Photo by Breeana Laughlin

Anderson Historical Society member Jack Faulkenberry shares the history of Anderson and Cottonwood with a group of exchange students.

Cottonwood families recently hosted a group of 10 female Chinese exchange students.

The girls, ages 13 to 17, spent three hours a day in an English class, and three hours embarking on activities designed to teach them about the Shasta County area. They also spent time with host families.

“It is a true cultural exchange,” said Lillian Feierabend, of the People Link exchange program. While they were here, the exchange students got to visit local tourist attractions like Turtle Bay and the Sundial Bridge, and they also toured sites in Cottonwood and Anderson, including fire departments, the post office and Anderson’s Teen Center.

Members of the Anderson Historical Society and Museum gave the exchange students a tour of historic Cottonwood, then they took them to the Old Columbia Schoolhouse in Anderson.

“That’s when one of the girls sat down at the piano, after much urging, and played,” said Anderson Historical Society member Jack Faulkenberry. “She’s probably a concert pianist because it was so beautiful. I loved it.”

Feirebend said the girls really enjoyed their time in the exchange program.

“They were so excited about everything,” She said. “You would get all ten of them together, and the more excited they were, the higher the decibel level would get.”

The exchange students also made an impression on local community members. “One of the younger ones, medium height, had such a beautiful smile,” Faulkenberry said. “If you looked at her, she would smile. And when she did, it went right to your heart.”

“I hope they enjoyed it half as much as we did, because we really got a kick out of it,” said the historical society member.