悯农 (The Toiling Farmers)
锄禾日当午，
汗滴禾下土，
谁知盘中餐，
粒粒皆辛苦. Farmers weeding at noon, sweat down the field soon, who knows food on a tray,
Thanks to their toiling day
悯农 (The Toiling Farmers) is an ancient Chinese poem that my 语伴 (study partner) imparted to me. The character 悯 (Min) means to sympathize-with, while the character 农 (Nong) means farmer. Throughout each verse, readers are able to visualize the disparity between hard work & gratefulness; essentially, it communicates that the fruits of labor should be appreciated and not wasted. Thus, the poem perfectly describes my disposition with regards to traveling to 中国(China).
You see, when I first learned that I was traveling to 中国(China), I felt a range of emotions; they went from disbelief …show more content…
Each of our 语伴 (study partners) went the extra mile not only to accommodate us but also to get to know us on a personal level. To this day, I still stay-in contact each of them regularly. Hence, my most memorable moment in 中国 (China) is when I read the poem I wrote“说出你的名字”(Speak Your Name) for them at our graduation ceremony.
说出你的名字 (Speak Your Name)
Normally at our graduation ceremonies, which included a speech, a diploma, and a group picture, we would exchange gifts with our 语伴 (study partners). Therefore, because we only had 4 语伴 (study partners), I wanted to give a good gift. Although I had many adequate ideas, nothing felt memorable. Therefore, after I was imparted with 悯农 (The Toiling Farmers), I understood that I wanted to give a gift that could inspire and radiate the gratefulness I felt inside for the laboring of our语伴 (study partners).
You see, while in 中国(China), I learned that it is common for a person who interacts with foreigners to use a western name; hence, each of our 语伴 (study partners) used western names. Yet, it was very dishearting when I would hear people call them by it. I mean…being from Charlotte, the jewel of the Deep South, I know the importance of owning your name; the power it holds. Plus, it seemed very wasteful to me to be in 中国(China) trying to improve our Chinese yet calling our 语伴 (study partners) by English …show more content…
Bowles & the Vice President of Guangdong Baiyun University singing Uptown Funk at our opening ceremony in 广州 (Guangzhou). Thank You
Therefore, instead of sending an ordinary email of appreciation immediately after I returned to the states, I took a few weeks to understand my feelings. Thus, by writing this short exposition, I hope I have enlightened you about my experiences in 中国(China) as a Fulbright scholar. In my opinion, my Chinese has vastly improved; plus, by being apart of this experience, I know that I will always carry China with me.
Moreover, I want to personally thank Dr. Diane Bowles, Ms. Xia Cao Dr. Matthew DeForrest, Dr. Adelheid Eubanks, Professor Xiaosong He, Professor Yin Han, and all of the people who have/are working behind the scenes to further this program, for giving me this opportunity. This program is important because it gives students like me, who have never travelled aboard, a life-changing opportunity. This program also acknowledges and expands the Chinese culture in Charlotte. Being that I am a senior, I look forward to applying to this program again. And, I hope I will be
锄禾日当午，
汗滴禾下土，
谁知盘中餐，
粒粒皆辛苦. Farmers weeding at noon, sweat down the field soon, who knows food on a tray,
Thanks to their toiling day
悯农 (The Toiling Farmers) is an ancient Chinese poem that my 语伴 (study partner) imparted to me. The character 悯 (Min) means to sympathize-with, while the character 农 (Nong) means farmer. Throughout each verse, readers are able to visualize the disparity between hard work & gratefulness; essentially, it communicates that the fruits of labor should be appreciated and not wasted. Thus, the poem perfectly describes my disposition with regards to traveling to 中国(China).
You see, when I first learned that I was traveling to 中国(China), I felt a range of emotions; they went from disbelief …show more content…
Each of our 语伴 (study partners) went the extra mile not only to accommodate us but also to get to know us on a personal level. To this day, I still stay-in contact each of them regularly. Hence, my most memorable moment in 中国 (China) is when I read the poem I wrote“说出你的名字”(Speak Your Name) for them at our graduation ceremony.
说出你的名字 (Speak Your Name)
Normally at our graduation ceremonies, which included a speech, a diploma, and a group picture, we would exchange gifts with our 语伴 (study partners). Therefore, because we only had 4 语伴 (study partners), I wanted to give a good gift. Although I had many adequate ideas, nothing felt memorable. Therefore, after I was imparted with 悯农 (The Toiling Farmers), I understood that I wanted to give a gift that could inspire and radiate the gratefulness I felt inside for the laboring of our语伴 (study partners).
You see, while in 中国(China), I learned that it is common for a person who interacts with foreigners to use a western name; hence, each of our 语伴 (study partners) used western names. Yet, it was very dishearting when I would hear people call them by it. I mean…being from Charlotte, the jewel of the Deep South, I know the importance of owning your name; the power it holds. Plus, it seemed very wasteful to me to be in 中国(China) trying to improve our Chinese yet calling our 语伴 (study partners) by English …show more content…
Bowles & the Vice President of Guangdong Baiyun University singing Uptown Funk at our opening ceremony in 广州 (Guangzhou). Thank You
Therefore, instead of sending an ordinary email of appreciation immediately after I returned to the states, I took a few weeks to understand my feelings. Thus, by writing this short exposition, I hope I have enlightened you about my experiences in 中国(China) as a Fulbright scholar. In my opinion, my Chinese has vastly improved; plus, by being apart of this experience, I know that I will always carry China with me.
Moreover, I want to personally thank Dr. Diane Bowles, Ms. Xia Cao Dr. Matthew DeForrest, Dr. Adelheid Eubanks, Professor Xiaosong He, Professor Yin Han, and all of the people who have/are working behind the scenes to further this program, for giving me this opportunity. This program is important because it gives students like me, who have never travelled aboard, a life-changing opportunity. This program also acknowledges and expands the Chinese culture in Charlotte. Being that I am a senior, I look forward to applying to this program again. And, I hope I will be