Stories of eye-opening interactions, culturally diverse friendships and new global perspectives answer the question: Can two weeks in a foreign country truly alter a student’s life?
Fear of unknown really set in when 19 students from Kent State University’s College of Communication and Information landed in Chengdu, China, last month. What resulted from the summer cultural exchange program at Sichuan University were unforgettable opportunities, such as eating rabbit’s tongue, getting lost in the city with little communication, and a newfound appreciation for a different way of life. It also forced students to not take American luxuries for granted.
The narratives on the CCI in Chengdu blog, https://cciinchengdublog.wordpress.com, are a window into the transformation of students’ minds and values, and if you asked any of them, they would say that it was more than a once-in-a lifetime experience; it was an unbelievable experience that educated them more about themselves and the world around them – something more than books and lectures alone ever could.
By Hana Barkowitz, junior public relations major