By Abby Turnick
McNicholas students recently had the chance to travel over 16 hours to China to both teach Chinese students about American culture and to learn and experience Chinese culture from their students.
On Nov. 10, 18 students from our program and 3 faculty members from McNicholas High School flew to Nanjing, China to talk about American culture and teach what it means to be an American. The program they worked with was called Discover Jiangsu American Youth Ambassadors. To get around, the students were bussed and when they first arrived, the students were able to shop in groups and get dinner. This trip not only gave them a chance to see China but become closer with classmates they didn’t know as well before. English teacher Mr. Dan Freeman said, “The students had tons of opportunities for bonding, and they really did.”
In the mornings they had time to explore and go to different museums and shops. One museum they visited gave them a look on how China builds their trains. In the afternoon, they would go to schools and talk about America and also get to hear a little bit about what it’s like to live in China. Sophomore Eliza Shanley said, “Some things we talked about to the kids were our classes and our favorite foods or sports.” They got to interact with the kids and talk to them about what they liked as well. “I got to talk with a second grader and was surprised that he was fluent in his English,” Freeman said.
The students not only had to adjust their sleep schedule, but also the food they ate. While they were there, they tried several different foods like duck and jellyfish, but they also had some foods also in the U.S. such as cooked spinach and fried rice. Sophomore Annie Mulvaney said, “I really enjoyed getting to try new things and thought everything was really good, but my favorite was the fried rice. It tasted much better in China than in America.”
McNicholas was not only able to give students a new experience, but an experience for other children around the world who live life differently. Teacher, Art Department Chair, and International Student Coordinator Ms. Mel Gaskins said, “My favorite part about China was watching the students meet new people and gain new friends.”
The McNicholas Milestone 