After studying Chinese for 11 years, Edina High School 10th grader Eliza Price was ready to fully immerse herself in the culture for six weeks. Price pushed through a yearlong application to the National Security Language Initiative for Youth program, a national immersion program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. She competed against 5,400 students and was one of 15 freshman accepted.
Staying with a host family in Kunming, China, she took part in cultural activities and studied the language for four hours a day. The program is designed to improve language skills and experience the culture.
“I’m almost relieved,” Price says. “I’ve been studying the language and culture my entire life and now I got to experience it first hand. I’m ecstatic. I’m thrilled.”
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