Educational Exchange at Nanjing Foreign Language Academy

In a lot of ways, our week in Nanjing was the most transformative and engaging part of the trip--and not just because the teachers got a break from the students! =) During this week, our Marble Hill students stayed with a Chinese host family, allowing them to interact with Chinese life in a way that tourists never really can. Sending them off to their families for the weekend as a little bit like saying goodbye to our kids, though! How weird not to see them for two days...

Our first morning reunited was fun--it basically entailed the kids comparing notes on what each house had and what they'd eaten for breakfast, and they quickly realized that there's just as much variety among Chinese households as there is among American. After fueling up in the school cafeteria, they were off to classes to see what Chinese school is really like. Let's just say we heard a lot of "the teachers talk the whole time!", "they have way too much homework", and "can we have 10-minute cookie breaks, too?"

Eventually, we settled into a routine of attending the cultural classes Nanjing Academy prepared for us: Wushu (martial arts), calligraphy, pottery, bamboo dance, and ping pong! We pretty much discovered that Keyla has a secret Chinese gene and is good at everything.

Of course, we couldn't miss the sightseeing spots in Nanjing either. We hit up...

 Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall (where the father of China himself is buried)

 The Nanjing Massacre Museum 

(commemorating the suffering caused by the Japanese attack on Nanjing in 1937)

 Confucius Temple Area 

(there is a temple there, but really, it just seemed like the place to shop and hang out)

We also had our bonding moments with the group, including hot pot, karaoke, and some kind of traditional Nanjing style small dish meal (there were 16 tiny bowls for each of us), during which Tim and Michael raced to see who could eat the most duck blood pudding.

It's amazing to see that teenagers from such different cultures can bond so quickly! I guess young people share certain qualities and concerns the world round. Throughout our whole experience, Ms Lo and I remained very impressed with our own students' curiosity, patience, and maturity in each new encounter with Chinese culture. They were as adventurous as we could hope them to be and fearless in trying such new things as frog legs and fish eyes. They really understood why we encouraged them to mingle with the Chinese students instead of forming their own little American clique and displayed impressive leadership in doing so. Go Marble Hillians! As for us teachers, this was a rare and wonderful opportunity to see our students grow right before our eyes.

Ms. M

Life in Nanjing

Peter picked me up with his uncle. We went to his grandparents’ house who were preparing a meal for me. Homemade cChinese dumplings! So before the food was ready, Peter and I walked around a bit. I met their 4-month-old dog, Chocolate. During our walk I learned a lot about Peter.. After our walk, our meal was ready. I was glad that for breakfast I shared some noodles from Alex, because I had A LOT of dumplings in my bowl. I also had spicy lamb leg. It was big, but delicious. The family smiled ad said I knew how to use the chopsticks very well. They found out I loved beef and pork. After lunch, we went home. Peter’s mom is a teacher and his dad was in the army and is now a professor for the army. Peter’s mom took me to Sun Yatsen’s coffin and mausoleum. We took lots of pictures and then walked around. I learned more about Peter and what he plans for his future. He admires his grandpa for being a hard worker. When we came back the dad had prepared noodles where were good. Then the dad prepared us tea twenty minutes later. After that we watched some basketball.

On Monday, Peter woke me up at 6am. I got ready quickly, ate breakfast, and brushed my teeth. Breakfast was bread, sausage, egg, apple juice, and ricey water. It was all good. Then we left the house at 6:35. Peter lent me a light jacket because it was kind of chilly. Peter’s dad drove us to school, so we got there early. I met all the students in Peter’s class. They are all so friendly. I ran into Julian and Alex, who came running to say hi. We each went back to class, and Monica and Keyla were in my class as well. We read and observed the class. We got hungry during breaks so a few of our classmates gave me a chocolate cookie, and a cup to drink water from the back of the class.

Well the rest of the week was a blast. We went to school and had our own classes. On Tuesday all of us except Jose and Time, went to get some snacks, which were delicious. We had dinner, karaoke, games, and dances. We all boned closer to our host families. Peter’s parents were great, they loved that I ate a lot and drank a lot of tea. I played ping-pong a lot, I got better especially since I don’t play it much. At home we have an independent schedule, from when we left to school, to whatever goes on until it’s time to sleep. On Saturday I went on a motorcycle to a dinner with Peter, Tim, Jose, and John. I was the only one who clapped and talked to the server. I had a great time. The family gave me some gifts. I’m wearing one right now! I wish I could go back with the same people.

