Chengdu:A glimpse behind the scene of West China
By Sander de Vries | Delegate NAHSS 2019, Chengdu
In late June 2019, the NAHSS truly kicked off as my 29 'fellow citizens' and I traveled to Chengdu, a relatively unknown city in the western province of Sichuan with a population not much lower than that of the Netherlands. We already learned some things about China during the preparatory project work and activities before the trip, but a new culture is not learned from a book or a presentation. You learn about a new culture by tasting it, immersing yourself in it, and navigating it. For five weeks, we were transformed into students at Sichuan University, located on an impressive campus in the city center. Five friendly lăoshī (teachers) tried to teach us the basics of the Chinese language during Chinese Language, and for the seventh time, the respected Dr. Zhou Yi tested our knowledge of history and politics in Modern Politics in China. Besides the daily lessons, the intense program was filled with trips, company visits, and excursions, some organized by the NAHSS Program Board and others taken up by fellow citizens. And to complete the China experience, we could end the NAHSS with all participants during the Business and Culture Week in Shanghai.
On top of the sacred mountain Hua Shan
A day full of games and interaction with children from a summer programme
Chengdu is for adventurers
Discovering and understanding Chinese culture has many similarities to tasting Sichuan cuisine. Firstly, there is an explosion of flavors and impressions, many unfamiliar and spicy. After a few days, you get used to it, and after a month (or less), you fall in love with it. Although some participants might dispute the latter regarding the spicy cuisine, everyone would agree that the combination of language and political lessons, project work, and the many excursions and company visits helps to put many puzzle pieces into place about initially inexplicable situations. Due to the chaotic infrastructure, significant language barrier, and inevitable misunderstandings, living in Chengdu can be challenging; however, in return, there is boundless hospitality and an experience far removed from daily life in the Western world.
When the hotpot cooks, friendship blooms
Not only have I seen many facets of the incredibly diverse China in a relatively short time, but I have also undergone professional development and gotten to know a fantastic group of fellow students. Thanks to the steep learning curve of project work in a multidisciplinary team and the company visits, I gained a lot of professional experience, and a unique behind-the-scenes look at large multinational corporations. Perhaps the best part of the NAHSS is that you experience all the fantastic trips, dinners, lessons, but also misunderstandings and exhausting journeys in the company of your fellow students. Singing Chinese songs together during classes, enduring spicy meals, hiking on sacred mountains nearby, headbanging at Space club, and many more unforgettable activities create a strong bond even after the NAHSS.
Do you want a challenging summer, and are you enthusiastic after this experience story? Do not hesitate and sign up for NAHSS 2020! If you have any questions or still have doubts, feel free to contact me at sanderdevries5@hotmail.com. Zàijiàn (goodbye)!
Three-day company visit to the prestigious liqueur factory Wu Liang Ye