ACC and Fulbright

My time in the ROC this summer was fun. I enjoyed seeing old host families, exploring more of Taiwan, and hanging out with friends. Without a doubt it was a great summer but more importantly it was a preparation for my time spent in the PRC.

I completed my Fall Semester at 中央民族大学 (zhongyang minzu daxue) in Beijing China. I was lucky enough to be accepted by the Associated Colleges in China (ACC) program, which is a prestigious language intensive program. Students were expected to speak Mandarin Chinese and only Mandarin Chinese all of the time. This included between students, when asking teachers questions, and when going out into Beijing or exploring China during a break. The students all signed a language pledge, indicating our willingness to speak Chinese and only Chinese our entire time at ACC. My family and friends back home asked how it was possible to enforce such a strict language pledge. What many people failed to realize is that the students who applied to the program were focused on improving their Chinese. Only speaking Chinese was a challenge but it was a challenge that the students were willing to take on. I personally loved the challenge of finding round about ways of talking, thinking, and creating new words out of my growing vocab. In general I would say that my Mandarin ability grew exponentially.

My time at ACC was a wonderful experience. I was able to meet amazing people from other Universities and I developed great relationships with many of the language instructors. I was even able to make a few Chinese friends at the University and I don't mean the "lets take a picture together because you're foreign" friends. I was truly able to connect and share experiences with some Chinese students. My time at ACC allowed me to explore on of the most historic cities in the world including Beijing and Xi'an. This experience gave me insights into Chinese culture and society. ACC was an incredible experience but it was certainly not a walk in the park.

I recently had a conversation with a friend about a foreigners experience in China and he described it as a constant battle. The pollution got to most everyone. Some of my classmates were constantly sick with coughs and colds because of the air. There were weeks where the sun wouldn't shine through the layers of smog. The only thing more depressing than not seeing the sun for weeks is not seeing the sun for weeks and knowing the air you're breathing is ruining your health. At times it was like living in a cigarette. The food was another problem, although cheap it often gave people stomach troubles. To put it frankly diarrhea was a frequent reason students were missing class. Some students lost weight. I didn't seem to have a problem with the food even if it wasn't Taiwan grade delicious. I thought I had an iron stomach that could take anything although enough time spent in China proved me wrong. Although my bout of food poisoning only lasted 12 hours it seemed to drag on for ages. Despite all the troubles and the constant battle that was playing out everyday I really did enjoy China.

I received a Fulbright Scholarship to attend ACC. I am very thankful for this support and the opportunity that it provided me with. I learned a lot and certainly plan on going back to China within the near future, maybe one day my dream will become true and I will be fluent enough to do translation work.