Guest post by Ningxia University College of Education visiting students.
Our visiting group of graduate students from Ningxia University College of Education participated in a cultural exchange at Parkview High School on March 29, 2019.
Preparation
The event was led by Ms. Daezia Smith of Missouri State University. Twelve graduate students of Ningxia University College of Education participated. Before the activities, we decided on three main themes:
- Chinese characters and calligraphy display;
- Traditional Chinese paper-cut and the twelve zodiacs;
- Chinese knot and handmade crafts.
After setting up the theme, our team members immediately started the preparation work. We used nearly six hours to produce some finished products for the activities. We created the 12 zodiac paper-cuts, Chinese knots, origami cards, Spring Festival couplets and other small paper-cuts with Chinese characteristics.
Parkview High School Visit
In the process of cultural exchange activities, Yuchen Pan and Jiani Guan mobilized students to participate in activities and introduce relevant cultures.
Hong Zhu, Qian Zhao and Ying Huang issued greeting cards for students, calculated their zodiacs according to their birth years, and encouraged students to cut their own zodiacs.
Miaomiao Yao, Jining Liang, and Mo Wei wrote Chinese characters on the cards for students, and according to their English names to give them names with Chinese connotations.
Yunxia Wang, Manman Xiao and Chaochao Zhuang taught them how to make Chinese knots vividly. Jianfeng Yu took photos of activities and other organizational activities at the school.
At the event site, members put up couplets, swing ink stones, lined up the twelve zodiac signs and example knots. 
These served as both decoration and examples. They made the activities proceed in an orderly fashion with the full participation of all members. This included the participation of high school teachers, students, and parents. Participants successfully created a greeting card with Chinese characteristics by collecting or cutting their own paper-cuts, making Chinese knots, writing Chinese names and affiliations.
Reflection
This activity not only disseminates Chinese traditional culture for American high school students but also enhances the sense of pride and collective honor of our group. After the event, the members took photos with the teachers and students of Parkview High School and returned to our residence safely.