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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 5, 2015)
B2 News Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, August 5, 2015 Exchanging ideas and culture By Angel Carpenter Blue Mountain Eagle JOHN DAY – Google Translate has been a useful computer tool for some lo- cal families hosting Chinese students for the past three weeks. It’s helped 11 students, ages 15 to 17, and two teach- ers from Shiquan in Shaanxi Province, China, communi- cate with their host families in the John Day area. The students have been busy, taking a few lessons in Spanish, art and welding at Grant Union Junior-Se- nior High School; horse- back riding at the South- worth Ranch in Seneca; jet boating on the Snake Riv- er; touring Eastern Oregon University (EOU) in La Grande; and visiting the water park in Boise. Grant School District No. 3 Superintendent Curt Shelley, assisting the visi- tors, said the students and teachers are enjoying their stay. Speaking of the stu- dents, he said, “They’re loving the freedom to make individual choices, and they’re very polite, re- spectful and appreciative - there are a lot of people vested in these kids (par- ents and grandparents) and backing this experience.” Wang Sigi “Katty” Favorite activity in China: TV and computer games Favorite activity in America: Chatting with our host family Favorite American food: Spaghetti Cultural difference you’ve noticed: In China, we like to eat hot and flavorful food. There are more sweets here. Also people like cold water here – room temperature in China. Chen Yu “Mary” Favorite activity in China: Reading Favorite activity in America: Trampoline and sleeping (We have many activities here and feel tired.) Favorite American food: Pizza Cultural difference you’ve noticed: Americans pay more attention to hands-on practice (such as welding), and we learn about things from a book. Eleven students and two teachers are also staying with host families in Bak- er City with Baker School District Superintendent Mark Witty overseeing the group there. Witty preced- The Eagle/Angel Carpenter The Chinese foreign exchange students gather outside Grant Union Junior-Senior High School in John Day last Wednesday. The group planned a trip to Jack Southworth’s Seneca ranch for lunch and horse riding that day. See more photos at www.MyEagleNews.com. ed Shelley as Grant School District superintendent. They said the long- term goal is for Chinese students to attend Grant Union for the 2016-17 school year. The hope is the students will go on to pass the Ga- okao, China’s national college entrance exam, and return to attend EOU, or another U.S. college of their choice. Part of the envisioned plan includes some Grant Union students eventually visiting Shiquan for about two weeks. The idea for the for- eign exchange program began when Witty partic- ipated in an administrator job-shadow exchange with Dong Cai’an, an elemen- tary school principal from Shiquan. Dong visited John Day for 10 days in January, and Witty spent 10 days in Chi- Huang Bijie “Jessica” Favorite activity in China: Walking, time with my parents Favorite activity in America: Trampoline and shooting Favorite American food: Soup Cultural difference you’ve noticed: People line up in places such as the water park (and are polite) Huang Jiale “Thompson” Favorite activity in China: Soccer and basketball Favorite activity in America: Hang out with others and visit with them Favorite American food: Salad Cultural difference you’ve noticed: Eating habits – using forks instead of chopsticks na in March. While in China, Witty Celebration of Life August 15th at Holliday Park Potluck lunch from 1pm-4pm Come help the Springer Family celebrate the life and achievements of Supplies and drinks will be furnished. 02461 M ILLER C OORS BREWING “ Blue Jeans and Country Dreams ” Echanis Distributing C Co o m p a n y Your local Beer & Wine Wholesale for over 45 Years had a close view of the stu- dents’ rigorous schedules. He estimates only 55 percent of Shiquan students make it to high school (for grades 10 through 12). The rest move on to jobs that don’t require higher educa- tion. High school students be- gin their day at 7 a.m. for exercises together and have classes until noon. After a two-hour break, classes continue until 5 p.m. fol- lowed by a tutorial from 7 to 10 p.m. “If they’re a se- nior, they’ll have study hall with teachers at the school on Saturday and all day on Sunday,” Witty said. Witty said he and Dong see wisdom in the planned exchange program for the opportunity it will give to all the students involved. “Ultimately, it allows our students to get a pic- ture over time,” Witty said. “For the Chinese students, it’s a good way to see how Americans actually live and an opportunity to practice English. We get a similar opportunity to be exposed to another culture and ultimately to recognize that we’re very similar – our hopes and dreams are similar.” Witty said he and Prin- cipal Dong developed a friendship and a trust and from there created the ex- change program. The Chinese students are in John Day for a few Tang Yulun “Jerry” Favorite activity in China: Basketball, computer games Favorite activity in America: Basketball Favorite American food: Hamburgers and sandwiches Cultural difference you’ve noticed: In China, the environment is more polluted, in America it’s a good environment. Gao Anjie “Summer” Favorite activity in China: Sports and reading books Favorite activity in America: Going for walks Favorite American food: Spaghetti Cultural difference you’ve noticed: Daily life in America is more relaxed. In China, we have much things to do every day. more days before traveling to San Francisco to see the sights then fly home. They will visit the Grant County Fair this week. Susie and Jason Sny- der, of John Day, have had their college-age children home this summer and are hosting three Chinese boys from the exchange pro- gram. “We are having a ball with them,” said Susie. Their family recently in- vited friends Bill and Lori Wyllie and their two Chi- nese girls over for a spa- ghetti dinner. “They were out playing hide-n-go-seek and red- light green-light,” Susie said. “We sat out on the deck, and everybody had a great time; they’re very en- ergetic and open to trying new things.” The two families have made plans to hike Straw- berry Mountain and vis- it Ritter Hot Springs together. Susie said she’s been learning some Chinese words for “please” and “thank you,” as well as oth- ers. “They’ve been very gracious,” she said. “You can tell when you said it wrong – they laugh, and we laugh right along with them.” “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” - Helen Keller There are endless benefits to becoming a volunteer. Whether you can donate hours or minutes, you are valued. Join us on August 20th at 5:30 pm at The Outpost in John Day to learn how your special skills can help Grant-Harney County CASA. ... and other fine beers and wines Call Bob Blake anytime at 541-575-1170 PAINT RECYCLING MADE easy Do you know where to recycle your paint? 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