Every summer Utah Valley University students are given the opportunity to attend a university sponsored study abroad program. This last summer I elected to attend the Chinese Language and Culture program. As the name implies this program went to a number of locations in China and students focused their attention on increasing their Chinese language ability and cultural understanding of the country and its people. This trip was 7.5 weeks in length and took students from Shanghai to the Yunnan province and finally to Beijing.

Utah Valley University students in Shanghai, China

            We spent relatively little time in Shanghai and Beijing. Our time there was only a few days and was spent mostly touring historically important sights and resting from our studies. While in Shanghai it was of interest that we were able to spend some time with UVU’s own Dr. Baldomero Lago who was there working to establish internship opportunities in the city for UVU students. The majority of our time was spent in the Yunnan province. While in this province we spent a majority of our days in a city called Chuxiong, with a few others pent traveling through the well-known areas in Yunnan. In this city we studied at a local university and worked with university students as language learning partners. We had classes on the Chinese language and on culture. In addition to our studies we visited historical important sites in the area and volunteered at local elementary and middle schools. We also visited a park dedicated to the many ethnic minorities found in China and learned much of their individual cultures and history.

Utah Valley University students studying at Chuxiong Normal University

            While in Chuxiong I made sure to fully experience the city and spent a great deal of my time among the local peoples. Additionally I ventured out into the rural areas surrounding Chuxiong. Southern China is very mountainous and the economic disparity between first class cities such as Shanghai and rural Chuxiong were very apparent. The rural areas of Yunnan experience a strong degree of poverty and lacked many of the basic luxuries we in United States enjoy. Returning home and working with the Utah International Mountain Forum, it has come to my attention that the work of this group and the United Nations sustainable development goals could be implemented successfully in the Yunnan region.

UVU student Austin Meline in rural Chuxiong, with communal rice fields in the background

This experience was critical in my understanding of China and towards my experience of global engagement while at Utah Valley University. The study abroad programs are excellently prepared and provide students opportunities that they would otherwise miss. I thank the faculty of UVU, namely Dr. Yuan with the Chinese language program and the office for Global Engagement for all of their work in creating these programs.

                          Austin Meline, UIMF member