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| Yutong (center) with Tibetan students |
Poverty, violence, and
political and religious tensions. Would you volunteer to help address these
issues? Would you volunteer to be on the ground, day to day, for weeks? Would
the stories you heard be so moving that you would find funding to return and help put
in place a framework for addressing these issues among students who come from a
different culture and background? Are you sure?
Yutong’s words changed
me. I, like many, thought I knew enough about the relationship between Tibet
and China to pass summary judgment. I have followed Yutong’s efforts to help
Tibetans for a couple of years. She has increased her involvement dramatically
and I can safely say she is one of the people I admire most for her efforts to
change the world. In her case, she transcends the cliché with action. If you
are not inspired after reading what follows I think you need to read what she
says again.
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Can you tell us a little about yourself? You
are from Wuxi. Not all that many in the West know much about this historical
place. Can you describe it a little? The population in the city has increased
by over 1,100,000 since the year 2000. Do you see the changes taking place
every time you go home and are the changes good?
I am
an international student from Wuxi, a city in Jiangsu of China. Currently I am
a third year majoring in philosophy and religious studies, minoring in East
Asian Studies in my university in the US.
The
city I came from borders Changzhou to the west, and Suzhou to the east. Home to
many famous Chinese businessmen, it is a city of important commerce and
industry, as well as a tourist site in China. Currently Wuxi is taking the
development mode following Shanghai, gradually becoming a megacity.
The
changes have been tremendous since 2000. I remember back in that time, the road
downstairs from my family's apartment was just 2 meters wide, with vendors on
two sides. Now it has turned into an
eight-lane avenue, and street vendors replaced with huge restaurants and malls.
During the past two years, over five huge skyscrapers have been constructed,
and the subway system will also be open in the next month. It's hard to say
whether these changes are good or bad. It's a global irresistible force,
flowing like a river. China, or my city at least, is still on a threshold:
tempted by immediate, tangible achievement, but with the associated environmental
pollution and the loss of old traditions. Of the old part of the city what has
been left is a small selection of places not yet redone for commercialization, as
with the ‘Old Street’ called Nan Chang Street, which has been renovated in the
last two years. Old buildings have been either torn down or renovated; the
traditional architectural style remains, but with names like Starbucks, or
turned into pubs on the inside. I have no simple judgment about these changes,
since people's living standards have improved.
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| Wuxi |
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| Wuxi |
Can you describe your education in China?
Where did you go to high school and can you describe it? How competitive were
the classes and how many students were studying for the Gaokao and how many
were thinking of leaving China to study somewhere else? What did you like
most about your school, classes and classmates? What would you change if you
could?
I took
an unconventional route during high school. Instead of going to normal high
school, I chose the A-level course, which is a British academic qualification.
Our school just opened the course when I attended high school; therefore, we
were the first students to take this approach in Wuxi. Our high school is the
top high school in the city, with over 3000 students and 100 years of history.
Apart from the A level students, nearly all other students in the school studied
for the Gaokao. However, I do know a few students from the normal classes who
also are currently studying abroad. There is no 'single thing' I like most
about my school, but when recalling the overall environment and culture of it I
just loved it as a whole. The large campus, up-to-date equipment for experiments,
my best friends, and everyday classes are all put together, a great memory for
me. I really cannot think of anything that I would like to change even though there
was adversity and things I did not do as well in as I would have liked. I do
not prefer perfect and smooth paths, and everything I experienced has shaped
who I am.
Were there opportunities for extracurricular
activities and if so what did you do?
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| Wuxi No 1 High School |
Yes. I
had opportunities to do both volunteer work and academic activities. For three
years, I volunteered teaching in the city's orphanage, helping the kids there with
their English and Math homework. I was also the president of our school's
Information Technology Union (Although I was not responsible for the
'technology' part). In addition, I participated in an environmental project
held by Earthwatch, and worked with scientists from the Chinese Academy of
Sciences in TLLER researching water quality and the sources of pollution in
Lake Tai.
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| Wuxi |
The US
is a country quite different from China in almost every aspect—education, history,
culture and political views. I wanted
fresh experiences. In addition, US universities allow me to choose major and
minors later during the course of study, giving me enough time to explore what
I like.
I
applied to Schools with good Humanity studies as I have decided my general area
would be in these fields. I also consulted many students from different
universities to ask their opinions. Our school officials were more
knowledgeable about universities in the UK, so I had to research a lot on my
own.
I
took courses to prepare for SAT and Toefl. I also found mock exams online. It
was effective overall as it prepared me for the type of questions asked on the
test.
What do you think of the Gaokao?
I
have not taken it personally, but many of my friends from middle school did. The
preparation process was quite lengthy and painstaking. The Gaokao itself is a
two-edged sword: it provides a means for those born in families of low income to
achieve a spot in higher education and therefore, pursue a better life for both
them and their families in the future.
However,
the content within the test is narrow and in my opinion does not reflect the
knowledge one really possesses. In addition, the Gaokao is a deciding factor for
one's whole life since it affects the university one goes to, and, in the
situation of China, affects to a great degree, future job opportunities;
however, a single test seems less than a perfect way to select students. Currently,
due to the large population and exceptionally competitive job market, the Gaokao
seems to be a temporary pragmatic solution to 'select' among such a huge pool
of students.
