Language Barriers Fall During Trip To China

Published: Jul 18, 2007

DADE CITY - Most students and teachers spend the break between May and August working summer jobs, soaking up sun and surf or catching up on their reading.

But you'd be hard-pressed to find a more ambitious group than the Pasco Middle School team that has been teaching English in Nanjing, China, for the past week. The group, which includes teachers, students and parents, left July 7 and is due back Saturday.

Aside from teaching at Shu Ren, with whom Pasco Middle began a cultural exchange a few months ago, the 10 teachers, two students and two parents have been busy sightseeing, shopping and eating. Along the way, they've been sending back reports and photos of what they've been up to.

Jeff Scullin

"Shopping in China is interesting, to say the least. Everything is a barter system, and you go back and forth with the shop-keep over a calculator (circa 1970), negotiating a price for the items. … I learned quickly that I should never accept the first offer. I counteroffered at 10 percent of what they were asking. They said, 'No, no, no!' and took the calculator and clicked out another number."

Jen O'Connor, Teacher

"After school, Carson and I went to the athletic facility where he kicked the soccer ball around with a man who must have realized that I was no match for a young boy with a ball. I watched in amazement as two people who could not talk to each other bonded instantly."

Natalie Brock, Parent

"The people here at the hotel had a marquee in the lobby that said, 'Warmly welcome each teacher from Pasco in America.' I've never been on a marquee before."

Deb Alexander, Teacher

Keyword: China Trip, for a blog and photos by its participants.