An Unlikely Friendship

AN UNLIKELY

FRIENDSHIP

At first glance, Jason Liu and David Trombold are different. Jason is from China, while David is from the United States. Jason is of Generation Z, while David is a Baby Boomer. Jason says he is a libertarian, while David is more conservative. Different in ways that may cause waves in other relationships. However, geography and Collegiate brought Jason and David together and gave them opportunities for shared experiences that have made those differences far less significant. In 2014, Jason decided, for no particular reason (or at least not one he can remember), to come to the United States from China for high school. He found Collegiate through a school catalog, noting it “looked interesting, with lots of activities, clubs, and classes offered.” Despite his Foreign American English teacher’s warning that “there is nothing there” in Kansas, Jason came to Wichita Collegiate for high school. David first came to know Jason the following year when Jason was a sophomore in his Chemistry class, but got to know him even better during an annual canoe trip for upper high school students. Jason had expressed interest in going on the trip, and it was then that Jason indicated he was looking for a place to stay his junior year. “I said my wife Louise and I were interested, and it worked out eventually that he came to stay with us.” While there are always adjustments, expectations, things that are important to establish and take care of when moving in with strangers (or even friends), David says Jason “fit right in.” “Seems like I get along with most kinds of people,” Jason says, and David completely agrees. “Jason’s really unique this way – I think he’s very adventurous and really likes to get involved.” Just as he was adventurous enough for a canoe trip with new people, Jason was adventurous enough to go on the biennial Italy Trip with the WCS Madrigals,

despite the fact that he wasn’t part of the choir… yet. (Jason did join the following year, “probably because I was moved by it, seeing them sing in Italy.”) “Thought I might starve or something,” Jason joked, recalling he would have been home alone while David chaperoned the trip and Louise traveled elsewhere that week. When asked about the trip, Jason was quick to name Florence as a favorite destination. “I liked the architecture. Italy does a mighty fine job preserving. The Church of Santa Maria del Fiore was magnificent!” All of Italy, though, impressed Jason with its food. “They serve an appetizer, first entrée, second entrée, and dessert at every meal – definitely the highlight of the trip. And I stopped two or three times a day for gelato; probably spent quite a bit of money on gelato!” “Jason likes to eat and knows "Differences good food when he tastes it,” David says. Shared meals are just that. and new restaurants became opportunities for bonding Preferences between the two. They recommend Oh Yeah! China are not right Bistro for its authentic Chinese cuisine, Yokohama Ramen Joint or wrong, just different." in Delano for good noodles, and Gangnam Korean Grill and Bar, “if you’re feeling carnivorous,” as Jason would say. Another bonding opportunity – movies! Jason and David would watch movies together, choosing titles from lists on IMDB. Among the most memorable: Fight Club (“The first rule of Fight Club is we don’t talk about Fight Club,” Jason remembers.); The Shawshank Redemption; all of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings movies one Christmas break; and Sharknado (“wish we hadn’t seen that one,” they both agree). Beyond meals and movies, Jason and David both say the other opened doors for novel experiences during their time together. For Jason, going to church was something new. For David, he learned more about gardening from Jason, who has been “a tremendous help. He has logged more than 120 hours since his sophomore year helping in the garden. He loved to pick strawberries (and

AN UNLIKELY

FRIENDSHIP THE STORY OF JASON LIU '18 AND DAVID TROMBOLD '71 // By Katie Hatfield Gunzelman '07

sample - totally expected and acceptable!) right up to his graduation.” Two different people sharing passions, hobbies, and experiences to build relationship. When asked whether people are fundamentally different or not, Jason was quick to answer no. David joked, “maybe… if you’re old and set in your ways.” Both recount conversations where they disagreed – talks on politics, economics, and even some science topics – but both concluded, “Differences are just that. Preferences are not right or wrong, just different.” Jason and David now have a title in common – alumnus of Wichita Collegiate School, one of the Class of 2018 and one of the Class of 1971. Both alumni, both passionate about good food, good movies, and good gardening. When you look at these two through that lens, their differences seem far less significant. And maybe we should do the same in our own relationships and with our own differences. “If you get to a place where you can’t talk without getting angry, take a break and come back to it,” Jason says. “You should view people as people first and not as American or Chinese, black or white. The differences are secondary.”

Jason and David