The First BCB Program Letters Have Been Sent!

Mike Lynch
Nov 14, 2017
2 min read

...and they're off!

The first and initial package of letters of the Building Cultural Bridges program are currently in transit from Namibia to the United States.

After a series of meetings, international phone calls, some FaceTime sessions, first drafts, second drafts, yes, even third drafts that had to be written again (have to make a good first impression, right?), the polished introductory letters from the Grade 5 and 6 Students of Oranjemund Private School were signed, sealed, and are currently being delivered.

"Having the students and their teacher walk with me to the post office to deliver the envelopes full of letters was pretty cool. I kept asking what the students wrote about and finding out that each letter was significantly different from the others...each learner wrote in their own style and personality which I think will really help make a great first impression on the American students once they get the letters."

That's what Brett told Educators of America Executive Director, Mike Lynch, over a phone call earlier today discussing the logistics of getting the letters from Namibia to the United States.

We're beyond excited for the letters to arrive at the Educators of America's mailbox so we can then deliver them to their designated Building Cultural Bridges program American counterparts. The anticipation level from the Namibian students on receiving the responses from the American students is at an all-time high.

"The ability to be patient is really going to be tested but with the end of school getting closer and exams coming up, it may help distract them from the waiting." This was said by one of the teachers at OPS involved with the facilitation of the Building Cultural Bridges program. Since the Namibian school year starts mid-January and ends early December, students are preparing for their final exams and for summer break. Up here in the Northern Hemisphere where the temperatures are falling and the holidays are right around the corner, students are in the midst of their school year, patiently waiting for Thanksgiving break.

We're expecting the letters from the Namibian students to arrive (hopefully) before Thanksgiving break so the teachers and educators involved in the program are able to distribute the letters, let the students read them over the break, develop a response and mail them back just in time for Christmas.

Once the American students receive their letters, we will be writing a blog post on their initial thoughts on getting a letter from a foreign student and what differences and similarities they have. Stay tuned for more from the Building Cultural Bridges program as it progresses!

Patience is a virtue. Check out the gallery below for some more pictures of the stroll to the post office for mailing out the first batch of the BCB Program letters.