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