Explorra is a Web 2.0 tool that I believe can be heavily utilized in the Hockaday Residence Department. Explorra is a site that helps you explore different countries and brings the world to your fingertips. Currently, we have students that come and study from about 10 countries throughout the world. With this tool the staff and domestic students can learn more about the homes of the international students. Sometimes when girls first arrive to our boarding program they are a little shy about sharing about their home countries because they think we may have preconceived opinions. I have not had a chance to visit any of their countries but anything that gives me a chance to learn more about the girls and connect with them is wonderful to me. The main parts that I enjoy on the site are the vivid pictures, the sections on etiquette and national holidays, local foods.
From Jamaica to Japan it is great to actually “see” some of the beautiful places the girls are from since I have not been about to travel to those places yet. It is pretty huge to understand some of the etiquette from the girls’ home countries. It can help you understand where some of the students’ behavior is coming from. Many things that I have observed from the girls from South Korea made since to me after reading about that country. Another way we like to connect with the girls is with their national holidays. For example, some of the Chinese girls will like to celebrate Lunar New Year. That is usually a holiday were families get together and since they are so far from home it can be fun to bring a piece of home to them in Dallas. It is always great to read about their traditions and customs. Another way to connect with the girls is with food. The girls also love cooking their traditional dishes and sharing them with the community. It is interesting to read about difference in cuisine around the world.
The great thing about this site is that the users can contribute information about the different countries and that some of the pictures are coming from Flickr. On Explorra there is interaction and sharing and that continues to supply information in real time.
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