My Masters program was about 80% Chinese nationals. I became friends with a few of them despite the language barrier. I like hanging out with people from other countries because it's a very cheap way to vacation at home.<p>'A' was a guy, about 23 years old, not very talented as a programmer, though there were some great ones in the group. He did not understand that plagarism was wrong. He would copy paste wikipedia and I'd point out that that was not allowed and he handed it in anyway and the teacher would read him the riot act. I think he got a C anyway. He had an idealistic worship of American culture and really wanted to be friends, but his personality was as bland as can be. Guy went to an all boys school in China and so he said one of the main reason he picked school X was that there were a lot of women there and his TOEFL scores were good enough for them to let him in.<p>'B' was a very upbeat and enthusiastic young lady who would always wear hats that said "Genius" is Chinese. Lots of energy, always got projects done on time. Told me she took a semester off to have a baby. I was thinking, "wow, that's odd, a very career focused ambitious woman having a baby in her early 20s". Then I thought the politically incorrect thought (downvotes!) that this was an anchor baby, except not the penniless economic refugee type. Ahh good for her, I think she'll be a great addition to our country.
<p><pre><code> Korbin’s Chinese housemate, Oscar, spent several thousand dollars
on a laptop so powerful that it blew out the fuses in their host
family’s house.
</code></pre>
I was fairly engrossed in the story, until that sentence. The jarring hyperbole of <i>"a laptop so powerful that it blew the fuses"</i> - it makes me question how much of the rest of the story is poetic licence.
There is gold in being a host family. $1800 a month. Or more. Paid by the School.<p>Little old ladies with an extra bedroom hosting a young Chinese boy. Often when they turn driving age I see them in a new car.<p>Over 200 are enrolled at the regional college prep Catholic school<p>Host families are a secret way to make good money.<p>EDIT: its not airbnb-esque. You don't hand over a key. They are children. Hosts can't go away for the weekend. They provide / cook meals or shop or take student to the store for their own food.
Watching my own children go through the education system here in the UK I have noticed how much more of a qualification system it is compared to when I was at school/college in the 1970's & 1980's. Education seems to be something you try to get along the way to qualifications.
It seems like what these parents really want for their kids is enculturation, but they don't realise it. A western education on its own is still rather limiting when it comes to career and life success.