The China Exchange: Students Put One Foot in Two Worlds
NEIRAD enilno edition
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Think you’re under a lot of pressure? Try living in China. In a nation of 1.3 billion people with a limited number of universities, jobs, and resources, school children are forced to work harder than ever. Hosting one of the students from Qingdao #58 High School in China made me think twice about these aspects of American life that I take for granted.
The Chinese delegation, which arrived on September 27, consisted of 15 students and two teachers. The group stayed with a Darien family who had a child enrolled at DHS. Huang Yutong or “Jing Jing,” the student my family hosted, became a sister in the two weeks she lived with us, and that closeness allowed me to gain an understanding of her life in China.
When they weren't being whisked off to interviews, meetings, or field trips, the Chinese guests went to class with their host students.
On one of these days, Mrs. Lynda Sorensen’s honors sophomore English class took time out of its busy schedule to ask two of the students a few questions. Once the inevitable translation difficulties were cleared away (“the Americans talk very fast!”), the class uncovered similarities between their lives and those of the Chinese students. In response to the question, “what do you do when you’re not in school?” the boy known as Mike answered, “sleep.” The class, half of which could have fallen asleep on the spot, laughed knowingly.
All of the similarities on a personal level, however, served to provide greater contrast between the issues in our lives affected by both society and government.
Further questioning revealed that the Chinese students are in class each day until 10 p.m. Even though it’s not required, almost everyone comes to school on Saturday to study because of the immense workload. Sunday is the students’ one free day, but, in a school where most of the 2,500 students are boarders, it is their one opportunity a week to see their family. Not surprisingly, these kids have almost no time for sports or recreation. To a school like Darien High School, where over 70% of the student body plays at least one season of a sport, the idea is unimaginable.
As rare as a boys soccer team might be in Qingdao, a girls team is virtually unheard of. The first Sunday she was at our house, Jing Jing was awestruck when my sister entered the kitchen in her soccer uniform—cleats, shin guards, and all. Her mouth still slightly open, Jing Jing commented, “what a colorful life.”
The Chinese government is very present in the lives of its people. Asking the students about Tiananmen Square elicited replies of, “it’s very pretty,” and “yes, I’ve been there.” These students appeared to know nothing about the Tiananmen Square massacre that left hundreds if not thousands dead on June 4, 1989. The lack of knowledge of this major event in their country’s recent history may be explained by China’s efforts to erase the incident because it reflects poorly on the communist government.
Public dissent or speaking negatively of the current or past governments is not allowed. Arriving home one day and finding the book Out of Mao’s Shadow on the counter, Jing Jing gave a gasp of comprehension upon recognizing Mao’s name. “He is a bad man.” When I asked if she would be allowed to say that in China, she told me “only at home, and sometimes with my friends, if we are quiet.” In a society where jibes at the current American administration are common, the idea of not being able to speak out is laughable yet with a sardonic edge.
The recent exchange with students from Qingdao #58 school allowed us Americans to connect with Chinese students who weren’t all that different from us. At the same time, hearing about the lives they lead in China made me appreciate the one I lead in America that much more. The next time I start complaining about the stress and pressure of school, I’m going to stop and be thankful my school gets out at 2:17p.m., not 10 p.m.
Read about last year's China exchange program