Students from China visit HVRHS during busy U.S. tour

FALLS VILLAGE—Luggage in hand, 28 students from the Shandong Experimental High School in the Chinese province of Shandong walked through the doors of Housatonic Valley Regional High School on Aug. 2 for the first time. The natural chaos of arriving en masse in a foreign place after much travel was combined with excitement and high spirits that had the school buzzing. For the Chinese students, the contrasting sizes of the two high schools may have been what stood out first. Shandong Experimental High School has more than 5,600 students and 520 staff members. Founded in 1948, it is regarded as one of China’s top academic institutions, one that is used as an example for other schools in its region. The students were greeted by Lisa Carter, a Housatonic social studies teacher who has worked for several years to foster a relationship between what are now “sister schools.”Molly Lovejoy, a Housatonic student, described Carter’s enthusiastic desire “to make a strong connection” with the students’ Chinese counterparts, which has led to numerous memorable trips for staff and students from here. Last spring, a group of Housatonic students embarked on their own two-week trip to China. They traveled the country and spent four days with families whose children attend the Shandong school. This summer’s visit by the Chinese is a bit of a reunion for the students of both high schools, and an opportunity for local families to reciprocate the hospitality of their Chinese host families. Rising Housatonic juniors Amanda Kitik, 15, and Hillary Henrici, 16, described their spring trip to China and experiencing a new culture as “a little scary at first.” Hillary said she was initially struck by the stronger societal focus on education and the weaker emphasis on independence in comparison with American society.However, as she noted and as was apparent by the jubilant reunion, the time spent with the Chinese students and their families uncovered the similarities among adolescents, despite differing cultural influences and language barriers. As Amanda stood by in the auditorium, waiting for her turn to speak, she was greeted by a young woman, smiling from ear to ear, who introduced herself by her “American name,” Shelly Song. Kitik spent her home stay with Song’s family, and the two students had been communicating via email since the trip. As Carter rounded up the students to begin a welcome ceremony, Amanda and her host sister took their seats next to each other and remained at each other’s sides. Housatonic Principal Matt Harnett told the visiting students that, “Even though we are small, we are a very strong school with the strongest vocational agricultural program in the state of Connecticut. “Our number one goal for students graduating from this school is that we instruct them and prepare them to be positive influences in the community.” Amanda Hower (an alumna in the class of 2006) translated, and the words were received with vigorous applause. A teacher and group leader from the Shandong school addressed the several Housatonic faculty members and organizers in the audience, to express appreciation for this special visit (Housatonic students don’t return to the Falls Village campus until Aug. 29). Harnett was also invited to visit the Chinese school and experience Shandong culture. The meeting concluded with the exchanging of gifts between the two schools. Then, small groups of Chinese students were paired with Housatonic students for a tour of the campus. The day ended with a cookout at the Salisbury home of James Meyer and Amy Jencks. The Chinese students’ tour of America will include visits to Washington, D.C., New York City and Niagara Falls.