During three nights this fall, our middle school students were taken on a virtual cross-cultural trip around the world. CEEF-funded Global Connections provided an enriching experience to middle-school language students, as well as the numerous community members who attended the “Hear our Stories” sessions.

September and October discussions featured Maine residents from Central and South America, Ethiopia, Somalia, Germany, Samoa, Sweden, Romania,&  Bulgaria. November's final evening featured speakers from Pakistan, India, Turkey and Somalia. Immigrant guest-speakers shared their memories of first impressions in the United States, cultural differences between their homelands and Maine, and told the tale of their journeys from away to their new Maine homes. Many brought along beautiful and diverse artifacts from their native countries, such as artisan jewelry, musical instruments, and indigenous weapons.