Study tour takes isle
students to China20 high schoolers will research topics
during their 2 1/2-week stay
This is no ordinary school field trip.
Under a new program, 20 students from public high schools across the state are on all-expense-paid trips to China. Throughout the 2 1/2 weeks, they will research selected topics.
"We'll be visiting all these different cities and experiencing new things," said Jerrold Wu, a sophomore at Education Laboratory School.
The students left Saturday morning on the study tour, coordinated by the Pacific and Asian Affairs Council. They will return July 7.
None of the students has gone to China before, and some have never left the United States. The group will visit Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Xi'an, Yangshuo, Guangzhou and Hong Kong.
Each student chose a topic that relates to China and the United States and will research it throughout the trip. When they return, each will give a presentation on what they discovered.
"The topics are very diverse," said Amber Strong, a Kailua social studies teacher who is chaperoning the trip. "They're really personalizing their own inquiry."
Krystle Corpuz, a senior at Kahuku, chose to research China's politics, a possible career option for her.
Wu, who is the youngest of the group at 15, is studying China's past and present transportation system and will be comparing it with the United States.
Kaiser junior Jakob Bunker will be looking into visual arts. Lahainaluna graduate Jessica Nagasako is researching China's Communist Party and its bicameral system.
Nagasako is one of the seven students who were chosen for a study tour last year; however, it was canceled because of an outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS. Four of the seven students from last year returned for this year's tour.
Public school students had to apply for the program that included an essay and an interview. Jason Jones, a chaperone and director of the council's High School Program, said he was looking for applicants who showed him a passion for learning.
"I was blown away by what some of these kids had to say," Jones said. "All these kids have been able to show me passion. I see the reason that I picked each one of them, and I'm sure it was a good choice."
Students find it a blessing to be going on this trip.
"I know it's a one-time opportunity," said Waianae graduate Katasha Kuhaulua, who is going to learn more about her Chinese heritage. "I know, from Waianae, some never had the chance to go out of the state, and I'm going to another continent."
"I'm pretty excited about just going there," said Bradley Rasmussen, a senior from Kahuku. "It's an opportunity within itself."
But it won't be all work for the students. They still get to do some tourist activities, like visiting the Great Wall of China.
Last week, students went to orientations by University of Hawaii professors at the East-West Center to immerse themselves in the Chinese language, culture and everyday activities.