On Feb. 2, 19 exchange students arrived from the high school affiliated to Renmin University of China, ready to explore the culture of Chicago through the lens of the U-High students. During their two-week visit, they will take tours at the University of Chicago and Northwestern University, visit the Art Institute of Chicago and Museum of Science and Industry, ice skate at the Midway Plaisance, and shop in the Chinatown neighborhood.
Immediately after arriving at Lab, they were welcomed with a festival celebrating the Year of the Snake, including a performance from an art troupe from their school.
“They did artistic martial arts performances, a violin performance, an opera performance, a street dance performance and other native dances,” Sebastian Gans said, a senior participant of the exchange program. “They were all high school students, but their level of performance was really impressive.”
Ni YiHan, an exchange student being hosted by U-High junior Malia Maki, said one of the main reasons she came on this trip was to see the universities in Chicago and U-High. After a day of observing the school, she noticed differences between her school and U-High.
“The classes you guys teach are quite different from the way my school teaches classes,” she said. “You guys do more thinking and expressing yourself than just learning things.”
Malia appreciates the chance to build relationships with new people.
“My favorite part about this experience has been being able to connect with new people and learn about new perspectives,” Malia said.
Xiaoli Zhou, the U-High teacher who organizes the Chinese exchange program, sees many benefits to participating in this exchange program. One of these is the unique opportunity to master the language of another country.
“They learn the language and culture in the classroom,” Ms. Zhou said, “but to really be able to use it and understand it by living with someone and being able to understand it from someone who grew up in that culture and in that environment is something that couldn’t be easily achieved just inside of the classroom.”
