Local teacher brings knowledge of China to the classroom

Students enrolled in Nathan Gibbs-Bowling's advanced-placement government and geography class likely know more about China than their peers at Lincoln High School.

President Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, are scheduled to visit the school on Wednesday during the state visit to the US.

Gibbs-Bowling - the Washington state teacher of the year - and his wife travel to China frequently, and he introduced the students to major Chinese cities on a map, with photos and geographic insights.

Xi visited Tacoma in 1993, when he was a local government official in Fuzhou, China, The News Tribune of Tacoma reported. That "made a strong case for choosing Tacoma" as a stop when he is in the Northwest, Mayor Marilyn Strickland said.

Tacoma and Fuzhou have been sister cities since 1994 and have participated in educational, cultural and sports exchanges, the paper reported, adding that Tacoma officials frequently travel to Fuzhou.

"China buys a lot of airplanes, has advanced technology, and in the country, education is highly valued," said Maurot Seoum, senior class president at Lincoln High School, whose father works for Boeing Co.

"We prepared gifts for President Xi, but we have to keep the secret," senior Alvin Johnson said.

"I will ask President Xi how it feels to be a powerful leader of Asia," said Angel Conner, a junior at the school.

(China Daily USA 09/22/2015 page3)