Chinese students taste US hospitality over Spring Festival
By Zachary Dye (ec.js.edu.cn) Updated：2017-02-22
The students arrive at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport on Jan 14. [Photo/CEA]
A group of 20 middle school students from the Chinese cities of Wuxi, Shanghai and Ganzhou participated in an international study tour from Jan 14 to Feb 3, traveling abroad to the US city of Chicago, Illinois to spend the Spring Festival holiday immersed in American culture.
The annual study tour was organized by Culture Exchange Academy (CEA), a nonprofit organization specializing in the administration of international education exchanges for students worldwide. Founded by CEO and Wuxi native Kevin Mao, CEA has been organizing study tours from China since 2013.
“In a world that is increasingly diverse, we want to introduce and integrate people of different cultures,” said Ryan Kracht, CEA regional marketing director.
Over the course of three weeks, the students attended classes at St Viator Middle School and the St Robert Bellarmine School of Chicago, gaining firsthand experience with American education philosophy and forging fast friendships with local youths.
Chinese students visit the famous Cloud Gate sculpture in Chicago’s Millennium Park during the 2017 study tour organized by Culture Exchange Academy. [Photo/CEA]
With supplementary visits to the University of Chicago, the Chicago Museum of Science and Chicago’s Millennium Park, the young Chinese pupils spent their weekends taking in all of the rich culture the American mid-western city has to offer. The students were even able to attend a live NBA sports event at Chicago’s United Center to watch the Bulls face off against the Sacramento Kings.
“I like American school because it is very relaxed. The food is good, and the lifestyle is easy,” said Qian Runqi, a student participating on the CEA study tour from Wuxi No1 Girls Middle School. “My host family was also very kind and friendly.”
Although these young Chinese middle-schoolers missed ringing in the Year of the Rooster back home, they were all graciously welcomed into the households of local Chicago families during their stay. The host families provided warmth and hospitality for their esteemed guests, offering the students a true glimpse into American lifestyle. In turn, the Chinese youths shared their treasured culture with these families and newfound American friends during their three week stay, forging deep ties and lifelong memories with one another through meaningful exchanges.
