Humor in Service-Learning, a serious business...

On a Lighter Note: Humor in the Service-Learning Experience

International Service-Learning can be overwhelmingly serious at times as students wrestle with issues of power, unearned privilege, social justice, and cultural imperialism. It’s in moments like these that I remember how humor can bring balance and perspective to the weightier issues of service-learning. Bell hooks (2010) writes that positive humor can bring healing, equanimity, and openness to the classroom. The shared experiences of an international service-learning team can range from profound to light-hearted, especially when we laugh at ourselves and our own reactions to new situations.

And so, I wrote an Ode to the Cockroach Coach as a light-hearted way of seeing what for some might have been a traumatic event (the train ride from Kanyakumari to Madurai with more cockroaches than we could count). When we are able to laugh at our reactions to hardships or even petty events, we find new freedom and positive energy. The ode was written so that students could laugh at their reactions and over-reactions to less than pleasant conditions on the train across India.

Ode to Cockroach Coach

From Kanyakumari to great Madurai,

We count up the critters,

My friends and I.

Cockroaches crawling all over the train

As we play, “would you rather…”,

Bam! There’s a new stain.

There’s one over your shoulder!

There’s one in your hair.

Ewwww. Cockroaches, cockroaches everywhere.

Slap! goes a sandal.

Smack! The bug is down.

The travellers around us disapprove with a frown.

Gina got forty!

Matthew got ten!

How many want to play this game again?

Anyone? Anyone?

Anyone at all?

The train is leaving…final call.

No? well, don’t worry

If you didn’t play.

Maybe you’ll ride another day.

On the Cockroach Coach

from Kanyakumari to Madurai,

We count up the hits,

My friends and I.

And as we pull into the station,

We heave a sigh.

Though no one is sorry to say, “Good-bye”

To the Cockroach Coach

from Kanyakumari to Madurai.

I think one goal of service-learning trips is to try to maintain balance. In our enthusiasm to respond to the needs at Mother Teresa Home, we returned the next day with more than what Sister Jennifer had asked. In our good intentions to be generous, we inadvertently created chaos. I forgot my plan of action when we got to Mother House and the women swarmed us. Though we could have listened better to what the needs were and could have executed our plan in a more organized manner, I don’t believe we did permanent damage. My teammates were beside themselves with approbation at the minor fiasco. Though I recognize that service-learners can create more problems than they help, I think maintaining a sense of humor can bring much needed perspective and balance to a serious situation. To my team members, I’d like to say, “Lighten up!” By all means, remain sensitive to the needs of those we are trying to serve, but do not get so lost in the gravity of the circumstances that you cannot laugh at yourself or our foibles and mistakes.

Reading Resources

Barnet, S. and Bedau, H. (2004). From Critical Thinking to Argument: a Portable Guide.

Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s.

Chisholm, Linda A. [ed.] (2005). Knowing and doing: The theory and practice of service-

learning. International Partnership for Service-Learning and Leadership.

Chisholm, L. (2003). Partnerships for international service-learning. In B. Jacoby and

Associates (Eds.). Building partnerships for service-learning, pp. 259-288. San

Francisco: Jossey Bass.

Crabtree, R. (2008). Theoretical foundations for international service-learning. Michigan Journal

of Community Service Learning, 15(1), 18-36.

Cress, C. Collier, P., Reitenauer, V., & Associates (2005). Learning through serving: A student

guidebook for service-learning across the disciplines. Sterling, VA: Stylus Publishing,

LLC.

Freire, P. (2000). Pedagogy of the Oppressed: 30^th Anniversary Edition. New York:

Continuum.

Hooks, b. (2010). Teaching Critical Thinking. New York: Routledge.

Lutterman-Aguilar, A., & Gingerich, O. (2002). Experiential pedagogy for study abroad:

Educating for global citizenship. Frontiers: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study

Abroad, 8, 41-82.

Montrose, Lynne. (2002). International study and experiential learning: The academic context.

Frontiers, Winter, 1-15.

Parker, B. & Dautoff, D. (2007). Service-learning and study abroad: Synergistic learning

opportunities. Michigan Journal of Community Service Learning, 13(2), 40-53.

Sperling, R. (2007). Service-Learning as a Method of teaching Multiculturalism to White College Students. Journal of latinos and Education, 6 (4): 309-322.