Watertown Public Schools
30 Common Street, Watertown MA 02472
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Sixteen Watertown High School students along with Mr. DiBenidetti and Mrs Donato traveled to China as part of the Pathways to China Program. Along with students and teachers from Burlington, Westford, Weston, Reading and Bedford, these students prepared for their trip by taking two courses about China this past summer. Movie nights and a trip to Chinatown also prepared students for their 11-day travels to Beijing, Xi'an, and Shaghai.
After a short flight to Newark, the group of 61 students and 14 adults boarded a direct flight to Beijing. About 13 1/2 hours later, having flown over the North Pole and crossing the International Dateline, the students and teachers arrived in China and immediately began a non-stop adventure.
Highlights of the trip included visits to the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace with a Dragon Boat ride, Tiananmen Square, the Great Wall, the Temple of Heaven, Tai Chi lessons, the Olympic site, a Tea House, Snack Street, a a rickshaw ride through a huan, pearl, jade, and silk factories, a bike ride on the ancient city walls of Xi'an, the Wild Goose Pagoda, the Terra Cotta warriors, foot massages, the Muslim market, a boat ride in Shanghai, the French concessions.
Perhaps one of the most favorite parts of the trip was the visit to an Intermediate school in Beijing and a high school in Xi'an. Students had a chance to interact with young people their age and to learn the differences and similarities of school in China as compared to those in the United States. Many email addresses were exchanged and international friendships formed.
The other favorite pastime of the trip was bargaining in the markets. All agreed that they would have a hard time ever paying the asking price again as they became incredibly proficient bargainers.
Chinese food in America is not like authentic Chinese food. Appetizers are here not there. Plentiful meals with many dishes graced our tables every night. By far the favorite dining experience was the dumpling restaurant in Xi'an. All enjoyed seventeen different types of dumplings. All became proficient at chopsticks and many decided to continue to use them at home.
Arriving back to the states on April 25, after a Mag Train ride of 331 km per mile to the Shanghai Airport and a 13 1/2 hour flight over China, Russia, Alaska, and Canada. All arrived home safely and have been adjusting to the twelve-hour time difference.
When asked what the trip meant to them, many students expressed how much they had grown, traveling so far from home. They also understand what it feels like to be the minority in a country, giving them a new sensitivity. They have been photographed widely by the Chinese who were fascinated by the students, especially those with blonde or red hair. They glimpsed a totally different economic system in a country just now becoming a world economic power. They have made friendships with students from other participating districts. Their world view has broadened and they have seen those places they have studied in their Social Studies classes but had never dreamed of visiting.
Soon students in the current 8th through 11th grade will be able to apply to go to China next year. If you are interested and have questions please see Mr. DiBenedetti, Mrs. Donato, Mrs. Powers or Ms.Ventura. You may also talk to this year's Pathways group: Gwen Rothermal, Leah Beland, Hannah Barry, Andrew Salvas, Bridget O'Reilly, Tovia Siegel, Maddie Rimsa, Lindsey Daley, Ariana Zito-Wolf, Rose Fristrom, Ben Wetherbee, Campbell Bennie- Underwood, Gabby Aquino, Tessa Lynch- Colameta, Maeve McClusky, and Kip Strother. These students were a credit to themselves, their parents, and the entire Watertown community.
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