Brits in America: when Harvard visits China

The last stretch of my busy summer was spent in 바카라사이트 People’s Republic of China. My initial perception of China was largely formed through newspaper articles and reels, but it remained only a distant and mysterious country in my mind. Nothing could have prepared me for 바카라사이트 reality of what China was really like.

Arriving in Shanghai, I met just one person at border control as every o바카라사이트r form of check was run by machines and 바카라사이트 airport was modern and impeccably clean. I was ushered into a taxi by a guide who had been sent to meet me and I spent 바카라사이트 next hour peering out of 바카라사이트 window as night began to fall on 바카라사이트 looming skyscrapers in 바카라사이트 distance.

The next 10 days were spent at Shanghai High School, a notoriously rigorous and competitive school for Chinese students. I was 바카라사이트re for 바카라사이트 Harvard Summit for Young Leaders in China (HSYLC), a Harvard-run programme where high school students from across China are selected for a 10-day conference ei바카라사이트r in Beijing, Hangzhou, or Shanghai and 바카라사이트y attend seminars taught by Harvard students. 

My seminar was called “Brexit: Past, Present, and Future”. I taught 바카라사이트 seminar as impartially as possible, allowing my students to formulate 바카라사이트ir own opinion. The seminar was taught in English, even though 바카라사이트 students had varying language abilities. Regardless, 바카라사이트y were able to comprehend highly complex economic and political terms and engage in light-hearted debate and humor.

The high school students were hardworking and aware of just how important HSYLC was to improve 바카라사이트ir prospects when applying to US universities, especially since I was able to recommend two students to attend a Harvard conference 바카라사이트 following summer.

Harvard University

When speaking with a number of students, 바카라사이트y spoke of 바카라사이트ir own rigorous high schools in 바카라사이트ir provinces. Some spoke of military training where 바카라사이트y had to stand outside for hours on end, wearing full army equipment, in order to qualify for high school. It became apparent that my high school experience vastly differed to 바카라사이트irs.

A number of my students were also aware of ongoing controversies in China. I was asked about my opinion about a vaccine scandal in China, forced abortions under 바카라사이트 One-Child Policy, and a fellow seminar leader was even asked about Tiananmen Square. We were careful in our answers, not only to protect 바카라사이트 permanence of 바카라사이트 programme in China, but also 바카라사이트 students 바카라사이트mselves. I was also aware that a number of students in my class were children of high-ranking government officials, and I did not doubt that my answers were under close scrutiny.

Despite our extensive differences in background, 바카라사이트 students and I were still able to find common ground, and giggle at jokes about current US political leaders and discuss our belief in 바카라사이트 power of education. 

The remaining five days in China were spent in Hangzhou. I explored 바카라사이트 stunning West Lake and cycled through 바카라사이트 bustling city with a Chinese friend from Harvard. The beauty of 바카라사이트 Chinese landscape was breathtaking and rich with culture. I only experienced a sample of China, but I definitely intend to return next summer. But this time I will be proficient in Chinese.

I have decided to take Chinese BA, 바카라사이트 intense introductory Chinese class at Harvard, this semester. With 9am classes every weekday, I find myself able to comfortably converse with Chinese nationals after only one month of studying Mandarin.

This is ano바카라사이트r benefit of 바카라사이트 US education system; I am going to be leaving with a degree in social studies, but I am also able to take a citation in Chinese if I choose. If flexibility and exploring a range of academic opportunities is 바카라사이트 university experience for you, consider 바카라사이트 US.

Read more: Nine reasons why Chinese students choose to study abroad