As we arrived at the city of Hengshui, China, our bus shared the road with not only cars but hundreds of people on mopeds and bikes, many of whom wore masks and long sleeves despite the heat. Small storefronts with colorful overhead signs in Mandarin lined the street. American Midwest, this was not!
This summer, I had the fortunate opportunity to travel to China from May 27 to June 9 through the University of Central Missouri’s Study Abroad program. This trip marked the second year of UCM’s exchange program with Hengshui University (HSU) in China, in which a small number of UCM students from various academic disciplines stayed at HSU to learn about Chinese culture.
Upon arrival at HSU, we were greeted by Chinese students who were assigned to be our guides and translators for the next two weeks. I was lucky enough to be partnered with Wendy, who was genuine, easy to talk to and who ultimately became a wonderful friend. By the end of the trip, she had given me numerous gifts, a Chinese name and priceless memories. We still keep in touch.
During my time at HSU, I took classes in kung fu, painting, cooking and culture. I chatted with the Chinese students, learning about their lives and a few words in Mandarin. I tried many new foods, including goose liver, pig’s blood cake, chicken feet, donkey and a drink that was essentially liquified corn. While perusing a tea shop, I even met a tea master! She took the time to make us tea in the traditional style after the shop had closed – a truly special experience.
After our time in Hengshui, we spent three days in Beijing. There, we bargained for goods in the mall and visited Tiananmen Square and the Summer Palace. In one of my favorite excursions, we also hiked a small section of the 13,171-mile-long Great Wall, a wonder of the world I had dreamed of seeing since I was little.
While in China, I was surprised by the hospitality and kindness of almost everyone I met. However, if you’ve read the news recently, you’re probably aware of the geopolitical tensions between our two countries.
While I believe governments are useful for the functioning of society, I find it a shame that a small number of powerful people lead entire populations into conflict. I believe most Americans could be as amiable with their Chinese counterparts as Wendy and I.
Before arriving in China, I expected to feel like an alien on another planet or experience a constant sense of surreality. On the contrary, my experience felt very real. I was often sweaty and tired. People talked, laughed and joked, like all people do. And I was surrounded by new friends, American and Chinese alike. The other side of the world was exciting and strange… but not that strange.
If you’re interested in studying abroad during your time at UCM, visit the Study Abroad office in the Elliott Student Union 302 or go to UCM’s web page for the Center for Global Education for more information.
