By Jessica Groover .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Fourteen Chinese exchange students performed dances, songs and poems for Cannon School students on Wednesday to present Chinese culture and celebrate 30 years of diplomacy between America and China.
The students from sister school Tianli International arrived on Jan. 21 and will leave on Feb. 2. They are the sixth group to visit Cannon since the schools began a program to exchange educational ideals and cultural traditions.
The Chinese students selected were screened beforehand for their speaking skills and talents in performing pieces of their culture.
During their visit, the Chinese students visited the High Museum, the Carter Center and the World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta and will visit Davidson College and the Richard Childress Racing headquarters during their last few days in North Carolina.
Wednesday was the students’ last day at Cannon School, but for some students, it may not be the last time they step into an American classroom.
“In the past five years, out of the 53 students (who visited Cannon School), five are now studying (at colleges and universities) in North America,” said Weimin Yuan, Chinese language and east Asian studies teacher at Cannon School who started the exchange program.
Fifteen-year-old Jerry Zhou said she wants to study in the U.S.
“I love America,” Zhou said. “American people are so friendly.”
After Zhou’s performance for the school, she presented paintings she made to several faculty members and her Cannon student host, Hunter Horton. Other Chinese students gave scarves to teachers and administrators during a Tibetian dance.
“That is a Tibetian custom to honor your guests and honor the tradition,” Yuan said.
As a way to honor American history and reflect on their experience, the Chinese students led the Cannon students and sang “We Shall Overcome.” Yuan taught the Chinese students that song on their way back from the Martin Luther King, Jr., Museum in Atlanta.
The students from Tianli International School expressed their excitement for their time at Cannon, and staff at Cannon said their students felt the same way.
“This is something Cannon School students look forward to every year,” said David Long, director of communications for Cannon. “It’s remarkable how much the students have in common. While we may be far apart geographically, we’re actually similar in a lot of ways.”
• Contact reporter Jessica Groover at 704-789-9152.
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