Thanks to an International Teacher, German and Filipino Cultures Come Together in Arizona
One of Greenheart’s Teach USA teachers, Allan Rogelio Sobrevilla, Jr., from the Philippines and teaching in Arizona, explains how he and fellow teachers celebrated World Teachers’ Day back in October.
For over 40 years, Tempe Sister Cities has been hosting the annual Oktoberfest celebration. Oktoberfest is a three-day outdoor festival currently held at Tempe Town Lake.
Originally started as a way to honor Bavarian Sister City of Regensburg, Germany, Oktoberfest draws a crowd to enjoy the volunteer-produced event. Tempe Sister Cities is a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization, which means that all donations can be allocated directly toward achieving the mission of promoting global goodwill and cultural understanding not only for the people of Tempe but for all the volunteers and participants of the said event.
Oktoberfest is held during the second weekend of October and has been the source of funding for almost 700 student exchange participants since the early 1970s. As a teacher and an exchange participant from my country, The Philippines, it is also my social obligation to render such volunteerism in joining the said event to help young students to gain more knowledge and experience outside of their comfort zone. We celebrated Teacher’s day as well in the said event by sharing our volunteer participation as ticket booth seller and checker. Different races of different origin gathered together in the event to share experiences and exchange knowledge from everyone.
Meeting new friends and gaining and widening the network and linkages are the good and positive outcome of the said event. To us, sharing our culture to others was also learning cultures from them.
Thank you Allan for sharing your story! And thanks to all the teachers who give so much of themselves to teach and make the world a better, smarter place!