Chinese and American Students Connect in the Cangzhou China Trip
What makes SPIRAL International’s trips different from others? A feature that makes SPIRAL International’s trips unique from other programs are the Chinese student volunteers! Student volunteers are local students from the host university. In most educational tours, visiting students are accompanied by a host of teachers, tour guides, chaperones and other representatives. These leaders have to be responsible, organize activities and lead large groups, therefore, there may be limited interactions and chances for conversation. However, in SPIRAL International’s educational tours, there are student volunteers to join, assist, and follow along with the students. The university level student volunteers are closer in age to the visiting American students, therefore more relatable to make new friends, engage in conversation, and form relationships.
In SPIRAL’s summer trip to Cangzhou in July 2025, there were about 10 university student volunteers who accompanied the American students for the entire trip. From the time the American students arrived in Beijing, the student volunteers were ready to greet them at the airport, lead them to the hotel and help them settle into their hotel rooms.
Throughout the trip, the Chinese student volunteers accompanied the American students. The volunteers even joined the students in the workshops, watched the Chinese cultural performances, ate meals, went with the students to the sites like the Great Wall, and even stayed in the Beijing hotel. The volunteers assisted leaders and students in every area. In the workshops, such as the clay model sculpting and making dumplings, the student volunteers helped American students with their creations.
One evening, the Chinese student volunteers even surprised the American students with a Tang dynasty role-playing game. Role playing games are very popular with Chinese youth recently. Each student was given a role at random to act out in the game. Some of the roles were merchants, hotel owners, waitresses, just to name a few. In the game that the student volunteers created, there were short video clips from popular Chinese dramas and activities which taught the students several aspects about Chinese culture such as the importance of bowing to people of different positions, common gifts given in China and their symbolization and many other Chinese cultural aspects.
The American students benefited the most from the student volunteers in communication. The volunteers also served as language partners, helping the American students improve their Mandarin Chinese skills. They introduced one another to Chinese and American dramas and TV shows, music, artists, games and more. While walking through sites, shopping, or having lunch together, students could ask questions about Chinese culture while on the scene! It is important to be able to practice a language outside of the classroom and immerse oneself. The American students enjoyed interacting in a new language and learning another culture on the scene, as well as making new friends.
Likewise, the volunteers practiced their English, asked about the American education system and other certain aspects about American culture. It was an educational exchange! The American students interacting with Chinese student volunteers was one of the features the students liked most about the trip. The American students appreciated their hard work and dedication to making their experience unforgettable. Many befriended many of the Chinese volunteers and exchanged contact information to stay in touch. Even though the Cangzhou trip was only one week long, the students made lifetime friendships with the volunteers. Who knows? Maybe one day in the future they will meet in person again!
