Tacoma students revel in VIP trip to China
For students from Lincoln High School in Tacoma, Washington, their recent 11-day trip to China was the experience of a lifetime.
Invited last year by President Xi Jinping, the 100 students — 56 girls and 44 boys — visited Hong Kong; Fuzhou, the capital of Fujian province and sister city of Tacoma; Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province; and Beijing, before returning home on Tuesday.
They visited historical landmarks such as the Great Wall and the Forbidden City and learned about China’s culture, society and history. They also interacted with Chinese peers and visited local schools.
All this was made possible in September last year, when Xi, who visited the Puget Sound area at the start of his state visit to the United States, offered them a personal invitation.
“During that visit, President Xi asked if my kids (Lincoln students) had studied abroad,” Lincoln High Principal Pat Erwin recalled.
“No, my kids are very poor,” he told the Chinese president.
Lincoln, one of the city’s most diverse high schools, has a high poverty rate, and more than 75 percent of Lincoln students qualify for free or reduced-price lunches.
When Xi heard this, he invited 100 of them to visit China, with the Chinese government covering the group’s expenses, including airfare.
Xi said he hoped they would “know China better” after the trip and that, “hopefully, you will fall in love with China”.
Araya Zackery, a sophomore, sported both the Chinese and US flags in her hair upon her return at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. She said she was very excited about the trip and hoped to return with her family soon.
Austin Moeung, a junior, described Hong Kong, where the trip began, as “very impressive and active”.
The group next flew to Fuzhou, where Xi once served as the top official. Xi visited Tacoma more than 20 years ago to help set up the sister city arrangement.
Moeung said Fuzhou was his favorite city, because he befriended many Chinese students there. “My friends are friendly and smart,” he said.
In each city, the students were paired with teens at host schools. Many students mentioned that interaction as their favorite part of the trip.
In Fuzhou, they attended classes and mingled with local students.
“I met my partner Chong in Fuzhou, and he is amaz- ing,” said Alex Gillies, a junior.
“He told me a lot about the city and his school and was always ready to help.”