Students show their work of Chinese calligraphy on Aug. 12, 2019 in Houston, Texas, the United States. Chinese Consulate General in Houston organized a symposium for 13 American students in the southern part of the United States who have received Chinese scholarships this year. (Xinhua/Liu Liwei)
"What you hear, what you see as Americans here is totally not what it is there," a young American who just came back from China told a dozen American students at a symposium in Houston who will soon study in the Asian country.
"Go and experience there," he said.
by Xinhua writers Gao Lu, Liu Liwei
HOUSTON, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- "Go and experience there," Derick Lamont Glasby Jr., a young American who just came back from China, told a dozen American students who will soon study in the Asian country.
Attending a Monday symposium in the city of Houston, Texas, Glasby joined many other young Americans to share their views of and experiences in China.
For Glasby, who had a wonderful time in China's Chongqing Municipality, there were quite a lot to tell.
"What you hear, what you see as Americans here is totally not what it is there," he said.
After taking Chinese lessons in college and winning a Chinese scholarship, Glasby went to China and spent two years in Chongqing University where he received a master's degree in International Business.
He also started a small media company in Chongqing and made friends with many locals.
"The opportunities are there and that (is) what China is all about. Make the connections. Take that advantage," Glasby told the attendees.
It is also important to travel around and experience different parts of China when one has the chance, he said.
"If you want to have a very local experience, a very rich Chinese experience, when you have time to travel, go to the small areas," he added.
Ilan Rouson (L) shares his experience of studying in China on Aug. 12, 2019 in Houston, Texas, the United States. He received a Chinese scholarship in 2016, and then studied and lived in Beijing for two years. (Xinhua/Liu Liwei)
Glasby was not alone in encouraging their peers to travel around China. Ilan Rouson, who had his master's degree in China's Tsinghua University, said "real China" does not only lie in rural areas.
"I think Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, they do represent real China, too, the future China. Sometimes you'll see in the rural areas the more antiquities of China," he said.
Rouson received a Chinese scholarship in 2016, and then studied and lived in Beijing for two years. He could still remember clearly his first Spring Festival in China.
"In my first year in China, my next door neighbor invited me to celebrate the Chinese New Year with them. We made dumplings together. This is just one experience and there are many, many more," he recalled.
The young man encouraged American students to experience as much as they can when studying in China. "You need to make most of it. Chinese people are very friendly and welcoming. They will open the door for you."
Students watch tea-making process on Aug. 12, 2019 in Houston, Texas, the United States. Chinese Consulate General in Houston organized a symposium on Monday for 13 American students in the southern part of the United States who have received Chinese scholarships this year. (Xinhua/Liu Liwei)
According to Long Jie, consul of education of the symposium's organizer Chinese Consulate General in Houston, 13 American students in the southern part of the United States have received Chinese scholarships this year, and "will study in different universities in China from one to four years."
And Aaron Thomas was one of them. Having learned Chinese for only two years, Thomas managed to make a short speech in Chinese at the symposium.
"I want to know different people when I first chose to learn Chinese," he said. "Learning Chinese has helped me to understand different cultures, make new friends and receive new ideas."
Thomas said he enjoyed very much reading Chinese books, taking classes taught by Chinese professors and discussing with Chinese classmates.
"Through my study I realize that China is one of the leading countries in material engineering," said the young man who will major in material engineering in Tsinghua University.
Students try to write Chinese characters with brush pen on Aug. 12, 2019 in Houston, Texas, the United States. Chinese Consulate General in Houston organized a symposium on Monday for 13 American students in the southern part of the United States who have received Chinese scholarships this year. (Xinhua/Liu Liwei)
Andrew Zhang, an American of Chinese origin who did not learn to speak Chinese when he was young, will soon have the chance to study the language at Peking University for one year.
"I sincerely hope my Chinese language ability will improve greatly when I finish my study in China," said Zhang, who has been more and more fascinated with Chinese culture as he grew older.
