If given the opportunity to leave your hometown for three full years to share your knowledge and culture with students in another part of the world, would you accept the challenge? Marylou Abalo and Veronica Soan of the Philippines did through an exchange visitor program called Educational Partners International (EPI), where Abalo was honored in 2023 as Teacher of the Year for her work at Horrell Hill Elementary School in Hopkins, South Carolina.
The following year, Abalo and Soan joined StoryCorps to discuss the courage it takes to venture to unfamiliar places, about sharing their own culture while learning about new ones here in the Palmetto State, and their passion for education.
TRANSCRIPT:
Soan: I love it.
Abalo: What made you love the teaching profession?
Soan: It's just full of adventure, you know? Every day it's a different episode, and it's just fulfilling. That's what made me not just like it, but love it. And actually, I learned a lot from you, too. Being the teacher of the year in one of our school year, you've given an impact to everyone. And hats off to you for sharing what you know.
Abalo: Oh, thank you. Well, I didn't expect that award. I mean, I think loving the craft and the profession that you have, embracing what you are in school, I think that made all the difference.
Soan: Speaking of the craft, can you share your experience teaching elementary school students in the Philippines?
Abalo: It's easier. You're a native Filipino. You teach these kids and, you know, you understand their culture. The thing that I miss because I get the chance to speak our own language. It's more of, like, your comfort zones when you teach in the Philippines because you're from the Philippines. How about you?
Soan: Yeah. I totally agree with you. The cultural background, really, it's really different. It really affects you teaching in another country. I love Columbia. I love South Carolina. It's close to home. The dish, the culture, the values, and the food, and the weather.
Abalo: This may be funny, but one of the things that I'm very afraid of is the snow, the cold. It's not really about, like, how will I adjust to the culture, it's just like, how will I adjust to the snow? So, I'm glad South Carolina did not snow a lot. So that was a perfect thing. But overall, I think United States…I'm very grateful. I have…my lens for this country is very positive. It's not perfect, but I can see that they help a lot of people like us, like me, who wants to travel, who wants to do some adventure, and, for a person who is so afraid of everything. But, it gave me power, it gave me purpose, and I am so grateful for that. I am so grateful for that. And I think I can say that, sometimes being afraid to do something out of the box is something that you need to settle or to resolve in your mind, because it may not be perfect, but it's worth exploring the world, the different culture, the diversity of people, and you can see and it's just a matter of perspective.
Soan: Yeah, I agree.
