By Monica Holmes
Circulation Manager

Dozens of students. Two countries. One global partnership.

The China Partnership Program was established at this school six years ago. This year the program welcomed 13 Chinese students from Meicun Senior High School in Wuxi, China for the Partnership’s fourth U.S. visit.

Throughout their visit to the Outer Banks, the Chinese students immersed themselves in American culture and shared information with local students about their lives in China.

Sophomore Miranda Barker enjoyed learning what her Chinese student thought about visiting America for the first time and experiencing a routine school day at an American School.

“My Chinese student said that we had a lot of freedom because at her school they have to wear uniforms and are only allowed to come home two days a week, due to the fact that they live at their school,” Barker said.

While here, the Chinese students visited numerous local landmarks including Jockey’s Ridge, the Wright Brothers National Memorial and the N.C. Aquarium. The China Partnership also hosted a dance after school for the Chinese students as a way for them to meet and interact with other students. At the dance these students were able to interact with the Wuxi partners and ask them questions about their culture and lifestyle.

“Our school has so little diversity that it is essential that we make global interactions with other countries,” said Jane Shipman, English teacher and founder of the partnership.

Although hosting a foreign student who may have difficulty understanding the English language is challenging, many students who participated said this was an incredible experience.

“Having a person I had never met stay at my house was stressful at first. I didn’t know how well her English would be or if she would feel comfortable in such a different environment than what she was used to,” sophomore Mary Margaret Warner said. “In the end it was an amazing experience and I really loved having her stay with me.”

“This year we are going (earlier in the year), because our spring break is winter in China and we were all freezing the entire time (the last time we were there),” Shipman said.

Throughout their visit the students will be immersing themselves in Chinese culture as well as learning all that they can possibly learn about the Wuxi community.

“On the trip to China, I am mostly looking forward to experiencing a culture that is drastically different from our own,” senior Spencer Wilkinson said.

As the Partnership students travel through the major cities, they will visit many historic landmarks including the Terracotta Warriors, The Great Wall of China, The Forbidden City, and the Oriental Pearl TV Tower.

While visiting their sister school, students will stay in Chinese students homes and the teachers will stay in teacher housing on campus. Construction teacher Skip Saunders will also be traveling with Shipman and the students.

“Every trip is different because the students that are experiencing it are different,” Shipman said. “I get to experience it again and again through different eyes.”

The trip to China will cost each student $2,500. In an effort to reduce the price, the Partnership is holding numerous fundraisers such as pancake dinners and car washes.

“We are going to do fundraising to help pay for the trip. It is very costly to travel so far,” Warner said. “I hope the school will help support our fundraising.”

This foreign exchange is crucial and many students agree that these experiences have allowed them to become more globally aware.

While attending college students will be exposed to a multitude of different ethnic backgrounds and it is important to be aware of other peoples cultures and traditions, according to senior Claire Thomas.

Senior Matthew Mahler, who serves as Partnership Community Co-liaison, believes that it is important to form these global relationships early, so that in the future other countries will cooperate together easily. “Social exchange between these two countries is a necessity,” Mahler said. “We will be interacting together whether we like it or not.”

Send comments to holmesmo0626@daretolearn.org