First Group of Anhui ‘2+2’ Students Arrive on Brenau Campus
The first wave of Brenau University junior year transfer students arrived Friday, Aug. 19, on the historic campus in Gainesville, Georgia – a city that has a population that is about the same size as the 35,000-student population of Anhui Normal University where they spent the first two years of their undergraduate studies.
To say the group has some adjusting to do probably is a bit of an understatement. However, after flying in from the other side of the world, the first thing they wanted to do was what any other college student wants to do: eat.
After some quick greetings with Brenau faculty and staff, the seven students grabbed their baggage and piled on a Golden Tigers team bus for a quick trip to an Atlanta institution: The Dwarf House in nearby Hapeville, Georgia, the first establishment in the highly successful Atlanta chain Chik-fil-A.
First arrivals, identified with the “American” names that they chose for their time in the United States, included Shengzhi Harry Deng, Yi Crystal Wang, Xinyan Daisy Qiu, Xiaorui Iris Shi, Rui Lavender Qin, Zhengyun Lynn Lu and Xiangqian Cathy Wu.
They preceded others scheduled to arrive later Friday and on Saturday: Tingting Amy Yang, Yu Belle Ni, Ling Becky Xu, Xinyi Lisa Wang, Zirui Cherry Hong, Yanan Skye Qi, Huiyuan Miao Miao (sometimes called Doris) Yu, Jingjing Jocelyn Heng, Xinning Rachel Pei, Ying Alice and Han and Jie Lily Li.
The 18 students are part of a special agreement between Brenau and ANU that permits the students to complete the first two years of their college careers in China and graduate from Brenau after completing their junior and senior years on the Gainesville campus. All the students in this group will major in early childhood education.
Members of the group have spent the last two years in intense preparation for their time in the United States.
As they move into their senior years in the next fall term, they’ll be joined at Brenau by a new crop of about 30 junior as well as the first waves of students in two other “2+2” programs that Brenau has with Chinese universities. All told, when the programs are fully implemented, there will be a steady rotation of about 180 Chinese students working toward Brenau degrees every year.
From left, Crystal Wang, Cathy Wu, Daisy Qiu and College of Education Dean Eugene Williams walk into the arrivals area at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta.
Cathy Wu gets a hug from Janet Grier, associate professor of education, at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
From right, Crystal Wang, Cathy Wu, Daisy Qiu make their way through Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport after arriving in Atlanta.
From left, Janet Grier, assistant professor of education, Crystal Wang, Crystal Toombs, associate provost of adult & graduate studies and Daisy Qiu greet each other in the airport after the student’s flight.
Crystal Toombs, associate provost of adult & graduate studies, speaks with Crystal Wang near baggage claim of Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
From left, Harry Deng, Daisy Qiu, Janet Grier, Lavender Qin, Crystal Toombs, Cathy Wu, Crystal Wang, Iris Shi, Lynn Lu and Eugene Williams pose for a photo at Hartsfield-Jackson International airport.
Daisy Qiu gets a hug from Dr. Crystal Toombs, associate provost for adult and graduate studies, before boarding a bus to leave the airport.
Cathy Wu snaps a photo inside the High Museum of Art while, from left to right, Crsytal Wang, Lynn Lu and Lavender Qin look on.
Crystal Wang receives a bag of Brenau themed items from Janet Grier before boarding the bus from the airport.
Harry Deng snaps a photo out the window of the bus while leaving the Atlanta airport.
Cathy Wu jumps off the bus while stopping for breakfast.
From right, Iris Shi, Lynn Lu, Daisy Qiu, Harry Deng, Cathy Wu place their orders at Chick-Fil-A
Students enjoy their first meal in Georgia at the Dwarf House, the original location of the Chick-Fil-A restaurant chain.
Mike Lochstampfor, athletic director & head soccer coach, Bill Felt, driver, Lynn Lu, Daisy Qiu, Lavender Qin, Cathy Wu, Crystal Wang, Iris Shi, Harry Deng, and Eugene Williams, dean of the College of Education, pose for a photo after breakfast.
Daisy Qiu boards the bus after breakfast.
Daisy Qiu laughs while Harry Deng uses his hat to try to block the sun from her eyes while on the bus.
Lavender Qin looks at a piece of modern art.
Daisy Qiu walks through the High Museum of Art with Eugene Williams, dean of the College of Education.
Daisy Qiu poses for a photo inside the High Museum of Art.
From right to left, Crystal Wang, Lavender Qin, Daisy Qiu, Cathy Wu and Lynn Lu make their way through the High Museum of Art.
From left, Lynn Lu, Iris Shi, Harry Deng, Lavender Qin look through an Eric Carle exhibit at the High Museum of Art.
Harry Deng examines a piece of stained glass artwork at the High Museum of Art.
Iris Shi, left, and Harry Deng talk while walking through the High Museum of Art.
Daisy Qiu walks through the High Museum of Art.
Iris Shi walks in the shade of a cluster of trees near the High Museum of Art in Atlanta.
Crystal Wang, right and Daisy Qiu walk from the High Museum of Art back to the Brenau bus.
From left, Lynn Lu, Daisy Qiu, Cathy Wu walk through the streets of midtown Atlanta.
From right, Lavender Qin, Iris Shi, Harry Deng, Janet Grier, assistant professor of education, prepare to board the bus for Brenau.
