Jingyu Liang is one of the many Chinese exchange students we
are privileged to have at UW-L, however she is not just one of the crowd. While
many exchange students study in the United States in order to either get a good
job back home or here in the States, Jingyu is looking forward to studying at a
graduate level, but not here. The Chinese management student is looking for
acceptance at schools in England, Singapore, or Hong Kong among others. When
asked, she said she was, in fact, not that fond of the culture here in the
United States. “It’s very independent in the U.S.,” Jingyu said. While many
Americans like myself take our vastly independent culture as normal, Jingyu
finds it isolating at times. This writer is inclined to agree with Jingyu. Being
from Guanghou, a city “equivalent to Chicago in size,” according to Jingyu, the
independent lifestyle in a smaller city like La Crosse has been quite the
adjustment.
Like many other college students, Jingyu is taking the
changes in stride and focuses on the task at hand: studying and excelling in
class. But when Jingyu isn’t studying or in class, she enjoys reading
philosophy, behavioral and abnormal psychology, and hot yoga downtown. When
time affords, Jingyu also likes to travel. She has been to Milwaukee,
Minneapolis, Chicago, Boston, and New York among others. In China, Jingyu has
been to the majority of the 23 provinces as well. It’s hard to tell where
Jingyu will go in the future, she could end up anywhere.
I have the same feeling as Jingyu Liang. America has the attraction for foreigners to feel the independence of local people. As a second language learner, I did know the challenge of us to apply for a graduate school here. We prefer to apply for better graduation in the UK, Hong Kong and Singapore. I smile when I saw she said she loves travelling, because all Chinese student love travelling no matter where they are.
ReplyDeleteJonathan,
ReplyDeleteCross-cultural studies scholars classify China as a collective culture. Many Chinese are shocked by the individualistic culture they encounter in the United States. You did a good job interviewing her. BTW, you can use "I" in your blog. You don't need to say "this writer."
Good job.
Nice job interviewing. You captured a deeper part of Jingyu and how she truly feels about being on UWL's campus. I had no idea the U.S. culture was considered independent. But when I really think about it, it makes sense. I would love to hear more about that.
ReplyDelete