Saint Patrick’s Mandarin World Language Exchange Program came full circle this summer, as four current students from Chicago put their knowledge to the test during their trips to China.
While dozens of students from China have enrolled at St. Pat’s over the last several years, this was the first time St. Pat’s American students had the opportunity to travel overseas.
Seniors Luis Torres and Austin Behrendt, junior Wilfredo Colon, and sophomore Joseph Barletta all made the trek to China. They had a wonderful time and agreed the trip was one they would never forget.
“It was so great to be able to delve into a culture that is so much different from our own and experience it firsthand,” Barletta said.
“China is a beautiful place to be and I met some of the best people ever,” Torres said. “I hope that someday I can go back.”
During their trips, the St. Pat’s students travelled everywhere from downtown Beijing to the Great Wall of China and the Forbidden City. Each young man agreed that the knowledge of the Chinese culture gained from studying at St. Pat’s helped them greatly during their trip.
To view photos of the students on their trips, click here.
