American Homestay Experience Makes an Impact

Recent Stanford MBA Grad Jason Jianyu Tu was born in 1989 in a small village 125 miles south of Xian--in what he termed a sixth-tier city, meaning, "there's a very slim chance you can be successful." (See post one.) His parents, well aware of this, searched for ways out of this small village, and eventually found a path to Xian. (See post two.) The big city of Xian--although only a hop, skip and a jump away--was like a different planet, with buses and fast food and a really tough school. (See post three.) Jason gave up trying to do well in school, instead focusing his energy where his passions lay: guitar and blockbuster movies. (See post four.) While Jason's high school headmaster did not have high hopes that Jason would get a college degree, Jason jumped through hoop after hoop to get accepted to the University of Washington. His only problem? Funding. (See post five.) Thanks, however, to a mass e-mail marketing campaign, Jason found himself accepted to the University of Evansville in Indiana. (See post six.) He was thrilled...until he landed in what felt like the middle of nowhere. (See post seven.) As Jason was one of two Chinese people at the school, he was immediately the expert on anything and everything that had to do with China. (See post eight.)

Jason continued to feel his way around the University of Evansville, and he went to a church activity. There he was asked if he would like to be paired with a host family. Although not totally clear what this was he, of course, agreed.

Jason with his Host Family

"That was a very, very important part of my life."

Jason's host parents had just adopted a Chinese girl. With Jason they hoped to set up an exchange of information: they would help Jason adapt to America, and Jason would help their daughter understand Chinese culture and speak Mandarin.

“That surprised me. China is historically very different: tribes, small kingdoms.  So families have a different attitude. If you go out to this family, you are part of them. So, if you adopt a kid, the family tries to prevent you from knowing where your origin is. They will tell you that, ‘You were born to this family. You belong to this family.’ 

"So, I felt really touched by what my host family was trying to do. They would bring me to their house every weekend to play with the kid, and I call her my sister, actually.”

Jason Celebrating Christmas with Host Family

Jason and Host Family Decked Out in Olympic Garb

Despite Jason's hero status, this new family, and the welcoming community of Evansville, he decided he couldn't stay.

(To be continued. Next: Jason Seeks a Bigger Pond.)

Jason Becomes Resident China Expert

Recent Stanford MBA Grad Jason Jianyu Tu was born in 1989 in a small village 125 miles south of Xian--in what he termed a sixth-tier city, meaning, "there's a very slim chance you can be successful." (See post one.) His parents, well aware of this, searched for ways out of this small village, and eventually found a path to Xian. (See post two.) The big city of Xian--although only a hop, skip and a jump away--was like a different planet, with buses and fast food and a really tough school. (See post three.) Jason gave up trying to do well in school, instead focusing his energy where his passions lay: guitar and blockbuster movies. (See post four.) While Jason's high school headmaster did not have high hopes that Jason would get a college degree, Jason jumped through hoop after hoop to get accepted to the University of Washington. His only problem? Funding. (See post five.) Thanks, however, to a mass e-mail marketing campaign, Jason found himself accepted to the University of Evansville in Indiana. (See post six.) He was thrilled...until he landed in what felt like the middle of nowhere. (See post seven.)

When Jason arrived in the small rural town of Evansville in 2007, China was preparing to host the 2008 Summer Olympics. All eyes were on this far-off country. Jason, as one of two Chinese at the University, was met with Hero Worship.

“They asked me to give talks about China, to organize talks about Chinese culture. For a World Culture Class they invited me over (pulling me out of class) to give my perspective.” 
At this image, I erupted with laughter. Not only could I see that happening in Evansville, but I could see myself doing the exact same thing--meeting someone from (insert name of country) and assuming they know the answers to all my questions about the area. 

Jason said he felt honored to be given this responsibility as China's spokesperson….but also somewhat overwhelmed. He wasn’t an expert on Tibetan culture or Darfur or any of the other myriad of topics he was asked to offer an opinion on.

“I felt that they really don’t understand China. They really don’t know China at all. Everything is what they hear from commentaries they hear from BBC/CNN/Fox.”

“Everyone was involved in Human Rights' activities and 'Free Tibet,' and all these things. There were lots of demonstrations. Not always big demonstrations. Sometimes just two people holding a poster. I didn’t expect people to be so pro-active on China issues. A lot of people, when they talked to me, it was all about how evil China is."

