Chinese Students Mingle With Summer Campers in E.P.

Chinese cultural-exchange students met summer campers in East Providence Thursday afternoon, July 18, at Pierce Field. There were plenty of smiles and lots of conversation to go around in the shade of trees on a 92-degree day.

Middle school students mostly from Beijing who are spending three weeks at Providence Country Day school visited the summer camp for the second time this week. 

They taught the E.P. kids a few Chinese phrases, such as "hello!" and "How are you?"; talked about Chinese holidays, such as Chinese New Year and the Moon Festival; and told a tale about the invention of fireworks in China.

A Chinese monster would come to eat people, said the student. So, the Chinese invented fireworks to keep the monster away. “Now he doesn’t come anymore,” he said.

The exchange students also showed the campers how to make paper lanterns out of construction paper.

The delegation stopped by previously on Tuesday, July 16, and will return again next Thursday, July 25, said Diane Sullivan, recreation coordinator.