NMI student attends scholar program in China

Saipan-born Matthew Owen DeLeon-Guerrero, 19, a freshman at Boise State University, has just finished a tour as a delegate to the International Scholar Laureate Program Delegation on Medicine in China as part of his summer studies program.

This opportunity, which took place from May 27 to June 11, 2008, was made available to DeLeon-Guerrero through his earlier participation in the National Youth Leadership Forum in Washington D.C. in November 2006 while he was a senior at Saipan’s Mount Carmel High School.

According to ISLP, he was singled out in recognition of his academic excellence. Inclusion in these international scholastics programs provide students opportunities in studies abroad in the fields of Anthropology & Archeology, Business, Communications & Journalism, Diplomacy & International Relations, Engineering, Medicine, Music, Nursing and Technology.

DeLeon-Guerrero was joined in this China trip by 40 other high-achieving scholars from prestigious institutions across the United States including Johns Hopkins, Columbia, Berkeley, Amherst, UCLA, and NYU, to name a few. DeLeon-Guerrero was the only student from Boise State University, and the only individual representing the CNMI in this program at this time.

While in China, his tour began in Beijing with a general survey of Chinese health care at the University Health Science Center with lectures on “Trends and Issues Overview of China’s Medical System.” Additionally he toured the Guang An Men Hospital and Teaching Academy for lectures on “Traditional Chinese Medicine Theory, Techniques and Practices,” “Chi and the Human Body: Forces of Energy,” and he took classes in “Demonstrations of Acupuncture, Moxibustion and Herbal Remedies.”

Any trip to Beijing would not be complete without a demonstration of the Chinese preparation for the 2008 Olympics and their efforts in sports medicine as part of the program. Lectures provided by the China Sports and Science Association included “Chinese Treatment of Typical Athletic Injuries Versus Western Treatment” and “Rehabilitation of Motor Functions.”

Not all of DeLeon-Guerrero’s time was spent in lectures and classrooms in Beijing. He took a grand excursion to the Great Wall, and visited the Beijing Zoo, home of the iconic giant pandas. He visited the Temple of Heaven, and the 800-year-old Summer Palace. In addition, he and his fellow American students spent some time with Beijing residents at the English Corner at the People’s University exchanging ideas, jokes, songs and information.

“It was an amazing experience.” DeLeon-Guerrero said. “Just for fun, a couple of us started singing a Beatles’ song on the English Corner and before you know it we had a huge number of Chinese students singing along with us. Hey Jude never sounded better.”

DeLeon-Guerrero continued his tour with a trip to the ancient capital of Xi’an where he visited the Xi’an Jiaotong University Medical School. There he participated in student discussions regarding the training of doctors in China and visited the university’s labs, specimen room and the outpatient departments. Lectures on “Integrating Traditional and Western Medicine in Treatment Methodologies” concluded the university visit.

Within the city of Xi’an DeLeon-Guerrero visited a traditional Chinese medicine herb market and participated in a basketball game with Chinese students. Later, his itinerary included a visit to the infamous Tiananmen Square with its monument to Mao, the Forbidden City and the “Big Wild Goose Pagoda” which was constructed in 589 A.D. DeLeon-Guerrero continued his exploration of a rural village and hospital and visited the Great Mosque in the center of Xi’an’s Muslim Quarter.

Later in old Xi’an, DeLeon-Guerrero visited the “Guardians of the Imperial Tomb,” the amazing 8,000-man Terra Cotta Army of the Qin Dynasty. While viewing the site, DeLeon-Guerrero had the opportunity to meet the Chinese farmer who was responsible for the tomb’s discovery in 1974. Through an interpreter, DeLeon-Guerrero found out that the farmer accidentally uncovered the tomb 34 years ago while digging a water well. DeLeon-Guerrero said it was a fascinating experience in cultural exchange that left him and the farmer trading autographs and photos.

DeLeon-Guerrero’s next destination was Wuhan and a leading TCM Teaching Hospital in Hubei Province. There he attended lectures in “The Search for Psychological Well-Being: Wuhan Central Mental Health Hospital.” Later he and other students had an opportunity to travel down the Yangtze River. While in Wuhan, DeLeon-Guerrero visited Zhashan Village where he visited a family practice medical clinic and an elementary school. As a cultural side trip, he visited the Hubei Provincial Museum and saw 1,000-year-old musical instruments and an ancient chime bell performance.

From Wuhan, DeLeon-Guerrero traveled to Guilin, the “City of Lakes and Mountains,” where he took a boat excursion on the Li River and experienced the visual magic of limestone karsts and rolling landscapes. Later he and a few classmates explored Yangshou’s caves and did a bit of rock climbing. A highlight of the trip was during one early morning he took a hot air balloon to the Longsheng Longji “The Dragon’s Backbone” Rice Terraces and explored the stunning 2,625 foot high hills and mazes.

According to DeLeon-Guerrero, that was one absolutely amazing ride. “I wish I had taken more pictures while we were in the air, but it was all so breathtaking, I clearly forgot I even had a camera.” Once on the ground again, he visited the ethnic Zhuang villagers and observed their customs and craftsmanship. Part of the medical training during this portion of the trip was a Tai Chi workshop and traditional Chinese medicine foot massage.

The last part of DeLeon-Guerrero’s trip saw him on a guided exploration through Ludi Yan “Reed Flute Cave.”

DeLeon-Guerrero is the youngest son of Edward C. and Eve O. DeLeon-Guerrero of Koblerville, Saipan. Among his other accomplishments, DeLeon-Guerrero was Speaker of the CNMI Youth Congress for school year 2006-07 and was awarded the Governor’s Leadership Award 2006-2007 in his senior year at Mt. Carmel School for his outstanding achievements in leadership. DeLeon-Guerrero was also the Mt. Carmel student body president for the school year 2006-07. Theatre goers will remember him as Romeo in Mt. Carmel’s 10th Anniversary production of Romeo and Juliet. His older brother Michael and older sister Mary Louise also currently attend Boise State University in Boise, Idaho.[B][I] (PR)[/I][/B]