Chinese, U.S. students plant roots of friendship, understanding(2)

Versed in culture

Liu Feng, vice-principal of Shijiazhuang Foreign Language School, which is affiliated with the main school, said they arranged for the U.S. students to take part in calligraphy and paper-cutting classes so they "can have a taste of Chinese teenagers' school life".

They consulted the visitors in advance over the trip's arrangement, agenda, and itinerary to ensure adequate communication between students from both sides during the limited time they had together over four days.

The U.S. students said they wanted to take Mandarin lessons with Chinese students.

Liu's school selected an ancient Chinese poem "Rural Life" as the centerpiece of the lesson:

"Over green grass orioles fly in vernal sky/

The mist intoxicates the willow trees./

Back early after school, the children try/

To fly the kites in eastern breeze."

Kristina Devries, one of the U.S. students, admitted that the poem was a bit difficult for her. "It's mainly the tones," she said.

Yet after the class, most students could read the poem properly in Mandarin.

Observing that the poem echoed the then season of spring, Jasmine Montes, another U.S. student, said, "It is really pretty and I like it."

When asked if U.S. children fly kites these days like people did decades ago, Ryan Castle, principal of Muscatine High School, said: "Not as much any more. We used to. With phones and iPads, it's hard to get kids to fly kites."

Lyu Fei, an English teacher at Shijiazhuang Foreign Language Primary School, was involved in the special class for the guests and she had no language difficulties when talking to the U.S. students. Her recipe for successful communication included body gestures and the use of humor.

"They are real quick learners," she said, saying the visitors mastered the poetry faster than she had expected.

"So, we had some extra minutes to review and practice more. I'm so proud!" she laughed.

Another first for the trip was the host school arranging a musical performance that involved collaboration between the Chinese students and their foreign guests.

The U.S. students split up and went to several classrooms to be taught how to play the hulusi, or gourd flute, an easy-to-learn Chinese folk music instrument.

Later that afternoon, they joined the Chinese students on stage and together they played the song Auld Lang Syne using the hulusi. The performers received warm applause from the audience.