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Student from China enjoys time in Oxford Talawanda Middle School

Ziwen Zhang attended Talawanda Middle School for 10 weeks.

Ziwen Zhang, a 14-year-old student from China, has been studying at Talawanda Middle School while his parents do business in the United States. Zhang will end his 10-week stay in Oxford on Sunday, March 21. Staff photo by Greg Lynch

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By Meagan Engle, Staff Writer 1:15 PM Thursday, March 18, 2010

OXFORD — Ziwen Zhang says he’ll miss the friendly atmosphere at Talawanda Middle School.

The 14-year-old from China is enjoying the final days of his 10-week stay in Oxford as his father does business around the United States.

“The thing I like most here is the feeling of the school. It’s funny, happy all the time,” Zhang said.

Zhang came to Talawanda Middle School with a positive attitude, said his teacher Lori Garver.

“He is very outgoing and has been accepted quickly by our eighth-graders. He comes to class ready to learn and is not shy about asking questions,” she said. “We will miss him when he leaves.”

Zhang’s last day in Oxford will be Sunday, March 21. But he hopes to return to the United States for high school and college. He plans to work in China and be a venture capitalist.

“I’d like to go to high school in America,” he said. “From here, I can improve my English, so it will be very helpful.”

He’s already visited the United States eight times, including this stay in Oxford.

He’s learned a lot about the English language and the American family, he said. He has loved the lunch food at the middle school, but studying Spanish translated from English has been impossible, Zhang said.

He’s also enjoyed the break from the typical 13-hour day in China, he said.

“I think it’s much more fun to stay in school year,” he said. “People here are very friendly, so it’s pretty easy.”

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