoyable. Though sports we were able to connect with James and illustrate appropriate behaviors within and without sports. It was truly a joy.
Click here for the full blog post.
---
A Coach Being Coached
August 1, 2016 l Bronson Bruneau, Duke Football
When I became one of the leaders in the “Coach for College” program, I, like everyone else, expected to be the coach. I could not have been more mistaken.
On paper our job description was significant. We were to teach the Vietnamese 8th and 9th graders lessons in various school subjects, instruct them in sports in which they had limited-to-no knowledge, and provide them with life skills that they could take with them for use in their futures.
Truth be told, this was not the case. No student in any of my physics classes ever understood a single word I said. Furthermore, every time I shouted, “Shoot it!” on the basketball court, all I received in return were blank stares. While at the end of the day, the kids may have understood the concepts of kinematics or mastered the art of shooting a basketball, it wasn't because of me. They learned it from the Vietnamese college students who were fluent in English and were tasked with the job of translating everything I said to the kids. To the kids I was the foreign giant they referred to as “Superman” who was fun to play with and laugh it. I loved it. While I provided a glimpse of an outside world different from their own, it proved I wasn't their “Coach.” On the surface I may have been teaching, in reality it was quite the opposite. They were teaching me, preparing me for my life back at Duke. They were my coaches.
Click here for Bruneau's full blog post.
---
Making Connections with Campers
August 1, 2016 l Jenna Frowein, Stanford Women's Gymnastics, Isabel Ruby-Hill, Duke Rowing and Anna Quinn, Duke Swimming & Diving
Throughout the camp, we saw a lot of improvements among the students. However, one camper that stood out a lot was a girl named Gina. Gina was the epitome of girl power: strong, sassy, and passionate. With her sense of power also came stubbornness, and her desire to beat every boy at everything, which came out a lot when we played sports together. At the beginning of camp, no matter the margin or the game, Gina would always find a reason why the other team was cheating. One of our goals of camp was to provide a fun environment where kids could be competitive but also happy no matter the outcome. Gina clearly was not happy when her team lost. Despite this characteristic, we all saw potential in her competitive attitude and desire to succeed. We praised the campers no matter how they did and showed enthusiasm to those who were the most positive and happy. After multiple games, Gina started to realize that the camp was for fun and she didn't have to be winning the game to be having a good time. Even though she didn't beat the boys in a relay race, she found her niche in jump rope and excelled in English. By the end of camp, Gina was constantly smiling and was a main leader on her team, always cheering others on and setting an example for her teammates.
Click here for the full blog post.
---
Memorialized in Photos and Children's Artwork
August 1, 2016 l Zeke Young, Duke Baseball and Jack Keelan, Stanford Men's Cross Country/Track & Field
So today was an interesting day to say the least. We lost about half our crew over night to a bad case of food poisoning / the flu. However, those who survived (including me and Zeke) carried on with the work at hand.
Our last task before leaving the CERS site was to contribute to the museum being set up on site to commemorate all the different projects that CERS has accomplished. So we wanted to design a cool picture exhibit at the CERS museum to showcase our success with the kids' summer camp that we put on the week before.
Click here for Young's full blog post.
---
For additional information on the ACE Program, visit www.ace.duke.edu.
#GoDuke
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