Ms. Sandi Seiler's Final Post from China: Post #2

XIAMEN, SHENZHEN and GUANGZHOU:

Highlights of the second half of my trip to China included promoting John Carroll and meeting with parents of our current Chinese students. I told the John Carroll story again and again to large audiences and students eager to apply to John Carroll. I enjoyed giving our current parents feedback on the progress their children are making as JCS students, hearing what our students have reported to their parents about their experiences to date, answering questions and addressing concerns. Our Chinese parents are grateful for the efforts made by the JCS faculty and staff to make their sons and daughters welcomed members of the JCS community. We can expect many more parents traveling to the US later this year to see our campus! 

 

 

MS. SEILER AND SUNNY'S PARENTS

Mr. Rick O'Hara Signing Off from China: Post #3

After three domestic flights, six recruitment fairs, and twelve meetings with current parents in the span of four days, I’m ready to take the United Airlines silver bird back to Chicago and then on to BWI.  Chengdu (population 14 million), capital of Sichuan province, is an economic gateway to China’s central and western regions.  It is the home of the world famous pandas (we got to see the lovable bears only in stuffed form in local stores) and to very spicy culinary offerings.  Since arriving in Nanning on November 8, we have seen virtually no other Caucasians besides those in our group.   From Chengdu, it was a quick flight to do our work in Guangzhou and then Shenzhen near the southeastern coast—a city that has experienced phenomenal development in a short period of years.  We reunited with Sandi and her teammates for a final evening’s celebration and toasts all around to colleagues, our wonderful Cambridge Institute guides, the local agents, and the people of China who had been so hospitable over the course of these past ten days.
 
We are on our way out of China proper to the highly autonomous special administrative region of Hong Kong, being checked at the border much as one would while travelling into Canada from the U.S.  Immediately there is the feeling that we are entering the Western world once more, though Hong Kong is just a long bus ride from our hotel back in Shenzhen. 

I’m boarding the flight with mixed emotions and surely with lasting memories.  I thank God for our safe travels, the unique opportunities we have been presented, the new friends we have made, and the successes of these past ten days.

Archbishop John Carroll, pray for us and intercede for the continued good work of our school that proudly bears your name.

Ms. Sandi Seiler Reporting from China: Post #1

After an hour delay due to non-stop air traffic around Beijing International Airport, my group traveled 1,000 miles south for our stay in the "smaller town" of Fuzhou. With a population of approximately 7 million, Fuzhou is a prime example of China's sprawling, planned development efforts aimed to attract both businesses and tourists to this region. Fuzhou is a city of stark contrasts: homes along winding, narrow side streets dating back to the 1800's to modern high-rise building that are not permitted to be taller than ancient temples; street vendors selling sweet potatoes to Starbucks; motor scooters to BMW's.



The main focus of our day in Fuzhou was our attendance at a high school recruitment fair where I gave a promotional presentation on John Carroll to a group of parents eager to send their children abroad. I also interviewed several students who were in awe of our small classes, broad array of course offerings and beautiful green campus. 

Mr. Rick O'Hara Reporting from China: Post #2

Guiyang: November 8, 2012 

Zao chen hao (Good morning) from Guiyang, People’s Republic of China, to all JC Patriots! It is 10 :15 a.m. on November 8, 9:15 p.m. on Wednesday the 7^th in Bel Air. Our group leaves in about an hour to head further south to Nanning, known as the “Green City” of China and not far from the border with Vietnam. The time in Guiyang has offered one of the top highlights of the trip to date—the visit to Guizhou Experimental High School. I told the student assembly there that there are always moments of homesickness when one is this far from home, but that being in a school among wonderful kids and educators was not one of those. Like all of the Chinese people we have met, the new friends in Guiyang were warm, tremendously kind and hospitable, and eager to exchange ideas. There were many teachers whose level of English infinitely surpasses the several phrases of Mandarin that we’ve been able to pick up in the time here. Both at the High School and again last night at the recruitment fair, one could note what is in some cases almost a desperate desire on the part of Chinese students and their parents to gain access to overseas educational options. The Chinese system of university admission, based almost exclusively on one exam that must separate out the chosen ones from among millions and millions of test takers, is a source of incalculable anxiety for so many. United States high schools present opportunity and hope, as well as experiences that are far broader and frankly, simply more enjoyable than what the students tell me their days are like currently. One of the students I interviewed last night, at about 8 p.m., had just come from school—a high school of 5,000 students, with classes of 60 or more. She told me that she loves to run, swim, do art, and help in her community, but rarely has time in her schedule for any of those pursuits. It was difficult to see her head drop when I told her that a certain level of English proficiency would be required for admission to John Carroll. She is not yet at that level, and I just hope that she gets her chance someplace, if not on Churchville Road.

