Edward Mears uncovered a 1933 photo of his grandmother, Estelle, with a Chinese student named Benjamin King, sparking a three-year journey from Michigan to China. His research revealed their unique friendship amid cultural barriers and shed light on the experiences of Chinese exchange students at U-M in the 1930s. This story highlights the power of connection across cultures during a turbulent era—read on to discover how these unlikely friendships were uncovered.
