Students yo-yo around China to improve understanding
By Victoria Fei |
June 25, 2012, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
IT'S one thing to watch and admire juggling and other circus skills - and quite another thing to practice them.
But for a group of 47 American students spending their summer visiting China, learning these skills offered a great opportunity to get close to the local culture and people.
Part of the US People-to-People Ambassador program, they say they are learning local culture and talking to local people for very simple reasons: as ordinary people from different countries get to know each other, mutual understanding grows, misunderstandings are cleared up and this contributes to better state-to-state relations.
On arriving in Shanghai last Wednesday, the group's program saw them head to the Bund and the Oriental Pearl TV Tower and visit mentally challenged students.
Their varied itinerary also saw them learning circus skills at the Magnolia Theatre on Chongqing Road S., where the students were taught by Chinese acrobats how to use a yo-yo and juggle in the Chinese way.
The group, from different parts of America, stayed in Shanghai for three days, where they met new people, experienced a new culture, took in sights and sampled the city's food.
After Shanghai, the group moved on to cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, Suzhou, Wuzhen, Hangzhou and Guilin. In some places they will stay with local families.
The program is part of People-to-People International, which sends around 1,000 students to China each year. Open to students aged 11 to 18, it was founded by President Dwight E Eisenhower in 1956 and has 500,000 alumni.
"Learning about the life of acrobats and their skills is just the start of seeing things and meeting local people. There is much to learn on this 15-day trip," says Weslie Ostendorf, a People-to-People leader from Ohio.
"The focus is on how to be a good traveler. It makes learning easier. It's a trip all about oriental cities, language and customs."
Although Ostendorf has taken part in three People-to-People Ambassador programs, this is her first time in China. In fact, it is the first time for all the group.
"Shanghai in first impression is beautiful, clean and new. I'm amazed that it has grown so quickly," she says. "Bringing kids over to explore the culture, meet other kids and seek global understanding is our main purpose."
Ostendorf says students "with good performance" are nominated to participate.
Jimmy Linson, a grade 12 student from Ohio, says Shanghai is a marvelous mix of historical sites and a modern touch, and is undaunted by the weather.
"Here, the weather is much hotter with higher humidity than my hometown. But I like it. My dream is to become a traveling photographer. I'd like to explore as many countries as possible," he says.
For Linson, the yo-yo basics were not so difficult, as he has used one before. But he admits that the stunts and movements achieved by Chinese acrobats are hard to pick up. "It needs a lot practice."
Celeste Bronson from Cincinnati, Ohio, was also impressed by the city. "Shanghai has tall buildings and huge crowds," she says. "The vendors on the street are the most interesting thing. I've never seen that before."
Hayden Leckenby, 16, from Nashville, Tennessee, has been to England but finds China more fun as there are so many new things to learn.
Ashlee Hanson, 17, a senior high school student from a small country town in Tennessee, said being in such a huge metropolis was an exhilarating experience.
But for a group of 47 American students spending their summer visiting China, learning these skills offered a great opportunity to get close to the local culture and people.
Part of the US People-to-People Ambassador program, they say they are learning local culture and talking to local people for very simple reasons: as ordinary people from different countries get to know each other, mutual understanding grows, misunderstandings are cleared up and this contributes to better state-to-state relations.
On arriving in Shanghai last Wednesday, the group's program saw them head to the Bund and the Oriental Pearl TV Tower and visit mentally challenged students.
Their varied itinerary also saw them learning circus skills at the Magnolia Theatre on Chongqing Road S., where the students were taught by Chinese acrobats how to use a yo-yo and juggle in the Chinese way.
The group, from different parts of America, stayed in Shanghai for three days, where they met new people, experienced a new culture, took in sights and sampled the city's food.
After Shanghai, the group moved on to cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, Suzhou, Wuzhen, Hangzhou and Guilin. In some places they will stay with local families.
The program is part of People-to-People International, which sends around 1,000 students to China each year. Open to students aged 11 to 18, it was founded by President Dwight E Eisenhower in 1956 and has 500,000 alumni.
"Learning about the life of acrobats and their skills is just the start of seeing things and meeting local people. There is much to learn on this 15-day trip," says Weslie Ostendorf, a People-to-People leader from Ohio.
"The focus is on how to be a good traveler. It makes learning easier. It's a trip all about oriental cities, language and customs."
Although Ostendorf has taken part in three People-to-People Ambassador programs, this is her first time in China. In fact, it is the first time for all the group.
"Shanghai in first impression is beautiful, clean and new. I'm amazed that it has grown so quickly," she says. "Bringing kids over to explore the culture, meet other kids and seek global understanding is our main purpose."
Ostendorf says students "with good performance" are nominated to participate.
Jimmy Linson, a grade 12 student from Ohio, says Shanghai is a marvelous mix of historical sites and a modern touch, and is undaunted by the weather.
"Here, the weather is much hotter with higher humidity than my hometown. But I like it. My dream is to become a traveling photographer. I'd like to explore as many countries as possible," he says.
For Linson, the yo-yo basics were not so difficult, as he has used one before. But he admits that the stunts and movements achieved by Chinese acrobats are hard to pick up. "It needs a lot practice."
Celeste Bronson from Cincinnati, Ohio, was also impressed by the city. "Shanghai has tall buildings and huge crowds," she says. "The vendors on the street are the most interesting thing. I've never seen that before."
Hayden Leckenby, 16, from Nashville, Tennessee, has been to England but finds China more fun as there are so many new things to learn.
Ashlee Hanson, 17, a senior high school student from a small country town in Tennessee, said being in such a huge metropolis was an exhilarating experience.
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