Heading Down to Chinatown

On February 12, the Chinese class students of both CHS campuses will be going on a field trip to the local Chinatown in Houston in celebration of the Lunar New Year.

The field trip being organized will allow students to immerse themselves into real-world experiences of Chinese culture. This will give them a new-found understanding of Chinese and other Asian cultures.

“The primary purpose of organizing the Lunar New Year field trip is to provide students with an immersive, real-world cultural experience that enhances their understanding of Chinese language, traditions, and Asian cultural heritage,” Chinese teacher Mrs. Jiang said. “This trip also supports cross-cultural awareness, strengthens student interest in world languages, and builds a sense of community among Chinese class and Asian Club students through shared cultural exploration.”

Students attending Chinese classes will get to take a break from their usual lessons and get a hands-on experience revolving around Asian cultures. Some will be making the most of their free time to enjoy the amenities located in Chinatown, such as the restaurants and the shopping centers.

“Obviously, I came on this trip to do the 3 F's: Food Fun and a Fantastic time,” junior Josue Rubio said. “There's barely any stuff here in Conroe so I take advantage of the time we get that day.”

Others are simply hoping to take in the cultural atmosphere of Chinatown, seeing the multiple Asian ethnicities located in Houston. It will give them a much deeper understanding compared to if they were simply taught in the classroom.

“Chinatown, to me, gives me a clear interpretation of ‘cultural diffusion’―seeing individuals from different cultures, religious, and diet-like backgrounds in one place,” senior Kara Craig said.

The most important part of the field trip, of course, is to make sure that students obtain a newfound understanding of Asian culture. After the field trip, the students will come home with a greater appreciation for Chinatown culture and Asian culture alike.

“Personally, bringing students into communities like Chinatown is deeply meaningful because it allows them to experience culture firsthand, beyond what can be taught in a classroom,” Mrs. Jiang said. “We hope this experience will leave a lasting impact by deepening students’ appreciation and understanding of Chinese and Asian cultures.”

Written by Chmdiadi Nwamba