My name is Liza Hartman and I am currently an English teacher at Evergreen Valley High School in East San Jose. I have only lived in the area since August 2014, as I was living abroad (South Korea and Germany) for 4 years prior to my return to the US. I have traveled quite a bit (Europe, China, Brazil, all over the U.S., etc), and if you were to ask me “Where are you from?” it will take some time for me to answer; the short version is “I am from all over.” Additionally, I speak some Spanish, German, and Korean.
I really enjoy traveling, but one thing I didn’t want to do EVER was simply take students on a trip out of the country to sight-see. Going to museums, touring about taking pictures, enjoying local cuisine are great but also tend to be a bit shallow and superficial. So, when a student of mine (actually a GG Ambassador) approached me in 2014 about taking over the program, I was a bit hesitant but at the same time impressed by how eloquently she spoke about her experience with Global Glimpse. After giving it some thought, I agreed to speak with Marcela, one of the dynamic GG directors now in New York . After that conversation, I was sold!
I am now really looking forward to traveling to Riobamba, Ecuador as a Global Glimpse leader, my second trip with GG! To have the opportunity to be immersed in the culture, see how the locals really live and survive day-to-day, hear their stories, and be a part of someone else’s life, even for a moment, is absolutely priceless; and, to have this eye-opening experience when you are still in high school is priceless times ten! I am excited to see the growth that takes place in my delegation and myself during our trip!
I love your outlook! It sounds like the “kids” are in for a wonderful trip. 🙂