MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- About 40 visiting Chinese middle school students on Sunday were treated to an all-American picnic -- and welcomed by cheerleaders and scouts -- at the home of Middle Tennessee State University President Sidney A. McPhee.
McPhee and first lady Elizabeth McPhee hosted the picnic for the delegation from Hangzhou Normal University's Dongcheng Education Group, aided by cheerleaders and soccer team members from MTSU, cheerleaders from Murfreesboro's Blackman High School and Central Magnet School and members of Scouts BSA and the Girl Scouts of the U.S.A.
The Chinese guests were treated to games of corn hole, volleyball, airplane toss, face painting and other activities -- including a watermelon-eating competition.
The USA students won the watermelon eating contest with one student eating 96 slices!
"It's wonderful to see youth from our two countries here together, smiling, having fun and playing games," President McPhee said. "Events like these help make our world smaller and our hearts bigger.
"We so very much appreciate the help from our partner schools and scouts in making our guests feel welcome."
The visitors were paired after the picnic with local families who participated in last year's exchange trip to China for home visits.
Dongcheng is an affiliate of Hangzhou Normal University, MTSU's partner in the creation and operation of the Confucius Institute on the MTSU campus. Dongcheng oversees a network of magnet-style schools in Hangzhou, China.
It is the fourth time MTSU has hosted the Dongcheng delegation, who also visited before in 2013, 2015 and 2017. Students, parents and teachers from Rutherford-area schools were hosted by Dongcheng in China in 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2018.
Mrs. McPhee, aided by local teachers and parents who have travelled with MTSU to China on previous trips, will conduct joint classes Monday for Chinese and American students at Mitchell-Neilson and Overall Creek elementary schools in Murfreesboro and host a workshop for Chinese teachers.
The delegation has toured facilities on the MTSU campus and saw cultural sites, including the new Tennessee State Museum in Nashville and the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga.
A closing ceremony is set for Monday night and the delegation will depart Murfreesboro Tuesday.
