Chinese students visit Miramichi

Feb. 2, 2009

Some new faces filled the seats around council chambers Wednesday when a group of Chinese students visited city hall.

The 10 students from Beijing arrived in Miramichi Jan. 24 to take part in a week-long winter camp before they headed off to Montreal.

As he sat behind Deputy Mayor Nancy Lordon's microphone, Allen Xi said he made the trip because he wants to go to Dalhousie University in Halifax next year to study business.

"There are some classmates and I will come to Canada for university."

Curling, snowshoeing, tobogganing and going on a sleigh ride were some of the activities the students took part during their stay in the Miramichi.

City hall staff put together gift bags which included a Miramichi hat, pin and tourism booklet for their guests.

District 16 international student coordinator Peggy Gorman-Mitchell said the students were also scheduled to visit local schools before they left so they could see what our schools were like.

"I think it's to learn about our own culture and what Miramichi is like."

In past years, some Chinese students who visited the area returned as exchange students at the high schools and this year some local students will take a trip to Beijing.

Like Xi, Ann Yi said she wanted to visit Canada because she wants to go to university here.

"University in Canada is offering more and can learn something."

But even though she said the people in the Miramichi were friendly and she thought the city was beautiful, she didn't know what the temperature would be like when she left Beijing.

"It's so cold."

Last week, the temperature dipped below -20 C at times, a stark change from highs above 5C in Beijing during the same week. But even with the cold, Yi said the snowshoeing excursion was her favourite part of the trip.

"I think it's very interesting, but in fact it's hard to work."

Xi said everything was white in the Miramichi and he was surprised how much snow the area gets compared to Beijing.

"It's so terrible."

For him, his favourite event was indoors when the group went curling.

"So funny. You must be careful," he said.

Xi also thought the people of Miramichi were friendly and said he wished people from Canada and China would be like family.

"I hope I can spend my next holiday here."

Before they left city hall, some of the students stood together in their identical grey and blue jackets to sing a song about friendship and hope.

As they gathered together at the end of the council tables, Gorman-Mitchell said the program was great for both sides.

"It brings our world together."