NHS Chinese Foreign Exchange Teacher

Is Looking For A Home For Next Year

By Eliza Hallabeck

Since arriving in August 2009 to teach Chinese during the 2009-10 school year, Newtown High School foreign exchange teacher Ding Hong said this week the school year was an exciting one.

Mr Ding said he has enjoyed teaching at the school and living with the Carole and James Brown and their children, twins and NHS seniors Canaan and Colby.

“When I am living with a family,” he said on Wednesday, June 2, “I can be a participant in the culture.”

While his year with the Browns has been a wonderful one, he will need a new place to stay next year. The Browns will be leaving soon for a planned yearlong trip around the world.

“I think Newtown is a good place,” said Mr Ding. “Everyone here has been so friendly, helpful, and I would like to thank everyone for the great help I have been receiving.”

Newtown High School Assistant Principal Jason Hiruo said the last year “was a tremendous experience for Mr Ding and the Browns. They got to share each other’s cultures.”

Mr Hiruo, who is the program coordinator for the school’s sister school partnership with Liaocheng Middle School #3 in the Shandong Province of China, said any family interested in hosting Mr Ding can contact him at hiruoj@newtown.k12.ct.us.

The district does offer a small stipend for host families, said Mr Hiruo, and multiple families could split the school year to host Mr Ding.

“I think it is just such a valuable experience,” said Mr Hiruo. “I know the Browns really enjoyed it. So we would like to provide that to another family that expresses interest.”

Mr Ding will travel to China to visit family during the summer. Interested host families are asked to contact Mr Hiruo as soon as possible before the end of the school year to schedule a place for Mr Ding to stay upon his return.

“We feel so fortunate to have Mr Ding in our school community,” said Mr Hiruo.

While teaching three courses at NHS, Mr Ding has also been working with Mr Hiruo and staff to further the Chinese sister school relationship, according to Mr Hiruo. Next year as the Chinese program extends to Newtown Middle School and Reed Intermediate School, Mr Ding will also be working to put the programs in place.

A Home In Newtown

One highlight of his stay with the Browns for Mr Ding was Christmas, he said, because, “Christmas day is a time for family gatherings, just like in China for other days.”

Thanksgiving was another favorite for Mr Ding, who said the Browns have been helpful and considerate during his stay.

“And the family took me on several trips,” he said, including Boston and New York.

Mrs Brown said Mr Ding has been a sunshine.

“My favorite event to me would be our Chinese New Year party,” said Mrs Brown. The event, as described by Mrs Brown, was a coming together of the family’s friends and Mr Ding’s local friends through the Western Connecticut Chinese Association. They made dumplings, and dragon decorations were strung around the house.

 Mrs Brown said her friends were surprised at being outnumbered by the Chinese guests.

“I said, ‘Get used to it, because this is how the world is,’” said Ms Brown, explaining Americans are dwarfed in population numbers by other cultures. “That in itself was an eye-opener for my friends.”

Mr Ding has been a “super helper” at the family’s home.

“He dives into the family routine,” said Mrs Brown. “He becomes as much of a member of the family as you like.”

There was no problem with communication in the Brown home between the family and Mr Ding, according to Mrs Brown.

“I would encourage anybody to welcome [Mr Ding] in their home,” she said, “and take the opportunity to learn about him and his life. I would just highly recommend it.”