Student joins scholars in China

Just when I thought that it was safe to spend my entire summersitting in my Lazy Boy, playing video games, sleeping late andsitting by the pool to soak up summer rays, the chance of alifetime came to my post office box.

I received an invitation by the National Society of CollegiateScholars to join eighty other students from around the UnitedStates on a trip to one of the most economically influentialnations in the world, China.

We would visit Beijing, Nanjing, Suzhou and Shanghai. Studentsfrom California, Florida, Michigan, New York, Texas and many otheruniversities and colleges joined to make our trip’sexperiences different than a traditional foreigner.

The adventure began with a fifteen-hour plane ride to Beijing,which was quite a task in itself, but with entertainment systemsbuilt into the back of each seat, it was quite easy to keepourselves occupied.

After arriving in Beijing, we noticed the city was similar toits western counterparts, though it was quite run down anddidn’t have the large skyscrapers you see at home.

The biggest difference of all was the number of people livingthere. The huge population was especially noticeable when peopletraveled to and from work. We saw massive amounts of traffic androads laden with bikes and people on foot.

In all there are an estimated 8 million people in Beijing alone.(For comparison, one million people live in Tampa, Fla.)

After spending six days in Beijing, we flew to Nanjing where wevisited Dr. Sun Yatsen’s Mausoleum. It was quite a climb, butwe found a spectacular view of downtown Nanjing and his tomb.

We heard professional lectures from speakers representing TheCommerce Department of the Provincial Government. They helped us tobetter understand the challenges of business in the current Chinesemarkets and changing economy.

After spending a few more days in Nanjing, we made a short stopin Suzhou, where we took a boat trip down the Grand Canal. Wedisembarked to see a silk factory where we saw how they make thefinest silk in the world. I ended up purchasing a pure silkqueen-size comforter for only $45. (I almost felt like I wasstealing these goods when they were so cheap.)

After a short time in Suzhou, we headed to the long awaitedShanghai. We thought that Beijing was huge, but approximately 13million people live in Shanghai. It was a nightmare trying to movearound in the cabs to see some of the sites.

Here we spent the remainder of our trip with a visit to theShanghai Stock Exchange. It was very different then what weexpected. Everyone is seated. There are no flailing arms or yellingacross the floor. It’s very calm, the complete opposite ofWall Street.

We visited the 3rd tallest building in the world and also sawthe ports from which many of the products destined for the UnitedStates leave.

So, who would have thought that such a trip could be such anexperience? In every city, everyone stocked up on pirated DVDs,watches, and fake designer purses. But it wasn’t just anytrip halfway across the world. It was a trip that I can now saychanged my perception of China and made me realize what amazingbusiness and personal opportunities await in such a county justfull of cultural experience.

Student joins scholars in China