When Kyle Goodall graduates this Friday, he’ll be looking forward to summer just like every other graduate, but his will be filled with adventures and experiences most wouldn’t imagine.
Goodall will be traveling to China as part of Youth For Understanding USA (YFU USA). He will travel abroad to live with a host family and participate in a cultural immersion experience on the 2008 YFU Short Term to China.
‘I’m there for the living experience, exploring the language, culture and rich history of China,? Goodall said.
For Goodall, the trip is a dream come true.
‘I’ve had this planned my entire life,? he said, noting that he started learning Chinese in fifth grade when a woman from Guangzhou moved into his neighborhood.
‘She wanted to become an American citizen,? Goodall explained. ‘In exchange for American history and English lessons, I received private instruction in Mandarin and Cantonese.?
According to Goodall, the pair developed a very unique connection that he credits as being crucial to his being able to learn the language.
‘We are still very limited in what we can say in each other’s language, but beyond our native tongues, we’re able to speak through feelings,? he said, noting that writing Chinese characters is also very different from writing English, something he learned in his friendship.
‘I did not understand that,? Goodall added. ‘You think differently, you feel differently. Perhaps this connection with the Chinese heart is what is so intriguing to me.?
Goodall leaves for China on July 11 and will stay through August 9. His stay starts in China’s capitol of Beijing, the site of this year’s Olympic Games.
‘Beijing has several sights to see and places to be,? he said, noting that he wants to see The Great Wall, Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, among other things.
While he is there, he also has one other goal.
‘I really want to clown on the Great Wall,? said Goodall, who performs as Rainbow the Clown (you may have seen him at this year’s Flower Fair). ‘How many clowns in America can say they did that??
Goodall spent part of his senior year at Lake Orion High School dual-enrolled at Oakland University for an intensive Chinese language course, and intends to continue his education at Central Michigan University this fall where he was awarded the prestigious Lem Tucker Journalism Scholarship.
He said he plans on studying Broadcast Journalism and Cinematic Arts, and is also considering a double major in education.
‘Ten years from now, I see myself working for a TV station,? Goodall added, noting that he hopes ‘to fix the news one day.?
Outside of a career in television, Goodall hopes to travel and continue to study different cultures, but also possibly teach, and wants to open a magnet high school in an inner city some day.
‘It’ll be a happy, successful school where kids have a curiosity for learning and enjoy their time spent,? he said.
Goodall has been putting his change in his ‘China jar? since sixth grade in anticipation of his trip to China one day, but he will get to use some of that money for fun, as he has been awarded a scholarship from the Face of America ? Jack Kent Cooke Foundation.
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See a special guest column over the summer from Goodall, who will share his China experiences.