Springs staff members Jennifer Martin and Monica Lopez and board member Steaven Chan traveled to China on behalf of Springs as part of a school exchange program with three schools in Zhengzhou of the Henan Province in Central China.
Once ratified, this program will allow Chinese students to study for a year at Springs, and Springs students to study in China. “We want to allow a friendly exchange of students and teachers to learn about American and Chinese cultures and educational styles,” said Ms. Martin, principal of Hemet Student Center and Hemet Quest Academy. “We hope to build strong relationships with each other both for our students’ need and professional development. Such a relationship and exposure to international cultures and learning styles will create new dreams and ideas for our students to pursue.”
The group took a trip to the Northern Shaolin Temple, the birthplace of Kung Fu, and enjoyed street markets where vendors sold clothes, jewelry, toiletries, electronics, candy and food cooked on the street. Many of the Chinese spoke some English; Mr. Chan and the group’s host also assisted with translations. Ms. Martin concluded, “I was affirmed in my belief that kindness and smiles cross all cultural boundaries and that most people are genuinely kind and good.”
