On the afternoon of the 4th, Washington time, Michelle visited the Washington Yu Ying Public Charter School, which is famous for teaching Chinese, to visit American students learning Chinese there. The White House announced on the 3rd that Michelle will take her two daughters and mother to visit China from March 19th to 26th, traveling to Beijing, Xi'an, and Chengdu.
In a sixth-grade classroom, 29 students sat in a circle and introduced her to what they saw and heard during their trips to Beijing, Xi'an, and Shanghai last year. Facing the innocent children, Michelle smiled and said, "You have been to the places I am going to, so you have to help me prepare."
From Chinese language to Chinese food, Michelle was full of interest. She followed the children to learn basic daily phrases such as "Hello," "Goodbye," and "Thank you." A boy also suggested she should know how to say "Where is the restroom?" which made Michelle burst into laughter.
"What Chinese dishes have you eaten that you hadn't tried before?" Michelle asked. Upon hearing answers like jellyfish salad, chicken feet, and fish head, Michelle said not to tell her daughters Malia and Sasha, "but it sounds good, I love to take risks when it comes to food."
Michelle, who has always advocated for "Let's Move!," also asked about the sports that Chinese children like. The students replied, "They prefer table tennis, basketball, and badminton." When asked about the strengths of Chinese students, they said, "They have a stronger sense of responsibility and can go home for lunch."
Students at Yu Ying School also told Michelle that before going to China, they had many misunderstandings, thinking that China was poor and backward and that everyone was still riding bicycles. After visiting, they discovered that China is vast and highly modernized.
Michelle agreed with the idea of broadening one's horizons by "stepping out of the United States." She said that as globalization increases, it is extremely beneficial to understand the culture and history of other countries, "It will become very important when you grow up and work."
Michelle stated that for this reason, she has focused her visit to China on education, hoping to lead American students to understand Chinese history and culture, and to understand "what drives young people in China to work hard and study diligently."
According to the itinerary released by the White House, during her time in China, Michelle will visit a university and a high school in Beijing, as well as a high school in Chengdu, to communicate face-to-face with Chinese students and visit famous Chinese historical sites.
To encourage American students to pay attention to the First Lady's trip to China, the White House official website has launched a special webpage for Michelle's visit to China. Michelle promised that she would update her travel log daily during her visit, including videos and photos, and would answer questions submitted by students online.
