Chinese students learn of local culture

ZANESVILLE – A group of about 30 Chinese students ages 10 to 16 and their teachers visited Zanesville July 25 as part of a 10-day trip to the United States. The students’ itinerary included New York City, Zanesville, and Washington D.C. The trip was inspired by professors Yan and Carol Sun of Muskingum University. The students were from the Sun’s hometown of Lanzshou, China, a community of 3.6 million people.

While in Zanesville, the students and teachers were given a tour of West Muskingum High School by Associate Principal Brent Wilson . The students and teachers were very impressed with the facility and the amount of space for students. A student explained that their classes are very tight with at least 45 students per class. Both students and teachers were surprised by the length of the school day. In their high school, students begin at 7 am and return home at 6 pm. They spend their evenings on homework until after midnight. The teachers said the students tend to be a little tired at the beginning of the class day.

The group then toured Muskingum University and shopped in the Colony Square Mall before meeting with members of the PowerHouse of Southeastern Ohio for dinner and conversation. Kristy Szemetylo, PowerHouse executive director expressed to the students that while we have large cities like New York and Chicago that they are used to seeing on television, most of the United States is made of smaller cities and towns like Zanesville. The students shared that they felt that Zanesville was very close to nature and very beautiful.

The Chinese students had a chance to practice their English language skills with PowerHouse students. However, language did not appear to be a barrier between the teens as Katie Boyd, Jake Wheeler, Maria Lollini, and Mark Szemetylo found common ground on topics of video games and Taylor Swift.

The teens also swapped stories on school, homework, college plans, sports, and arts activities. There was a unifying spirit in the room that Yan Sun encouraged the students to continue into the future. The students complied with selfies and an exchange of email info before heading back to the hotel to prepare for D.C.

Kristy Szemetylo is the executive director of PowerHouse of Southeastern Ohio.