It was also in Guiyang that we watched election returns on international CNN television late yesterday afternoon. Ironically, the Communist Party of China opens its 18^th National Congress today in Beijing, at which the new lineup of leadership will come into power, headed by likely new President Xi Jingping. The coincidence of our elections in the U.S. with the political event in this nation has made for interesting conversation around the dinner table with our Chinese colleagues from Cambridge Institute and their recruiting partners locally.

I have not yet touched on impressions of Beijing, where we spent the first four days of the journey—and with our departure for Nanning upon me in a few minutes, I won’t begin to do so in this installment. To be honest, nothing I can communicate will begin to get across what Beijing is like. I can truly say that I have never seen any other place like it. How do you begin to describe a community of 20+ million people that seems to extend forever?

All for now, Patriots. I miss you all and am so proud and honored to be representing our school in this fascinating place. Let’s all keep working for peace and respect among all people, starting in our own community and nation.

Blessings, 

RJO

Mr. Rick O'Hara Reporting from China: Post #1

Great Wall: November 6, 2012

I never imagined that I would have the opportunity to visit China during my life, much less spend a birthday by climbing up the steepest and longest set of stairs imaginable to reach a section of the Great Wall.  Sandi Seiler and I are among a group of educators from schools with international programs who, through our association with the Cambridge Institute of International Education, are visiting 8 cities in China, from Beijing in the north to Shenzhen in the south.  We have been travelling with Cambridge associates, both American and Chinese, who serve as our interpreters, teachers, and guides.  They ensure that we get to the next location on the itinerary, but also that we learn more at each stop along the way about the native culture of our 22 Chinese students back home.  

With our tour group split up since leaving Beijing on Tuesday, Sandi is representing us in other parts of the country until we re-unite on November 11.  I had the opportunity earlier today to visit Guizhou Experimental High School in the “smaller” city (i.e. 4.5 million inhabitants)  of Guiyang, a three-hour flight south of the capital.  The High School is typical of many Chinese high schools because of the strong interest many students have in studying overseas, the USA in particular, and the resultant initiative by the school to establish international study options.  My colleagues and I each addressed an assembly of 120 students to share information about our respective schools, and then to be panelists in an engaging question-and-answer section about differences between U.S. high schools and their Chinese counterparts. That conversation continued over a formal lunch hosted by Guizhou’s headmaster, Mr. Liu Long hua.   Tonight we will participate in a recruitment fair in Guiyang, one of many we have been scheduled to attend during the trip. Sandi and I have met some absolutely remarkable young people in personal interviews, and only hope that there will be spaces available for them at John Carroll next year.

I can tell you that in a very real sense, our school is a player on the international stage.  Cambridge Institute regards us as already being in the forefront of programs that bring Chinese students to American schools.  Colleagues from the other schools commiserate with us on the challenges that come with international programs (they seem to have all the same ones), but also see us as being successful in ways that they are not at this point.  Most importantly, we have been observing first-hand that Chinese students, parents, teachers, and administrators are absolutely drawn to what all of us as a school community are doing educationally.  They seek true academic strength within a community that is sustained by productive teacher-student relationships, and that allows students opportunities to develop in multiple ways while preparing them well for what follows.  Part of my role on this trip has been to make sure that the JCS “story” is told, and our mission highlighted.  Repeatedly, we have heard what a popular choice John Carroll is among the families considering the international option.  I am so proud to report that to you and to commend all of you for making such recognition possible! 

It has also been a pleasure to meet and spend time with parents of current Chinese students.  By next Monday, Sandi and/or I will have visited with parents of twelve of our students, some of whom are travelling huge distances to see us.  These are opportunities to answer questions about the students’ performance at JCS, strengthen relationships, and with the advancement hat on, request consideration of support for the school’s annual campaign. 

I will have much more to report upon returning to Maryland on November 12.  In the meantime, we are hoping to submit blog entries for the JCS website and to send along a few photos.  Until then, all best wishes and continued blessings.

RJO

John Carroll at the Great Wall of China

Ms. Seiler and Mr. O'Hara with a colleague from
the Hackley School (NY) November 6.

Mr. O'Hara and Ms. Seiler with Mr. and Mrs. Ding

President Richard O'Hara and Ms. Sandi Seiler meet in Beijing with Mr. and Mrs. Howell Ding, parents of JCS student Gavin Ding--Saturday, November 3.

Ms. Seiler Interviews Prospective Student

Ms. Sandi Seiler, Coordinator of  The John Carroll School's International Student Programs, interviews a prospective student on Sunday, Nov. 4, in Beijing