Eugene Williams, dean of the College of Education, waves out the bus window to Crystal Toombs, associate provost of adult & graduate studies, while leaving the airport.
Crystal Wang looks out the window while riding through Atlanta.
Clockwise from bottom left, Lynn Lu, Lavender Qin, Iris Shi, Cathy Wu ride the bus through Atlanta.
From right, Lavender Qin, Crystal Wang, Cathy Wu, Harry Deng, Iris Shi make their way toward the High Museum of Art in Atlanta.
Students make their way into the High Museum of Art in Atlanta.
Eugene Williams, dean of the College of Education, supervises as students explore the High Museum of Art.
Lynn Lu looks at artwork in the High Museum of Art.
From left, Lavender Qin, Iris Shi, Harry Deng, Lynn Lu, Crystal Wang, Cathy Wu explore the High Museum of Art.
From left, Crystal Wang, Cathy Wu inside the High Museum of Art.
From left, Iris Shi, Daisy Qiu, Harry Deng, Cathy Wu, Crystal Wang, Lynn Lu take in the art at the High Museum.
From center left, Daisy Qiu and Crystal Wang walk on a sidewalk near the High Museum of Art in Atlanta.
Cathy Wu waves to members of Brenau’s student services department, not pictured, while Crystal Wang gets off the bus for the first time on campus.
Daisy Qiu hugs Jordan Anderson, director of international students & programs, after arriving on Brenau’s Historic Gainesville Campus.
Lisa Wang walks off the bus with items she bought for her residence.
Jordan Anderson, director of international students & programs, speaks with Lynn Lu on Brenau’s Historic Gainesville Campus.
Skye Qi gets off the bus after taking a shopping trip to Walmart.
Belle Ni comes off a Brenau bus with a coffee maker and other purchases from Walmart.
From left to right, Alice Han, Harry Deng, Daisy Qiu, Lynn Lu and Cherry Hong make their way to their residence halls after a shopping trip.
Jocelyn Heng gets off the bus after a shopping trip to Walmart.
Cathy Wu holds a mirror she bought on her first shopping trip to Walmart.
Crystal Wang hugs Jordan Anderson, director of international students & programs, after arriving on Brenau’s Historic Gainesville Campus.
From right to left, Cathy Wu, Jordan Anderson, Crystal Wang and Harry Deng, wheel luggage across campus toward their new rooms.
From left to right, Cherry Hong, Cathy Wu, Miao Miao Yu, Amy Yang, Crystal Wang and Skye Qi walks along Washington Street on Brenau’s Historic Gainesville Campus.
From left to right, Becky Xu, Cherry Hong, Cathy Wu and Miao Miao Yu walk along the sidewalk on Washington Street on Brenau’s Historic Gainesville Campus.
From left to right, Cherry Hong, Cathy Wu and Miao Miao Yu carry supplies back to their residence halls.
From left to right, Cherry Hong, Cathy Wu, Miao Miao Yu, Amy Yang, Crystal Wang and Skye Qi walks along Washington Street on Brenau’s Historic Gainesville Campus.
Two plus two students make their way around Brenau’s Historic Gainesville Campus.
Two plus two students make their way to their residence halls after a shopping trip.
Rachel Pei and Lily Li wave while walking across campus.
Alice Han, Jocelyn Heng and Iris Shi carry purchases to their residences after a shopping trip.
Miao Miao Yu on the Brenau Historic Gainesville Campus.
From right, Crystal Wang, Cathy Wu, Iris Shi, Lavender Qin, Lynn Lu, Daisy Qiu arrive on campus.
From front to back, Cathy Wu, Crystal Wang, Iris Shi, Lavender Qin, Lynn Lu, Harry Deng and Daisy Qiu arrive at the Owens Student Center.
From front to back Cathy Wu, Crystal Wang, Iris Shi, Lavender Qin, Lynn Lu and Harry Deng make their way into the Owens Student Center to get their keys and check in before getting their first look at their rooms.
From left to right, Jordan Anderson, director of international students & programs, Annie Johnston, director of freshman admissions and Amanda Lammers, vice president of student services, welcome new student into the Owens Student Center.
Annie Johnston, director of freshman admissions, hugs Daisy Qiu as Amanda Lammers, Vice President of Student Services, looks on.
Erin Henderson, one of Brenau’s student ambassadors, who recently traveled to China, reacts as she is reconnected with her classmates for the first time.
Daisy Qiu hugs Erin Henderson inside the Owens Student Center. Henderson traveled to China as a Brenau Ambassador in May.
Harry Deng moves into his room in the Guest House student residence hall.
Cathy Wu and Cherry Hong inside New Hall student residence after a shopping trip.
Cathy Wu, center, smiles inside her room inside the New Hall student residence while talking with Jordan Anderson, right, and Amanda Buchanan.
Lisa Slysz, left, poses for a photo with her roommate, Crystal Wang.
Daisy Qiu helps Lynn Lu fix her hair for a photograph on Brenau’s Front Lawn.
Front row from left to right, Jocelyn Heng, Miao Miao Yu, Alice Han, Lily Li, Lynn Lu, Belle Ni, Rachel Pei, Cherry Hong, Lavender Qin, Daisy Qiu and back row from left to right, Harry Deng, Iris Shi, Amy Yang, Cathy Wu, Skye Qi, Crystal Wang, Lisa Wang and Becky Xu pose for a group portrait on the front lawn of Brenau’s Historic Gainesville Campus.
