Start by questioning 'why'
By Sakura de Vries | Delegate NAHSS 2021
People around me always wondered why China makes my heart beat faster. "Why do you want to know literally EVERYTHING about it Sakura? The culture, the language, the way of doing business, the economic developments, why?" I always responded asking whether the questioner had been to China before. China is the land of metamorphoses and development, a deeply rooted culture, but also contradictions. This dynamic stage is unfolding right before our eyes in the 21st century, while few people are aware of it.
With its preparatory days and summer program the NAHSS feeds the curiosity above by inviting leading speakers and China experts, actively engaging you in current topics and, of course, providing you with a dose of conviviality. By combining the academic, business and cultural aspects, NAHSS'ers get a glimpse into the Chinese world. Sometimes even into Chinese cuisine when making dumplings.
It is interesting to hear how students with different backgrounds approach certain themes and issues.
With this amazing team we conducted research on the Belt and Road Initiative for ING
Project-based work, but fun!
For my participation in the 2021 programme, I got to research the Belt and Road Initiative for ING Bank with six other tremendously fun project mates. The diverse study backgrounds of our group allowed me to learn a lot from a more technical perspective, or even the historical perspective. In the end, we all delivered a tremendously good product that ING was pleased about, while also gaining knowledge. Win-win!
The summer programme
We all know what blocked a trip to China, however, this was repeated so often that at one point it even became a joke. We could actually predict that a new speaker would say: "Oh, and what a huge shame that you cannot go to China." Nevertheless, I think we all made the best of it by asking the speakers critical questions and stimulating discussion among ourselves. In addition, we were able to network nicely with people you wouldn't otherwise be able to talk to from both the public and private sector. Project groups diligently presented their project results (over and over again) from which we learned a lot. The Chinese food couldn't be missing either, so dinners at round tables full of delicious food and bai jiu (Chinese liquor) were a regular event. Ruben Terlou talked to us about Chinese dreams and I think that after the summer programme most of the NAHSS'ers also have developed a China dream …
During the summer school you learn to present in front of professionals.
For me the NAHSS has been an experience where I felt the mutual energy from NAHSS’ers about the topic China.
So … what is the conclusion?
The NAHSS has been an experience for me in which I not only felt a mutual energy from the other NAHSS'ers on the subject of China, but also an experience that has made me feel more confident to pursue a career related to China. Grab this opportunity with both hands and remember: you get out of it what you put into it! You can always contact me on LinkedIn if you have any questions or would like to see how I continue to make sure to include China in my work after (and through) NAHSS.