BY LARRY HLAVENKA JR.
Staff Writer
Brother and sister Jonathan and Taryn Ladeau recently returned from an 18-day People to People student ambassador trip to China. They visited many landmarks in the Asian nation. HOWELL – By their standards, Jonathan and Taryn Ladeau had a relatively ordinary summer.
They spent more than 40 hours on airplanes, were photographed by people who considered them celebrities and ate a fried scorpion.
The brother and sister from Howell High School recently returned from an 18-day People to People student ambassador trip to China with 34 other American students.
It was just another summer for these traveling siblings, as Jonathan, 16, a junior, and Taryn, 14, a freshman, have visited Australia, New Zealand, Greece, Italy, France, England, Ireland and Wales in recent years.
Jonathan said their newest experience was to help gain a better understanding of cultures around the world.
“The inspiration was to bring cultures together,” he said.
Their mother, Janet, was initially skeptical when a letter arrived asking the students to participate in the People to People program. She said she researched the program and decided “it was definitely a great opportunity for the kids.”
She learned that President Dwight D. Eisenhower founded People to People during his presidency in 1956. The group is based in Spokane, Wash., and has been coordinating educational travel for 50 years.
So the siblings embarked on their latest journey, but not before being given a list of dos and don’ts.
“I wasn’t too nervous, but not too confident.” Taryn said. “There were so many rules; never show the soles of our shoes, you couldn’t sit on floors in hallways, you couldn’t stab food with chopsticks.”
She explained that all of the rules were a matter of respect in the Chinese culture.
Following a 21-hour plane flight to Asia, the Ladeaus made stops at the Great Wall of China, Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and other points of interest.
Jonathan was amazed by the scenery. He said the expansive gardens and lush greenery were quite different from the United States.
The Ladeaus traveled to the cities of Shanghai, Guilin, Xian, Beijing and Hong Kong, hopping on nine planes, two trains, two boats and a rickshaw along the way.
Taryn said the best part of their trip was their interaction with gracious and respectful Chinese students.
Her brother agreed.
“They treated us like we were celebrities, they took our pictures,” Jonathan said.
Furthering their diplomatic voyage, they presented a Chinese karate teacher with a letter of friendship from their own karate teacher, Art Beins.
“It helps bridge the gap and earn a better understanding of each other,” Jonathan said.
The Ladeaus admitted, though, that the gap between the United States and China is still wide – at least with regard to the heat index and local customs.
“The heat was difficult,” Taryn said, explaining that the Americans were constantly advised to keep hydrated.
“It was nothing like the summers here,” Jonathan said.
Taryn said the worst part of the experience was eating a fried scorpion – despite its similarity to a potato chip.
Nonetheless, Jonathan said it was difficult to leave China.
“We did want to stay there for another week or two,” he said.
Forward-thinkers, the Ladeaus already have next year’s adventures in mind.
“We can’t wait to go on a trip next year to make a difference,” Jonathan said.