First Flight High School

After completing an application, writing an essay, buying a plane ticket and packing enough things for three weeks, First Flight High School juniors Brittany Michaud and Andrew Vaughan were ready to head to China. They boarded a plane in Raleigh, stopped in Chicago, and then arrived at their final destination, Shanghai, China.

Michaud and Vaughan both traveled with a group of 22 people through a program at N.C. State University called the Chinese Bridge for American Schools for three weeks during July and August.

 Michaud said her major motivations for applying to the program were her interest in traveling and encouragement from English teacher Jane Shipman.

 "I had planned on traveling this summer, and I started looking through the stuff I got in the mail," she said. "Ms. Shipman told me about the China trip, and she gave (the application) to the people she thought would benefit from it. I figured it was a really good deal."

Vaughan, however, had a different motivation for traveling.

"I wanted to go because of the technological advances in China and because it is the number one growing country," he said.

Throughout the trip, the group traveled to the cities of Henan and Changzhou in addition to several other cities and provinces. While in each city, the students learned about the area, took classes and took day trips depending on where they were.

Shipman found the program and assisted both students through the process of applying and preparing for the trip.

"I helped them apply, and I am going to help them come up with a presentation to 'sell' the idea to community members," she said.

While Vaughan was applying, some of his family members were hesitant to let him go.

"At first my mom didn't want me to go because of the earthquake (in May). I talked her into letting me go after I researched the places that I was going to go," he said. "My grandpa was worried about the air pollution, but in most of the places that I visited the air quality wasn't that bad."

During the next several months, Shipman and social studies teacher Brian Phoebus will be working with the teacher and student groups of the China club to work out the details of what will happen over the next year.

"They are refining details for the next level (of the partnership) and are starting (to plan) the process for student exchanges," Principal Arty Tillett said. "It's exciting."

During their trip, Michaud and Vaughan visited historically significant sites and also learned about significant cultural customs, such as Chinese knotting, which consists of knots made of silk cord, and martial arts.

"We had to do Kung Fu, and it was actually really hard," Michaud said.

Although they didn't travel into Beijing, they heard a lot of talk about the Olympics.

"I didn't see any of the setups, but I definitely heard a lot about it," Michaud said. "The Olympics showed up everywhere, including on the back of our tour bus."

Shipman said that the students showed a large amount growth and strong feelings upon their return.

"When the two kids came back they evidenced a great deal of excitement," she said. "They talked about wanting to learn Chinese by taking the online class."

A motivation for both Michaud and Vaughan to go was that the Hanban, or the Office of the Chinese Language Council International, paid for transportation, room, board and tuition while in China. The students only had to pay for their airfare and a $250 administration fee.

"(The Hanban) is really adamant about getting Americans there and experiencing China," Michaud said.

Vaughan said that he will always remember this experience and that he would one day like to go back to China.

"I will always remember the scenery and the language and my friends that went," he said. "I would like to go back with the exchange program."

In addition to learning about the customs, they also had the chance to learn about the language during three-hour Chinese classes.

"Going in not having any experience with it, I realized how difficult the Chinese language really is; it's so much harder than I thought," Michaud said. "I didn't learn as much Chinese as I wanted, but I still took a lot away."

Tillett said that it is a great idea for students to take advantage of cultural opportunities.

"It's all part of the vision at FFHS, having kids prepared to be successful in a global economy," he said. "It naturally makes sense."

Through an NC State University Program - Chinese Bridge for American Schools - First Flight High School students Brittany Michaud and Andrew Vaughan toured China for three weeks this summer, here among the group of North Carolina students selected to participate in the program.

FFHS student Brittany Michaud plays the pipa, a traditional Chinese string instrument that has been played throughout China and Asia for over 2,000 years. Michaud traveled to China this summer with a group of North Carolina students including FFHS classmate Andrew Vaughan.