CHINA
Country Overview:
"A land of contrasts, where ancient traditions meet rapid modernization, and delectable cuisine coexists with complex political realities."
My seven-year journey in China, from May 2013 to August 2020, was a whirlwind of experiences. I taught English, pursued my Master's in Politics & Foreign Policy at the prestigious Tsinghua University, and immersed myself in the media landscape at China Today and Xinhua News Agency. Beijing was my home base, but my travels painted a vibrant tapestry of China's diverse landscapes and cultures: the bustling metropolis of Shanghai, the historic city of Xi'an, the tropical paradise of Sanya, the unique blend of East and West in Macau and Hong Kong, and countless other destinations in between. From savoring the exquisite flavors of regional cuisines to navigating the intricacies of daily life under a distinct political system, China left an indelible mark on me.
Tsinghua iTalk Grad Speech
Had the opportunity to speak at Tsinghua’s 2019 graduation and farewell party. Lots of interesting speeches and congrats to all the grads!
Tsinghua Grad Speech
Got asked to speak at Tsinghua’s 2019 graduation commencement on Tuesday, focusing on life in China after graduating.
Tsinghua Clubs & Orgs
Since I'm graduating in a few months, I didn't sign up for any clubs, but did get to interview people since I'm a writer for Tsinghua's WeChat account. It's interesting to see what people from around the world are interested in. French girl into Buddhism, Dutch guy signed up for debate, and a Danish dude joined the mountaineering club. Tsinghua is a pretty diverse place if you take the time to explore it a bit.
Tsinghua Art Museum
I am now a writer for the Official Tsinghua wechat account and had an all-access pass to the new Tsinghua Art Museum to write an article about it. The featured exhibit is 60 of Da Vinci's original works.
PM of New Zealand
Attended a speech by John Key, 38th Prime Minister of New Zealand. Met him afterwards, shook his hand and after telling him I was from the States, he said he was just there at the Nuclear Summit with Xi and Obama. Just another day in the life of a politician. Super nice guy and interesting speech.
Women's Day
Women's Day was a couple of days ago and Tsinghua campus was covered in these banners proclaiming love for girls or saying nice things about women in general.
Tsinghua University
I'm currently studying my Masters of Chinese Politics and Foreign Policy at Tsinghua University, located in Northwest Beijing. The campus is huge, known as China's MIT, and has an interesting mix of architecture. Above is a campus map and thankfully, also has a high rank of employability. I'm sure it's only because Xi, a Tsinghua grad, is currently the president of China. Regardless, Tsinghua stacks up well with other universities here in China as well as on an international level. I'm proud to have been accepted to this school and although the next 2 years will be challenging, I'm excited for what the future holds.