Baltimore Students Head To China
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- You may be surprised to learn that at least two high schools in Baltimore City are teaching Chinese as a foreign language.
Now, as Mike Schuh reports, some of those students are getting ready for the trip of a lifetime.
In West Baltimore, the kids at Carver VoTech sound a little different these days. Eight students here are the beneficiaries of a plan put in place 26 years ago by then-Mayor William Donald Schaefer. He made Baltimore a sister city with a city in China.
"I'm excited about the plane ride but scared at the same time because I've never flown on a plane before," said one student.
The conversations you have when you and your classmates are just hours away from boarding a jet from Baltimore bound for China.
"I'm very excited. This is unprecedented to have our students go to China," said Carver VoTech Principal Kirk Sykes.
They spent Tuesday making banners and gifts, all part of an exchange where they learn about China and help the Chinese with their English. Later, some Chinese teachers come here. It will be a learning experience.
"Well, my biggest worry is the culture shock," Sykes said. "They'll be able to overcome it. They are very resilient."
This group leaves for China on Thursday. They'll be there for 10 days.
The school says this $50,000 trip would not be possible except for the generosity of the Maritime Applied Physics Lab, McCormick Spice and Carver alumni.