Michael

Homestay in Nanjing

My arrival in Nanjing after a 17 hour train ride, I started to feel nervous to meet my new family, at the train station. I was greeted by my host sister’s cousin and her dad. I went to her home which was really nice, but I awaited my host sister’s arrival from her weekend classes. Dinners at my host home were very good, and always made by Sophia’s grandparents. Sophia’s parents lived in her hometown because their jobs are there. To get to school every morning, I had to get up at 6am every morning, which I wasn’t used to. Me and Sophia would take a really nice and clean train to school, and went to the Nanjing Foreign Language School. The school was huge, and beautiful. The children were very outgoing, kind, and enjoyed my visit there.

My stay with the host student was very different. The lifestyle wasn’t the same as American living. My student was always studying, and we didn’t spend a lot of time together. She was always on her phone, and talking to her friends. The experience was very different from my home and made me take more advantage of my home in New York and my family. Chinese culture and tradition is very beautiful and different from the US and I definitely saw that in my host home.

My last weekend, I went to Sophia’s home town and met her mom, which was a really good experience. She treated my like another daughter. She maid more attention to me than the daughter! Her house was a beautiful 3-story house with spiral staircases. Her parents took me to a mountain nicknamed “Bamboo Sea” and late in a restaurant that served on wild animals. The next day I went to a factory that showed how they make purple clay tea pots and cups, which is really popular in that area. As a souvenir they mom gave me a purple clay teapot.

Overall this experience with my host family was interesting and different. I learned many new things and it was really a once in a lifetime opportunity. I just wished me and my student would’ve bonded more. 

Alex

Living in Nanjing

Living with my host family has been a great experience for many reasons. One of these reasons is because they make me feel right at home. Another reason is because they like to make me feel as if I don’t need to move a muscle because they try to do everything for me, even when I ask them repeatedly not to do everything for me. Time, my host student, has been like a big brother to me, because he’s always looking out for me and he’s always telling funny jokes.

Welcome lunch at Nanjing Foreign Language Academy

 

Getting mobbed by adoring fans

Learning calligraphy

During most of the time I have spent with my host family, I’ve been busy finishing my schoolwork and reading a book. These were some of the things I did when I wasn’t at school or being entertained by the family. What the family did to keep me entertained was to take me out to a park to play basketball, or they’d put me to watch movies. During one of the days of the week, the family took us to a restaurant where I met some of my host student’s dad and friends.

The food I’ve received from my host family has been some of the most delicious food I’ve ever tasted. Most of the food that I tasted was new and different from what I’ve eaten before. For example, I tried some kind of lamb which to me tasted a lot like chicken. Another new food I tasted was duck, which is something I’ve fallen in love with. I think that real Chinese food is better than American-Chinese food.

Jose

A Home in Nanjing

We arrived in Nanjing on a Sunday. There we met our host family, well part of my host family. We got to Nanjing on a train from Xi’an. At the train station, my host sister and mother came to pick me up. As soon as we left, we went to eat pizza hut for lunch. Pizza Hut in China is like an Applebee’s in America, but better. On our ride home I found out many facts about my host sister. Her name is Fanny and she is 15 years old. Her birthday is on August 13^th and she lives with her grandarents and mother. Her father also lives with them, but only when he comes home from work in another city.

Once we arrived at their home, I was greeted by the grandparents. I slept in Fanny’s room while she slept with her mother. The rest of the day went smoothly, I took a nap while Fanny finished some homework and then we watched movies together.

The next morning, I went to school with fanny. At her school, school begins at 7:20am and ends at 5:00pm. Each class is 45 minutes long with 10 minute breaks between classes. While in class, the teacher lectures and students are not allowed to ask questions. Teachers back home would really enjoy that. Fanny’s classmates were really friendly. For the rest of the week the school organized specific classes for us: calligraphy, ping pong, martial arts, bamboo dance, kite flying, pottery, etc. Many of these classes were challenging, but fun. We also went sightseeing with the school. We visited Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum, the Nanjing Massacre Museum, and we also toured around the Confucius Temple.

However, the best part of my time in Nanjing was the time spent with my host family. Although my family spoke little English, I felt welcomed and part of the family. I will never forget one of the last conversations I had with my host sister:

Fanny: Only three more days.

Me: Yes, it went by so fast. I wish we had at least a month.

Fanny: No

Me: What do you mean no? Why not?

Fanny: I wish it was a lifetime!

Monica