But while people around him viewed China as evil, they loved Jason. 

(To be continued. Next: American Homestay Experience Makes an Impact.) 

Jason's Heart Grows in American Sixth-Tier City

Recent Stanford MBA Grad Jason Jianyu Tu was born in 1989 in a small village 125 miles south of Xian--in what he termed a sixth-tier city--meaning, "there's a very slim chance you can be successful." (See post one.) His parents, well aware of this, searched for ways out of this small village, and eventually found a path to Xian. (See post two.) The big city of Xian--although only a hop, skip and a jump away--was like a different planet, with buses and fast food and a really tough school. (See post three.) Jason gave up trying to do well in school, instead focusing his energy where his passions lay: guitar and blockbuster movies. (See post four.) While Jason's high school headmaster did not have high hopes that Jason would get a college degree, Jason jumped through hoop after hoop to get accepted to the University of Washington. His only problem? Funding. (See post five.) Thanks, however, to a mass e-mail marketing campaign, Jason found himself accepted to the University of Evansville in Indiana. (See post six.)

Jason flew from Hong Kong to Los Angeles, Los Angeles to Chicago. Everything he’d seen in the movies was coming to life, until…

”From Chicago I boarded a turbo jet engine to Evansville. When we landed, there was nothing but cornfields. The airport was teeny tiny. The tallest building I saw was maybe ten stories.”

“I had this ‘WTF’ moment in my mind. All these years I’ve been trying to move from a sixth-tier city to a tier-one city to make my way to success. And then after all these years of effort to land here…."

By some communication mix-up, the college rep was not there to meet Jason. While he stood around waiting, the entire airport emptied out. 

“There was nobody in the airport except this car rental company. I only had a hundred dollar bill in my pocket. There was a pay phone, but I had no change. So I went to the lady at the car-rental counter and I tried to get some change. The lady looked at me like, ‘We don’t take a hundred dollar bills.’ She gave me three quarters. I called the University. They came and picked me up. It (the university) wasn’t far from the airport.”

Jason suffered immediate shock from this small town. “The only fun activity we have is probably the corn maze.” At the same time, his heart grew three sizes from the warm welcome he received—starting with the lady at the car-rental company. 

“People there were super-nice. I’ve been in the U.S. for a while, and people across Indiana and the rural areas are probably the nicest people I’ve ever met. They always treat you nicely. They always try to help. Smile at you in the street. “

(To be continued. Next: Jason Becomes Resident China Expert)

The Box That Saved Jason

Recent Stanford MBA Grad Jason Jianyu Tu was born in 1989 in a small village 125 miles south of Xian--in what he termed a sixth-tier city--meaning, "there's a very slim chance you can be successful." (See post one.) His parents, well aware of this, searched for ways out of this small village, and eventually found a path to Xian. (See post two.) The big city of Xian--although only a hop, skip and a jump away--was like a different planet, with buses and fast food and a really tough school. (See post three.) Jason gave up trying to do well in school, instead focusing his energy where his passions lay: guitar and blockbuster movies. (See post four.) While Jason's high school headmaster did not have high hopes that Jason would get a college degree, Jason jumped through hoop after hoop to get accepted to University of Washington. Then his only problem? Funding. (See post five.)

As Jason was grappling with a sad state of affairs--the one college he got accepted to he could not afford, and all of his pathways were winding up at dead ends-- he got what he thought of as a, “random e-mail.” 

He now knows it came as the result of him ticking a box on the SAT form that allowed colleges to contact him. Ticking that small little box saved him, offering him a lily pad to jump to.

“I got a note from the University of Evansville, and it said ‘You are qualified for a tuition scholarship and a housing stipend.’ So the whole college education was covered.  I thought, ‘Dear God saved me.’

“I really didn’t know what kind of town it was. But it was the only chance that I could go to an American college. So I accepted the offer right away.  They were really happy, as well. They constantly sent me e-mails, ‘Come over.’ 'This is a great place.’ ‘You’re going to be so special for us.’ ‘You are one of only two Chinese students.’"

(To Be Continued: Jason Heart Grows in American Sixth-Tier City.)