This morning, each group set out across the city in a race to complete a large number of tasks. Take buses, navigate the subway, buy train tickets, order food, interview strangers, and more! The fastest team wins boba tea 🙂
Our group was first to depart.
The bank definitely didn’t like $20 bills and they gave a worse rate if the bills were wrinkled. Picture above is a bank employee inspecting each bill.
This was my favorite moment from the day. We’re sitting outside the museum, about halfway through the race and before we go in Dez gathered everyone together for a pep talk. Each student was assigned a role (leader, navigator, accountant, translator, reporter) but Dez was in his element as navigator all day. Like a quarterback running a hurry up offense he deftly assigned a game plan for attacking the museum. “We’ll split up. You find the flag, you track down the portrait. We’ll meet back in front. Break!”
I was most impressed with how quickly each student figured out how the subway works. How to buy a token, how to transfer lines, how to make sure you’re going the correct direction down the line. Early on they exited a station on accident before boarding, but employees were quick to radio a help desk and escort us back where we needed to go. And after we were done with the race, Nora and Maya had the confidence to ask if they could take the subway to a nearby shopping center on their own. Kojo thought it best that they not do this on the first day, but I appreciated their courage.