In the Assembly of May 25, Yvonne presented to fellow 9th graders about her unique experiences living in Tibet.

Unlike the typical routine most have when touring a place—living in hotels, spending days going to major sites in the location—Yvonne had a different experience. She had spent about a month in a cottage with local people, doing work with them in the land. She recalled going to the nearby village to buy food every morning. The immersive experience brought her several insights. Firstly, she came to know the living conditions of a Tibetan, as well as how it is like living like this. Secondly, she understood some aspects of the sociocultural aspects of Tibet: people are very religious, and often offer the best of their food to the worshipped. Even when they may be living through hard times, they still attain their religiousness and devotion.

This is "real" tourism, Yvonne concluded. By actually living in a local’s house, Yvonne had witnessed and experienced a greater portion of the indigenous culture than "standard" tourism or recreation may offer. If one is to have a deeper understanding of culture, then this minshuku-type trip is undoubtedly worth considering.

(Written by Ryogo Picture by Katherine Xu Supervised by Hazel Gu Reviewed by Qian Zuo)