Emily Flora | Special to The Roanoke Times

Several of the Radford University students who recently returned from China enjoyed playing dress up on their trip. From left, Cory Broyles, Emily Flora, James Rosensteel, Tiffiney Allen, Manuel Gomez, Shannon Snider, and Kimberly Hawks.

About 24 hours and many plane meals later, a tired bunch of Radford University students and I finally stepped onto Asian soil. Halfway across the world and wide-eyed, we gathered our luggage and, for the first time, smelled the air we’d soon become familiar with for the next month.

On May 15, 17 students and three faculty members embarked on a study abroad adventure offered by Radford University called The Zylphia Shu-En Kirk Scholars Program, established by R.J. Kirk, a 1999 RU alumnus.

This program allows eligible students with a minimum 2.75 GPA to study Mandarin Chinese for two semesters. Students must maintain a “B” average in the course and participate in cultural events to receive the scholarship to China.

Along our journey we traveled to Beijing, Hangzhou, Fuyang City and Shanghai.

We participated in classes, learning the language and culture, how to write calligraphy and how to paint.

But what we learned most from the trip was how to communicate and appreciate a culture so different from our own.

We brought back friendships, an appreciation for the opportunities we have in America and a greater sense of the world.

The first thing we noticed in China was how much the Chinese liked to look at us, which we were fully prepared for by our professor, I-Ping Fu.

From blue eyes and blond hair, to dark skin and curly hair, we had all the classic American traits.

Since we were the minority, the Chinese thought we were famous and important people. Many adults even looked at us with curiosity and stopped in their tracks to take pictures with our group or to ask us to take pictures with their children.

“The people in China would always have smiles on their faces and seemed curious when we walked by them,” said RU junior Manuel Gomez.

On one afternoon, we were honored to be invited by a local family for a Dumpling Feast. The hospitality we received was genuine, and at no point did the host sit down and join us.

Instead, she quickly brought out more food and drinks each time one emptied. By the time our bellies were full, we still had a table full of food.

Immediately, we were surprised to find how most local families in Beijing live. There is generally a courtyard in the middle with about four small rooms surrounding it, their sizes determined by the wealth of the family.

The room we ate dinner in was also a bedroom and living area with a TV and two round tables to eat on.

A typical family will live with three or four generations of the family in one courtyard, rather than live apart.

“The Chinese have a much deeper appreciation for family and worship their ancestors from long ago,” said RU junior Cory Broyles.

“Family is everything to them, without family they have nothing.”

Along the way, we met many students from different universities who were around the same age and seemed to be just like us, with the same interests.

“Any Chinese that were learning English or were interested in Americans were very eager to learn more about myself and my family as well as how things are in America,” said RU junior Tiffiney Allen.

What really touched me was when one of my Chinese friends turned to me and innocently asked: “How come when most Americans come to our country we learn English so we can communicate, but if I chose to come to America, no one would want to learn Chinese?”

Of course, I had no answers for her, but there was so much truth in her question and I finally realized how little we, as Americans, are willing to accept and open up to other cultures.

The June 13 trip home was one of sadness and excitement.

Each of us came home forever changed in ways that my classmates and I find hard to express.

We have become more aware of the cultures that surround us and have matured in a way that will only help us to communicate in the future.

We found a deeper appreciation for all that we have in America and realized even as college students, we are rich in every aspect of the word.

Emily Flora is a rising senior at Radford University, where she is a media studies/ broadcast journalism major and international studies/ Chinese minor.