Spot the difference! The hallways of MHS may seem a little different this month, and you might have noticed a few things. Maybe you’ve seen some of the new faces in the hallways lately – or even heard some new languages. Just a few weeks ago, Minnetonka welcomed a group of foreign exchange students from China, staying with host families for three weeks and joining us at the high school. They’re here through the International Studies program, coming all the way from Beijing to experience American culture.

These Chinese exchange students regularly attend the Experimental High School Attached to Beijing Normal University, Minnetonka’s sister school. The school consists of a junior high school, from grades 7 to 9, and a senior high school, from grades 10 to 12. Over the last few years, there have been a number of exchanges between Chinese and American students and teachers. The school has won merit for its exceptional exchange programs. In addition to Minnetonka, the high school also has sister schools in places ranging from Hong Kong to Boston. Though notably different from us in many ways, the school’s ideals and focuses are very similar to ours. Their motto reflects the same ideas as Minnetonka’s: “Honesty; Strictness; Truth-seeking; Pioneering” (诚信、严谨、求是、拓新).

Senior Leah Anderson and her family decided to host a Chinese exchange student named Jessy this year. She will be traveling to China later this year with the orchestra, and she decided that having an exchange student was the perfect way to learn about Chinese life while sharing her American culture. Leah has already learned about how different Jessy’s life in China is, and she “[looks] forward to learning more!” Jessy agrees that there are cultural differences. When she arrived at Minnetonka, she expected to see “one building for each subject,” and was surprised by how large the school was. She thinks that the cultural differences make the exchange, “a special experience,” and it helps her to learn about not only American culture, but her own.

As Minnetonka widens its cultural scope and grows internationally, let’s welcome our new friends from China. Take this awesome opportunity to embrace new culture and get to know an exchange student. Let’s share our amazing school!