Students of Chinese take language field trip

Sisters High School Mandarin Chinese instructor David Perkins took his class to Soji Restaurant in Sisters earlier this month for a lunchtime meeting with Mandarin-speaking cooks Hong Chi Zhang (known as "Chee") and his wife Hui Juan Tan (known as "Ken").

The students enjoyed the food at the recently re-named eatery and visited with the cooks, who are assisting Perkins in teaching the students the language.

"The food was excellent!" said ninth grader KC Dolson. "Meeting the cooks was fun. They are such kind people and their cooking was spectacular. I loved listening to my Chinese teacher talk with them and hearing the tones. I recognized some of the words and knew when my teacher was talking about my sister (Sabitri) and I. It was a wonderful experience."

Samantha Malone also reveled in her new-found understanding of a foreign tongue.

"Being able to go to the restaurant and talk to the cooks was amazing," she said. "I couldn't believe it when all these foreign words started flowing from their mouths. I could understand what they were saying!"

Sam Bearzi noted that "the food, the atmosphere, and the friendly service are great qualities of Soji. I am glad Mr. and Mrs. Zhang and the menu are staying in Sisters."