Chinese visitors experience Concordia

Five education students and two teachers from Nantong University in Nantong, China spent ten days, Oct. 17 -26,  at Concordia as part of a growing exchange program between the two schools. While in Nebraska the group attended education and psychology classes, visited and observed at area schools and were given opportunities to experience American activities, such as a Bulldog volleyball game, hot dog roast and hay ride.

“My favorite part was experiencing American traditional festivals,” said Xiaowen Chen.  She felt that the exposure to a different culture would help her when she begins her career as a teacher.

The group also packed food for Kids Against Hunger in Lincoln during their stay. “We did a volunteer job,” said student Meng Jie Yu. “We packed food for needy children. It was meaningful.”

Concordia education majors Erika MacGregor, Kalispell, Mont., and Hannah Kroonblawd, Eagan, Minn., and Dr. Daniel Thurber visited classrooms near Nantong last March. The visit was the first in the blossoming collaborative relationship between the two schools.