GAMBIER — Many Americans take familiar traditions for granted — birthdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, anniversaries. And at this time of year, Independence Day.
But for Zhanghe “Casper” Chen, a pharmacoepidemiology PhD student at the University of Cincinnati, Saturday’s Fourth of July celebration offered something entirely new: his first experience with a small-town parade.
Chen, who adopted the American name “Casper” in grade school, studies how pharmaceuticals are used and how they affect communities.
But on Saturday, academics took a back seat to the sights, sounds and surprises of Gambier’s annual holiday festivities.
With temperatures hovering at 84 degrees and humidity pushing the “feels like” reading to 94, Mayor Leeman Kessler opened the celebration at 11 a.m. with the National Anthem. Chen was struck by the turnout.
“There were so many people who came out for the parade,” he said. “It was very hot, but a lot of folks came out, ranging from kindergarten to 65 and above.”
His only previous exposure to parades came through television. Seeing one in person was a revelation.
“I saw the participants and the cars and stuff, throwing candies and dog treats. I really enjoyed the parade,” he said.
“The girls — I don’t know what you call it — the gymnasts throwing the sticks (batons) up in the air, that was really awesome.”
The fire trucks surprised him.
“I didn’t think the fire trucks would be involved,” he said. “I thought it was for civilians, not citizens. The fire departments usually come in sports, so I was very surprised.
“Overall it’s a very awesome parade, and they also had free ice cream.”
Parade rekindles childhood memory
Chen said China has a similar celebration.
“Except our Independence Day is in October, and we all gather around Tienanmen Square,” he said. “President Xi will be on the Jeep, and then he will see how the military is doing. This is, like I said, my first time seeing a parade live.”
Chen came to the United States in 2015 and lived in Gambier for a while during his student years at Denison University. He returned this weekend to visit his host family.
Among the handouts the parade participants distributed, one item transported him back to childhood.
“I had my bubbles,” he said with a grin. “When Cheryl [Johnson], one of my host parents, handed me the bubbles, it had been twenty-some years. I almost forgot what it was, and then she showed me how to do it.”
Away from the parade route, the 26-year-old Chen reflected on differences between American and Chinese education.
“Personally, I think a lot of American teachers and professors teach the kids to be creative,” he said. “In China, education is more by the book. Here we are told, ‘Here is what the book says, here is what the professor thinks — but what do you think?’”
As for his name, Chen said “Casper” stuck after a fourth grade teacher suggested it.
“I started loving it because it is different from Michael or David. Then when I came to the United States, I learned about the name and cartoon,” he said, referring to Casper the Friendly Ghost.
Citizen of the Year and Poet Laureate presentations were also part of Saturday’s festivities.
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