A Few Points of Growth from the Pass Year

The first thing I did on US soil was spend the morning sitting down in my neighborhood cafe, drinking the rich french press I missed in Thailand and journaling through everything I experienced in Thailand. I began making a list of I had learned in Thailand.

Introspectively:
If I don't journal I can't fully capitalize on my experiences and I miss out on much learning (makes sense that reflection is pat of the learning model)
I'm not as patient as I think I am (especially in stressful situations)
I thrive in a strong social community where I feel I can be extroverted
I like to live in the "I wish I had done this land"
I need to stay intellectually stimulated through readings and conversation
I have a hard time keeping myself physically active without a bike
When I don't properly address the above two points I become stagnated
I am still very dependent on esteem (i.e. earned esteem from colleges, friends, students, for work, ideas etc.)

Skills:
Facilitating a meeting

• Important to keep moving
  
• Remember the goals of the meeting and adapt according. Don't get tied to the activities of the meeting if they are not working out
• Take a break if you are unsure how to move things forward
• Be honest about your goals
  

Facilitating a discussion

• Model: What Happened → Why → What Next/Implications/How can we use this new information
• Use small/simple/accessible questions
• Have an rough outline or idea of where you want to take the discussion. Use this outline but focus on building on what people say rather than using it as a crutch.

Education should be founded in respect and lovingness of the people you teach and work with. Skills and learned knowledge should be built off this foundation.

The challenge of group process (or working as a group) is to first find and then develop the ability within ourselves to respect each other, and the ability to appreciate the other.

Social justice work stems from the anti-oppression work. Groups with a good working process or dynamic are merely efficient. Groups with good working process or dynamic and a focus on the never ending exploration of anti-oppression are bringing us closer to a just society.


I think that's all I'll post for now.