Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Prep Bowling:

Chinese foreign exchange student loving life on the lanes

Bowling Chin

Heather Cory

Boulder City’s Sabrina Chin takes her turn in a bowling match against Las Vegas on Jan. 7 at Boulder Bowl. Chin, an exchange student from Shanghai, never bowled before moving to the United States.

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Sabrina Chin, a foreign exchange student from Shanghai, stands outside Boulder Bowl on Jan. 8. Chin, who is now on the Boulder City girls bowling team, had never bowled before moving to the United States.

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Boulder City's Sabrina Chin waits to take for her turn in a bowling match against Las Vegas on Jan. 7 at Boulder Bowl. Chin, an exchange student from Shanghai, never bowled before moving to the United States.

One day in mid-November, Boulder City High senior Sabrina Chin thought she was just meeting a friend for a couple of games of bowling at Boulder Bowl.

"I got there and figured out it was a tryout," she said. "I have not bowled since I was six and I got on the team."

Chin is a foreign exchange student from Shanghai, China, who arrived in Boulder City on Aug. 5. Coming to a town of 15,000 people from a city of more than 20 million was quite the change.

"Shanghai is noisy and crowded and people are everywhere. Then I come to a city that is neat and clean and friendly. It is just awesome," she said. "I can hang out with my friends who are two blocks away. Back home I'd have to take the subway and it could be a 30 minute or hour ride."

She joined the Youth for Understanding International Exchange program for the chance to come to the United States and go to school for a year.

She is enjoying her time on the team and is part of the their early season success. Boulder City's girls are currently in fifth place in the Northeast Division and on the verge of qualifying for the postseason for the first time in several years.

"Actually the most important thing for me is not winning every game. I've made a lot of friends and they've taught me everything to improve at bowling," she said.

She has a bowling average of 88, which may not impress many bowlers, but Boulder City coach Rodney Ball said Chin has fit in well with her teammates and is improving.

"Having her on the team has been a really neat experience for everyone. They've taught her about bowling and she's taught them a lot about her culture," he said. "We're bowling a lot and her scores will go up and she'll do all right."

Being away from her home and family the last five months has not been difficult Chin said, especially because her parents are coming to town to spend the Chinese New Year, which is on Jan. 26.

"That will be awesome. I'm so excited to see them and show them what it's like being here," she said.

While she said she has adjusted well to her temporary new home, one thing she has missed is the food.

"It's not traditional Chinese food here. It's too American," she said.

Chin will return to Shanghai at the end of the school year but hopes to return to the U.S. to attend college.

"I'll miss It here when I get back to China, but I hope to come back," she said.

Brent Hinckley is the Boulder City News sports writer and can be reached at 990-7822 or [email protected].

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