TO CHINA WITH LOVE

Chinese students experience "real, American life."
– Mutual Appreciation through High School Homestay

PUBLISHED: June 1, 2007; Capitola Soquel Times

Santa Cruz, CA – When Shi Teng Duan and his two countrymen sat down for the first time in their new, American high school class, he was surprised to discover that the first lecture would be about Ancient China.

"T.T.," as he prefers to be called by his new, American friends, "thought we did this special for them," remarks Cam Martin, the small, private high school’s Director and catalyst behind the budding International Students program at Waldorf High School.

Laughingly, Martin recalls, "I assured him that while we were thrilled to have them with us, that we had neither the flexibility of schedule nor the extra resources – to say nothing of extrasensory perception – to offer such a ‘personalized educational experience. The best answer I could come up with was ‘I guess you just came at the right time.’"

So when the thirty-four 9th-11th graders returned from Easter break to find they had three new classmates from the southern province of Guangdong, China, the grass-lined corridors and ocean view quad were abuzz with excitement -- and questions.

"I think the dominant reaction was ‘So how long are they here for?’ and ‘When do they have to go back?’ I definitely had some fun with them," Martin relates. "I tried to play it a bit ‘cool’ and understated, sort of the pause before the second shoe drops. ‘ They are only with us . . . through graduation.’ Then I turned and walked away, letting the silent bubble burst spontaneously."

As Santa Cruz County’s only high school offering a Chinese Language and Culture program, the connection with and draw to China was a natural fit. "When the Chinese placement agencies found out we not only had a program, but that it was mandatory and all our American students were already exposed to their culture, well, that really sold them."

Martin continues with statistical support for Waldorf High’s claim of educational uniqueness. "When you think of over 200 million Chinese students learning English, yet only 20 thousand American students – including K-8 – (are learning Chinese) well, we’re in pretty rare company." He finishes by reflecting, "To be honest, I was pretty stunned to discover just how few American kids are learning Chinese. And given the global economics and population significance of China, to say nothing of the cultural importance, it seems a remarkably untapped educational opportunity."

Here in Santa Cruz the new Chinese students experience "real, American life" (their words) by living with Homestay families from the high school, a dedicated collection of parents, teachers and board members coming together to make this opportunity possible.

"Without the built-in advantage of a boarding program, we were forced to become more creative and to come together as a community," Martin adds, speaking as a veteran teacher/administrator of three east coast boarding schools, "Frankly, we are coming to discover that the advantages of Homestay over the traditional boarding environment are numerous and manifold. It’s no longer our only option, it’s our best option."

While he speaks with the conviction of one who maintained neardaily communication with China over the almost 7-month application and immigration process, Martin remains cautious and circumspect when considering the newfound success of his nascent program. "We are really in this for the kids, both our kids, and their kids. But let’s be honest, it’s about as young and potentially fraught with unseen obstacles as the US-China relationship overall."

Continuing with this international analogy, Martin finishes, "In some small way, I guess we kind of hope that this serves as a template for deeper relationship between our cultures. With great nation’s going at it economically, even militarily, it really comes down to individual families and schools leading the way toward tolerance – even appreciation -- of differences and histories. This is just our modest gesture."

One student, one class, one school at a time. Seems Waldorf High’s found their answer.

© 2007 TPG Inc Online Daily. Reprinted by permission.