DUNCAN — China. Even though it has nearly a fifth of the world’s population with 1.3 billion people, an economy that rivals America and a history that spans centuries, China has still remained for most Westerners a hidden kingdom with an unknown language and culture.

But in recent years, China has started to branch out to other countries and people through such things as cultural exchanges, where teachers go abroad and educate others on the rich history their language and culture provide.

In Duncan, students have access to two teachers who came over as part of this program. One is at the EDGE Academy and the other at Duncan High School.

“As part of the program, we were guaranteed to have a native Chinese teacher for two years, but not necessarily the same teacher,” Duncan Superintendent of Public Schools Sherry Labyer said.

Mao Yu (pronounced “miao” without the “i” and a really harsh “you”), or Alice, as she is called, 28, comes from Chong Qing (pronounced “ch-oe-ng” and “ch-ing”), a small municipality in the heart of China with over 30 million people. She has studied English since she was 12 years old and, if one were to communicate with her, one would almost think she was a native English speaker.

“I was teaching English in China when I got the opportunity to take part in this program,” said Alice. “It required at least three years prior English teaching experience. The whole process happened really fast. When I was recruited, they sent me to BeiJing (capital of China and pronounced “bay” and “jeeng”) to have an interview. Luckily, the interview went well.

“Once they chose me and I found out I would come to Oklahoma, I went home and looked it up on the Internet. At first, I thought it said there were 30 million people in Duncan, but I thought that strange since there were only 1,000 students at the school. Then I realized it was in thousands not millions.

“Right before the school year began, China sent all the chosen teachers to Stanford for a 10-day orientation. We then went to our respective locations.

“I think it’s cool to be in a place like Duncan. It’s a nice small place,” she said.

Alice has three different classes throughout each day with about 13-15 students each.

“Alice has done very well,” Labyer said. “Because her classes are relatively small, she has more time to give individual attention to the needs of each student. It really isn’t an in-depth language class, but a combined Chinese culture and language class.”

The first few minutes of Alice’s class is a warm-up exercise: Tai-ji (pronounced “Tie” and “jee”). This is a traditional, spiritualistic exercise that is also considered a soft form of martial arts. Alice plays a movie-tutorial. The students raise their arms slowly skyward, gracefully move their feet in formation and create soft arcs and movements with their arms and legs as they try to mimic the movements on the movie.

Throughout the course, students will watch Chinese movies such as “Crouching Tiger,” “Hidden Dragon” and “Hero,” learn some fundamental vocabulary and grammar and gain an appreciation for Chinese history.

“I think it’s exciting,” Labyer said. “This will broaden the students’ awareness and understanding of China’s language and culture. After all, Chinese is the most spoken language in the world and one of the oldest civilizations.”

But Alice is not haughty about her background. Instead, since she has been here in Duncan, not only has she humbly applied herself to sharing China’s culture with her students, but she has also taken the necessary steps to immerse herself into the native culture here and has become involved in the community.

“Alice has helped interpret at the hospital during some emergencies, when the injured couldn’t speak English very well,” Labyer said. “She also went to her first rodeo and football game in the last couple of months. She has really enjoyed Oklahoma.”

Though her enjoyment here is quite evident, especially when she learns a new phrase like “I tell you what,” she has also had a sense of cultural shock, as can be expected.

“Sometimes communication has been difficult,” said Alice. “It is like a magnifying glass. A problem in China can be small for me, but in America it can be a much larger one because the cultures are different.

“For example, when I am sick, American doctors understand my words, but don’t completely understand what I mean or need. So, I receive a different prescribed treatment than I would expect in China.”

Besides medicine, one difference that became extremely visible to her once in America is the amount of sugar in the food.

“I love to cook,” said Alice. “In Chong Qing, I would sometimes look on the Internet for recipes from America. Whatever the amount of sugar the recipe called for, I would use only a fourth of it. Even then, my mother thought it too sweet.”

Though she doesn’t care for the sugary food in America, Alice has found at least one food item that she loves.

“Fritos are my favorite! They are so good,” she said. “I also like the Mexican food. It is similar to Chinese food.”

But being in a foreign country can be difficult, and Alice is quick to recognize her human and very real emotions caused by being away from her family.

“I do miss my family,” she said. “But I get to talk with them nearly every day over the Internet, so that helps. I also miss my city and friends, but mostly my family. My host family and some new-found friends, however, have helped me.

“I am excited for after Christmas because that will mean I have passed the half-way mark before I get to return home for the summertime. But maybe I can arrange to have my family come and visit sometime before I leave,” she said.

Because of Alice’s humble and down-to-earth attitudes, her students and those she associates with greatly appreciate her. And though she loves her native culture, she has also changed her own views and intellectually grown since she has been here.

“Before I came to America, I didn’t know how much all the Asian cultures are similar. Some of Asia’s foreign exchange students and I will eat lunch together in the cafeteria. We will bring our own food and share with each other. We’ve become good friends. In fact, I want to visit Thailand with one of my students when I return.

“I have also learned to appreciate parts of China’s history and culture much more since I’ve left. For example, in China, I didn’t care much for the martial arts, but now I do. It’s funny, but until I left, I didn’t appreciate certain aspects of China’s culture as much,” she said.

Perhaps Alice has learned just as much, if not more, from this experience as her students have and will learn from her.