Dear Glimpsers,

Great to meet you, I’m Mr. Stegeman and I will be joining you for the upcoming trip to Nicaragua. My first year of teaching has been a great one, and I’m looking forward to our trip being the icing on the cake! Travel is a subject near and dear to my heart, and I can’t tell you all how excited I am to be taking this journey with all of you! I feel honored to be involved with Global Glimpse, as I feel that travelling and learning to become positive world citizens are experiences that are worth their weight in gold for high school students. I’ve learned a lot in my travels, and I look forward to passing that knowledge onto the group, while embracing any new opportunities to continue the learning process. I’d also like to recognize each and every one of you for being willing to remove yourself from your comfort zone and embracing this incredible opportunity. We have many fun times ahead, and I’m looking forward to meeting each of you.

Sincerely,

Mr. Stegeman

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Hello Glimpsers!  I feel honored to have been welcomed into the GG community!  As I prepare for our journey together, I am reflecting on what excites me most about our upcoming trip.  I am excited to see you grow as leaders, and to see you collaborate to produce a final service-learning project that is creative and reflective of your rich experiences in-country.  Additionally, I hope we all get to soak in the volcanoes, green mountains, rich biodiversity, and cool climate of Matagalpa.  I so look forward to learning about the sustainable farming practices, taste Matagalpa’s famous coffee, and savor sweet, fried plantains daily!

To share a little about me, I am a 3rd year  biology teacher at Yerba Buena High School in East San Jose, California,  where I grew up after immigrating to the US from Vietnam in 1994. I am most proud of how much I love my work. As a science teacher in an urban, low income neighborhood, I get to test my creativity at designing rigorous  science lessons that simultaneously question social injustices.  On top of that, I get to revel in my students’ humor, compassion, and creative ideas on a daily basis! I feel very privileged.

I cannot wait to experience a great trip with my fellow Glimpsers! As we journey together, I aim to smile, remain positive, and prioritize my students’ needs to ensure a successful experience. I hope to see you maintain your enthusiasm, respect, and humility,  all while producing high-quality work throughout the program.

Vamonos!

Ms. Hoang