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Dressed in Hanfu, watching robot dance performances, enjoying traditional Chinese folk music, and trying their hand at Chinese calligraphy... Twenty university students from the United States were invited to Shanghai Normal University Tianhua College for an exchange program that allows them to discover the city while learning about Chinese culture and some of the country's advanced technologies.
Many of these students were in China for the first time, and they were excited to explore the city.
Very large cities, very large population, very beautiful landscape, lots of lights at night, lots of things to do. So I was very excited to come visit, to be able to tour the cities. I hope to learn kind of the day to day life that's different than the American life, to see you know, waking up, going to work, public transportation, the different city life, going to school, but the process of graduating, getting a job and so forth, said YANNI KALDIS, student from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
I started learning Chinese because my best friend is from Chengdu, China. We met in elementary school and we've been best friends ever since. And I just really love the culture and the country. And I just really wanted to experience it. This is my first time traveling outside of the United States and I just want to be able to become immersed and appreciate more cultures, said CAMILLE, student from Weber State University.
It's also a precious opportunity for the Chinese students volunteering in this program. ZHENG YITING, student from Shanghai Normal University Tianhua College said,My biggest takeaway is that we young people actually have a lot in common to talk about. They are very willing to talk with us about how they see China, and through their perspectives, we are able to rediscover our own culture. I believe that although there are cultural differences between China and the United States, it is because of this opportunity that we have enhanced mutual trust and understanding between both sides. So in the future, I also hope to carry forward this friendship.
This is the third year Tianhua College has hosted the exchange program. Named the Young Envoys Scholarship, the program is part of China's major initiative of 'inviting 50,000 young Americans to China for exchange and study programs over a five-year period.' Through short-term study visits, summer schools, cultural experiences and other formats it provides young people from abroad with opportunities to learn more about China.
The American students will have immersive experiences this time, which enables deeper cultural exchange. Our activities were specially designed to avoid superficial, sightseeing-style tours. We invited these young American students to experience Chinese calligraphy, handmade incense plaque, and mother-of-pearl inlay painting, allowing them to appreciate the charm of traditional Chinese culture. We hope this event allows young Chinese and American students to connect with each other and foster mutual understanding, said XU YUE, Vice President of Shanghai Normal University Tianhua College.
If I assume something about Chinese culture and I never see it or experience it or learn about it myself, I can't teach effectively my students who also need to know and understand how things actually function. And being able to come here and be able to see, experience and to speak with you guys, and thank you for welcoming us into your country, it helps me and helps my students better understand and the relational dynamics and what is real and what is sort of exaggerated in media. So when we start to communicate across cultures, we can do so a little bit more effectively, said DANIELA AARON ATKINS, Professor from Weber State University.
In addition to visiting and learning on campus, these American students will also visit Xujiahui Guangqi Park, Shanghai Science & Technology Museum, Zhujiajiao, and Zhangyuan.
ShanghaiEye Reporter: Tang Xiaofan
原文链接：Cultural exchange program connects Chinese-U.S. students