The Piedmont Highlander

The Student News Site of Piedmont High School

The Piedmont Highlander

The Piedmont Highlander

Lyra Cooper Studies Abroad

6,029.31 miles away and 15 hours later in Beijing, China, former PHS student Lyra Cooper embarks on her senior year, an immersion into Chinese language and culture.

“After going to China during the summer of 2010 through the Experiment in International Living Program, I was super excited to learn Chinese and become fluent,” Cooper said. “My main reason for going abroad is that I want to become fluent in Chinese, and I want to be a more worldly person.”

Mother Nina Cooper said she studied abroad in high school and suggested that Cooper consider the possibility.

Nina said they found School Year Abroad (SYA) and were persuaded to consider a year-long program. They attended a meeting with alumni in San Francisco and the students said that in some ways it is easier to study abroad as a senior because you come home and go straight to college instead of having to re-adapt to life in High School. In the end, Cooper decided to go for it.

Cooper lives in a modest, but comfortable apartment in a gated community in the Haidian District in Beijing. Within Haidian, she is in the XiZhiMenWai district. She attends school at Beijing Normal University (BNU) High School #2. Cooper said it is the best high school in Beijing.

Both of Cooper’s host parents work for the Chinese government.

Though the adjustment to a new family, friends, school, and country is difficult, Cooper said her experience so far has been amazing.

Senior friend Natalie Kucirek said she was both very excited for Lyra, but sad when she heard the news.“I have learned so much about Chinese culture and the language. So far, I’ve only had two days of Chinese classes, and I’ve already learned about 70 new characters,” Cooper said.

“I couldn’t believe she would be gone for an entire year, especially our senior year,” Kucirek said. “But I knew that she would learn so much and gain so many experiences that would serve her well.”

Cooper has observed that the Chinese food is healthier, traffic laws are not strictly followed, the Chinese watch more TV than Americans, pollution is worse, they wear slippers in the house or apartment, and the students work a lot harder than American students.“My host dad, when I first met him, kept saying how it was destiny that I came to live with them, and that I was meant to become a part of their family. I already love them so much, and I call them “Ba” and “Ma”, dad and mom, respectively,” Cooper said.Her host family consists of a mom, dad, and a six-year-old girl. They speak English fairly well, which has helped Cooper bond with them, Cooper said. They have also made a constant effort to make her feel at home.

“My family gets really concerned when I sneeze too,” she said. “When I do, they think I’m deathly ill.”

Nina said she is very excited for Cooper to widen her horizons and gain a global perspective that you just can’t get as a tourist.

Cooper recalls one of her favorite moments in her adventure thus far.“My experience living in France as a teenager had a huge influence on who I became and what I wanted to do with my life,” Nina said. “I expect her trip to have a similar effect on Lyra.”

“As I walked back to my apartment building, this woman with a little boy said I spoke very good Chinese (she thought I was Chinese). I replied, explaining that I was American, and then she continued to tell me how good my Chinese was,” Cooper said. “Although this encounter was less than a minute, it made me feel like I belonged, like I wasn’t much of an outsider. I’m beginning to really settle in Beijing.”

“Lyra is an amazing friend,” Kucirek said. “She always listens to you, works tirelessly and incredibly hard at anything she tries, gives everything her 100% attention, is extremely passionate, puts herself into new situations, and gives great advice.”Kucirek said she was always curious to learn Mandarin words from Cooper, so one day Cooper taught her the basics of a conversation. Cooper was also interested in learning Spanish, so Kucirek did the same for her. Every time they would see each other at school, they would greet each other in Mandarin or Spanish.

A former varsity soccer player, Cooper’s continues her passion for soccer in Beijing, for she said her and an American friend play pickup soccer games with Chinese students, who are amazed that she can play soccer, for girls do not typically play in China.

“It’s been a great way to meet Chinese students without the language barrier,” she said.

Though Cooper’s experience has been rewarding so far, there are always difficulties in accustoming oneself to a new lifestyle.

“I miss my family because I’m used to having them as my net, or safe haven,” Cooper said. “I especially miss my little sister, Tali. It’s hard knowing how much she misses me.”

Not having Cooper at home is a huge change, Nina said.

“I miss her so much and her little sister is heart broken—‘I want to hug my sissy!’” Nina said. “They usually make a lot of noise giggling and fighting so the house seems very quiet. We are trying to plan lots of play dates for Tali but it is not the same.”

Nina said it is natural for kids to grow up and leave home. She has watched her friends struggle when their kids left, but she didn’t realize just how hard it is until she experienced it herself, she said.

Cooper plans to attend college in the U.S. next year.

“I have learned so much so far, from the language to how to bus and bike to school,” Cooper said. “Mainly, I have learned to expect the unexpected, and to keep an open mind.”

Photos courtesy Lyra Cooper

Donate to The Piedmont Highlander

Your donation will support the student journalists of Piedmont High School. Your contribution will allow us to purchase equipment and cover our annual website hosting costs.

More to Discover
Donate to The Piedmont Highlander