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