The lawn of the Middle Tennessee State University President’s Residence turned into a picnic grounds Monday, July 13, for the 30-plus Chinese school children visiting Murfreesboro as part of an educational and cultural exchange organized by the university. The visitors from Dongcheng Education Group of Hangzhou Normal University started the day at Overall Creek Elementary School. They returned to campus by midday for a picnic at the President’s Residence that resembled a pep rally with cheerleaders from Blackman High School and MTSU welcoming the group. Blackman cheerleaders did face-painting for the Chinese children as welland a watermelon-eating contest followed lunch.

— Video by Andrew Oppmann