Muscatine students participate in Study in China Experience

Eight students from Muscatine recently took part in a Study in China Experience through the Sarah D. Lande Education Co., in partnership with Wanxiang America Corporation. The immersive four-week program allowed students to explore China, study the language, participate in cultural experiences and learn about clean energy science.

“Going on this trip really made me rethink my career aspirations,” said one of the students. “I realized that there are so many different opportunities and pathways you can take to have an impact on the world around you, especially in the clean energy industry.”

During their time in China from June 22 – July 22, students visited the Forbidden City, climbed the Great Wall, explored local monuments and street markets and experienced daily life with host families. They attended seminars and workshops on introductory Mandarin, Chinese history and customs and clean energy development at Wanxiang Polytechnic in Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang Province.

“These experiences teach you about yourself,” said Adrianne Towe, a trip chaperone. “You start to notice the assumptions you carry, the things you value, the ways you’ve been shaped by home. And then, those things are expanded and strengthened by the people you meet. I couldn’t be prouder of our students. They discovered that meaningful relationships don’t require the same language or the same traditions; they require curiosity, kindness, and a willingness to show up for one another.”

“The final conversation I had with the student ambassadors made me realize how quickly a friendship can form,” another participant said. “It helped me understand that we’re more alike than we are different and that’s something I’ll carry with me forever.”

This partnership is part of the 100,000+ Strong Education Exchange Initiative in China, an initiative that works to deepen friendship and cultural understanding between China and the United States.

“When in a foreign country, you have to remember: You must adapt to them, not them to you,” said another participant. “You must be accepting of a lot of things that you aren’t used to in order to make the most of the experience.”

The Sarah D. Lande Education Co. and Wanxiang America Corporation Study in China Experience is supported by the Friendship Education Fund at the Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine. It was established to provide opportunities for students to expand educational diplomacy relationships and friendships,

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