Penn Abroad Ambassador Melissa Redlich

Program:

• PGS: Chinese Language

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After reading the itinerary before departure, I knew that a part of my China trip was meeting students at both Peking University (PKU), a prestigious university in the capital of the country, and Qufu Normal University, a smaller university in a fourth-tier city (Qufu). Meeting university students was a very unique experience. On the plane to Beijing, I was worried about meeting my fellow Chinese students because I felt that I would be unable to communicate with them. I was embarrassed about my intermediate level Chinese with the students at Peking University (whose English would be advanced level), and I was concerned about having a real conversation with the students at Qufu Normal University because their lack of English (and my relatively inarticulate Chinese) would not allow us to communicate. I quickly realized that all of us – Americans and Chinese – shared the same worries. At Peking University, we talked primarily about academics (since we spoke with both undergraduate and graduate students) and extracurriculars. These students were able to have a full-blown conversation with me in English; many had even studied abroad at Wharton! On the other hand, at Qufu Normal University, we talked more about daily life. Most of these conversations were spoken in a mix of Chinese and English, since neither of us could speak fluently in the other language. Despite the differences between universities, I left both schools with the WeChat information of all the students I met, with instructions to reach out when I return!

My Experience Abroad:

My China travel experience was the perfect conclusion to my spring semester. It not only offered the opportunity to practice what I learned in class, but also spurred my decision to declare a Chinese minor. Most of our activities were tied to a classroom topic, for example, the word 乘凉 (which translates to “to cool down in the shade”). On the outskirts of Beijing, we actually saw individuals cooling down in the park during the daytime, which brought meaning to this verb that lacks an English translation. Additionally, during the semester, we learned about Chinese cultural behaviors, some of which we saw firsthand. For example, when Qufu Normal University students began their meal, they would neither sit down nor serve themselves first. I didn't properly understand this reality until I was immersed in it. Many first-hand experiences such as this taught me more about Chinese society than I ever could have learned in the classroom. The last (and only) time I had been to China was when I was six years old. I had just begun the Chinese Immersion Program at my elementary school, and the only words that I knew how to say were 你好 (which translates to “hello”)，再见 (which translates to “goodbye”)，and 漂亮 (which translates to “beautiful”). Now, 13 years later, I would like to keep learning about Chinese language and culture. Who knows, maybe I will pursue a career in which I use Mandarin?

Other Highlights:

My trip to China with Penn Global Seminar was one of the most memorable and gratifying experiences I've experienced as a UPenn first-year student. Highlight #1 was my conversation with a student tour guide at Qufu Normal University. She gave me insight into daily life in Qufu, her history classes, and what living with six other girls in a small dorm is like. Her experiences provided me with a unique perspective that I would not have been able to get elsewhere. Highlight #2 was meeting Peter, a Peking University student whom the class befriended. Peter, who had studied at UPenn for a semester, was our local tour guide to Beijing and Peking University’s campus at night. We bonded over the pizza at Allegros and how nice the Huntsman bathrooms are, while also learning about his creation of an American football team at PKU. Highlight #3 was exploring the cities of Beijing and Qufu after full days of meeting university students, listening to lectures about Chinese demographics and digital marketing, and conversing with consulting groups. Especially during this time, I felt like I could fully practice my Chinese language skills as we ate dumplings at the mall near our hotel, walked across the 金锭桥 (Jinding Bridge), watched the sunset at 万宁桥 (Wanning Bridge) in the Xicheng District, and sang karaoke at Mei KTV. Though I recount only three highlights, the trip was a highlight reel – one fantastic experience after the other.