This summer, Mrs. Tara Inman and I had the pleasure of visiting with students, families, and Darlington alums in Beijing and Shanghai, China. The trip was an amazing experience in so many different ways, and I still can’t believe how much I learned (or re-learned).
1. "DarWorld” is real. We are truly a global community. While we were 7,127 miles from Rome, we were at home because of the relationships and values fostered by the Darlington experience. One of my favorite photos is of three alums at our Beijing reception. They told me they were “calculus buddies” at Darlington. Pictured above are Joe Fang (’14) of Beijing, China; Du Zhang (’13) of Hongzhou, China; and John Wilhoite (’12) of Cartersville, Ga., who is studying and working in Beijing as a student at UNC.
2. The most authentic voice is always the voice of the student. Our alumni were front and center at all of our gatherings, and their ability to articulate what Darlington means to them was powerful and inspiring. When asked about what made a Darlington education significant and perhaps different than one he might receive in China, Joe Fang (’14), now a student at Emory, responded, “We graduate ready to lead.” What an amazing testimonial.
3. We should all be proud of where we are from. The hospitality we received and the generosity of our families was overwhelming. The trip was a great reminder that while we might be grouped into generalizations by others, each of us is unique. Our students from Georgia come from many different parts of the state. Our students from China come from all over that country. Each background is unique and plays a part in shaping who we are.
4. When given opportunity, young people are capable of so much. One of our students, rising senior Tyler Dai, took Mrs. Inman and me to the Forbidden City in Beijing. He arranged everything and took care of us all day. It is no stretch to say that we would have been lost without him. It was a great reminder that sometimes, as adults, we need to get out of the way and let children lead and learn for themselves. We also heard great stories from our alumni about studying environmental science during a semester abroad in Australia (a passion first discovered in Mr. Kinney’s class at Darlington) and about living and going to college in Los Angeles and other American cities.
5. Chopsticks can be humbling. Before leaving on the trip, a friend shared with me his strategy for being liked in different communities around the world. He said, “Eat lots of the native food, whether you are in Rome, Ga., Texas, or China.” Well, the food we were served was amazing -- so many interesting flavors! Most meals in China are served family style, and each person at the table uses chopsticks to take a bite to try. My chopstick skills are not strong but, at the same time, I didn’t want to use the fork they would bring to my place setting. (I think I was the only one they brought a fork to; Mrs. Inman has expert skills with chopsticks!) Luckily for me, everyone was kind, everyone respected my effort with chopsticks, and I never went hungry -- that's for sure!
Chopsticks provided small reminders that benefit us all. Step outside of your comfort zone, try something new, enjoy where you are, and try to be the best you in every situation.
Thanks to everyone who made our trip to China an awesome experience!
Click here to see photos from Beijing.
Click here to see photos from Shanghai.
