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.)