Community Corner

West Orange Teens Form Bonds, Friendships During Visit To China

A group of Mandarin students at West Orange High School made some lifelong memories during a trip to China.

WEST ORANGE, NJ — A group of Mandarin students at West Orange High School recently made some lifelong memories during a trip to China.

According to district administrators, the students traveled to China from April 11 to April 20. They met with their student counterparts, visited local landmark sites and immersed themselves in Chinese culture.

The intrepid youth toured two Chinese schools and three cities along the way, administrators noted:

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“West Orange students had the opportunity to meet fellow students at Kangchiao International School in Xi'an, and Guangqumen High School in Beijing, where they participated in language, science, architecture, art, calligraphy, and music classes. They visited the Panda Reserve and Dujiangyan Irrigation System in Chengdu, the Terracotta Army and ancient city wall in the City of Xian, and the Great Wall, Forbidden City, and Palace of Heaven in Beijing.”

The students were accompanied by Mandarin teachers Dongmei Li and Jonathan Gohlich, along with three parents.

“The students had a great time, and were able to practice and strengthen their Chinese language skills,” Gohlich said, adding that create bonds and friendships were formed across the Pacific Ocean.

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“It was a great trip that the students will always remember and look back on,” Gohlich said.

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