In the summer of 2026, The Beijing Center (TBC) hosted Loyola Blakefield High School, Boston College High School, Xavier High School, and Notre Dame High School for visits to renowned attractions and immersive experiences in Chinese daily life. More importantly than showing the students what tourism in China looked like, the experiences showed them the daily rhythm of life in densely populated urban areas. Although they got to see the Great Wall, Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, and more, the students additionally got to interact with locals in China’s busy main streets, parks, markets, schools, and alleyways, also known as “Hutongs,” built within traditional “Siheyuan”-style courtyard residences.
Whether they were going to markets to bargain or getting a quick snack from food stands, the students always had opportunities to meet local Chinese from all age groups. On many occasions, locals would stare at the students in curiosity. Some outgoing locals would approach the American students and shyly say hello or even offer to get a picture together. Children would also point while asking their parents where those strange-looking foreigners came from. These instances usually led to warm interactions where young children would shake hands, hug, and take photos with the students.
Students enjoyed engaging with the elderly aunties and uncles as well. Shop owners and retirees walking around the streets asked many questions, a common one being “how is life in China compared to America?” With the help of translation apps and TBC’s staff, students got to tell them about differences between Chinese daily life and American life back home. A lot of these engagements with locals occurred in parks, where retirees gather to preserve good health and spend time together. The students competed in calisthenics exercises with older men and danced with older women. The students were shocked to discover that some retirees were Christian, and one auntie even preached about the importance of treating the poor, orphaned, and sick individuals with love. When these interactions led to their sad goodbyes, the locals often tried to extend the interaction and persisted in giving their warmest welcomes to the students.
Some younger Chinese people, such as university students who knew basic English very well, even got the students’ WeChats so that they could stay in touch with each other. When learning how to play badminton, some American students wandered off and found young locals to play basketball with them as well. Although they come from entirely different cultures in countries on opposite sides of the world, they found commonalities by connecting through sports, popular internet memes, and other aspects of global online references. One student from Loyola Blakefield high school memorably stated: “Ball connects all people of the world.”
Often, students’ favorite part of local engagement was bargaining. At places like the Hongqiao Market, students had the opportunity to show off their bargaining skills. Shy students came out of their shells and met local shop owners with confrontational bargaining tactics. Some students compared the bargaining experience in local Chinese markets to similar experiences they’ve partaken in and observed in New York’s Lower East side. Although there was a language barrier between each party, many students had become fluent in their bargaining skills, and they were excited to bring them back to America.
After every interaction, students grew more to enjoy connecting with locals in China. They loved engaging with the Chinese community as much as the Chinese community loved doing so with them. At the latter end of the students’ time in China, ending conversations became just as bittersweet for them as for the locals. A student from Notre Dame high school remarked, “I’m gonna miss the people here so much.”
To be honest, I’d never planned to study in Beijing, or even to pursue studying Chinese. What I have had, however, is a lifelong appreciation for languages and cultures.
This past summer at The Beijing Center (TBC), students from Marquette University took TBC’s Chinese language courses for college credit. TBC’s program offers an intensive, immersive curriculum in the heart of Beijing.
This past summer in China, TBC connected students from Notre Dame School of Manhattan and Xavier High School with some of Beijing’s local elementary students. The young children were shy at first, but they eventually loved interacting with their new American friends.
Last summer, The Beijing Center (TBC) hosted Loyola Blakefield High School, Boston College High School, Xavier High School, and Notre Dame High School in China.