Thunderstorms and quakes give lasting lessons

 
Bachelor of Phys. Ed and Coaching student Jamie Wright, far left, found Chinese national pride comparable to hockey pride in Canada.

Mother Nature provided the most powerful moments during a trip to China, recall students and teachers who took part in the first Douglas College China Field School (CFS).

"For me, I think the craziest moment was standing on the partition of the highest point of the Great Wall that we could walk on, battling winds and having lightning flash across the mountain, close enough to feel the current through my hair," says student Jamie Wright.

Wright was one of 22 students who took part in the CFS. They were based at the East China Normal University in Shanghai for five weeks in May and June and spent time in Shanghai, Suzhou, Hangzhou and Beijing, in addition to time in-class at Douglas before and after the trip. Communications, Mandarin and Geography instructors from Douglas took part. 

The students, who came from a variety of programs, learned about the history, neighbourhoods and architecture of Shanghai, how schools and model communities operate and how to conduct their day-to-day business in Chinese. 

Though Wright, a Bachelor of Physical Education (PE) and Coaching student, says the course content seemed far removed from his future career, he will apply a lot of what he learned to teaching PE.

As a volunteer in a local PE class, he noted many ESL students "had a disconnection from the class and their English-speaking classmates." He hopes to apply what he learned in China to make his own classes more inclusive so all students will be more inclined to participate.

"A large reason that I chose to go to China was because of the benefit I felt I could have from learning the tendencies and normalities of the Chinese culture and their approach to conversation and interaction, body language, values and traditions," says Wright.

Another unforgettable part of the trip was the earthquake in Sichuan Province. Though the Douglas group was safely located about 1,000 km away from the area hardest hit by the quake, it was another aspect of the trip that stood out.

"Exactly one week after the quake, everyone in the country stopped their activities - in traffic, classrooms, factories, shops, etcetera - for three minutes of silence. In addition, in Shanghai, a huge memorial vigil was held in People's Square which some of us attended. It was something I will always remember," says Geography instructor Mike McPhee.

"Being in China during the Sichuan earthquake and the lead-up to the Olympics really allowed us to experience the people in a very unique way," Wright adds.

He found national pride in China similar to Canadian hockey pride "but in a complete way that unifies the entire country, or at least its cities," says Wright.

Wright says he wouldn't hesitate to recommend learning abroad to other students, whatever their program. Having to apply what he learned on the Mandarin-speaking streets of China meant he retained what he learned a lot faster, says Wright.

"I was also able to see parts of China that I wouldn't have put into an itinerary of my own planned trip, but spending an afternoon in a local Chinese elementary school or visiting a town of bridges called Zhujiajiou, ended up being highlights of my trip," says Wright.

Related Links

International Education
Communications
Geography
Modern Languages
Bachelor of Physical Education and Coaching
More Feature Stories