Why did you choose to attend your current
university?
Apart
from the long history and rich culture of my university, I really like the
research grants offered by the university for students to do independent
academic research; various honor programs also give me more freedom in course
selection. My school also has a very strong academic environment for Humanities
study overall.
Can you tell us what you are studying? Do you
have favorite teachers or classes you want to highlight? What are the biggest
differences between your teachers in China and those in the US? Have you had to
adjust the way you study?
I am taking many courses in
Philosophy, Religious Studies, East Asian Studies and Art history. I would
recommend all the classes in Philosophy I have taken, such as Philosophy of
Religion, Metaphysics, Philosophy of Mind etc. The major difference between the
classes in China and US is that nearly all classes in China are lecture-based,
which means there are very few discussions involved. I think I like the mode in
the US better, since during classes are more thought provoking because of the
discussions.
Was the adjustment to the US harder or easier
than you expected? Did anything really surprise you?
The
adjustment for me met my expectation, since I anticipated many things apart
from study coming up, and my high school education was already somewhat 'westernized';
therefore, the difference for me was minor than for most international students
from China. There were a few things quite surprising for me, however, mainly having
to do with the local culture. Charlottesville is a small town compare to the
city I come from, with very few high buildings and a much smaller population. Therefore,
people here seem to have closer relations with each other.
Who do you hang out with mostly? Do you think
it is hard to get to know people from the US? Do they have stereotypes about
students from China?
Right
now I mostly hang out with Chinese students, but sometimes with my
project-mates in the US. It's a bit hard to hang out with US students, since we
are from radically different backgrounds and share very different points of
views on certain issues. I enjoy having conversations with them, while when I
want to remain in my comfort zone, I would choose the Chinese student groups.
The major stereotypes about Chinese students are 'They are very good at Math'.
Most US students are unaware of the current Chinese political situation, while
most of them are familiar with the stories from forty years ago, and certain
assumptions about Chinese students rest on this period.
You are involved with a wonderful service
effort. I have seen you host events to help people learn about it and you also
let people know about it through social media. Can you describe in some detail
the program and how you first became in involved? Can you give some links that
people can to do to find out more?
I am
currently most devoted to the student chapter of Machik, a Tibet-related NGO
based in DC. I actually have heard of it before I came to my university from
alumni. I attended the student Chapter right after I came to my school, and
have been a member of it since then. During my first year summer holiday I did
the Summer Enrichment Program with it, teaching Tibetan kids from all over the
plateau in Kunming; I also attended two annual Machik Weekends, in which Tibetan,
Chinese and US scholars come together and hold inspiring talks on current
political, social and economic situation in Tibet. At my university we mostly
do fundraising and publicity for Machik, such as hosting charity dinners,
seminars and sales of Tibetan hand made bracelets etc.
People
who want to rich out Machik can simply go to the website:
In addition,
they can follow the founder, Losang Rabget's tweeter: @losangrabgey
For
people interested in SEP, they can contact sep@machik.org
How has the experience with this program
changed you? Why should more students think about doing it?
I have changed in many ways
after the program. It's a close-up lens to the current problems on Tibetan
Plateau, allowing people to be involved personally in the issue by talking and
exchanging ideas with other volunteers and administrators from different
backgrounds. The one-month experience also changed my perspective on volunteer service.
It is a mutual process from which both the kids and volunteers learn a great
deal and sometimes the latter may even gain more from the experience.
I think
it was really a growing-up process for me. For one month I was taking care of
Tibetan students around the same age as I was. I listened to their stories,
which were radically different from mine. In addition, I worked well with other
volunteers from the US, mainland China and Tibetan Plateau. I learnt the sense
of duty that made me stay up all night to prepare for courses, and I learnt to
put others’ needs ahead of my own instead of always thinking of myself. I
experienced numerous touching moments during that month, which made me more
concerned about the whole issue. I hope more people can have access to this
wonderful opportunity to learn not only about the history and social issues,
but also improve themselves in various ways.
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| Tibetan Plateau |
Can you tell us about some of
the specific issues that affect the lives of your Tibetan students?
I
remember one day, a Tibetan girl suddenly started crying after talking on the
phone with her family. She told us that her brother had broken his arm and lost
one of his eyes during a fight with some Muslims in their village. I was quite
shocked by the story as this kind of thing seldom happens around me. I was even
more shocked when a boy on my team told me that this kind of violence was
common in their village, and 'Sometimes when my father got beaten by someone
else, typically the Muslims from the nearby village, he would come back and ask
we three brothers to go and take revenge'. I was astonished when
listening to this, not only because boys of such a young age were engaged in
serious fights involving deadly weapons like machetes, but also because a
father would encourage his own sons to do this. I was so disturbed by this that
I found the president of Machik, Losang la to ask her about this. After
listening to the story, she told me that, all these kids were living in places
where government and security police can barely make any significant inroads in
these kinds of situations. With quite low education and no government
intervention, most people consider violence the only way to solve problems. In
addition, tension between Tibetans and Muslims would always cause conflict
between the two groups. Losang La said, “It could be heartbreaking to hear
one's own students and close friends to live in such a dangerous environment
while, at the same time what we can do with our own power is limited.” What
Machik does is to build a bridge between different ethnic groups, to help learn
to them to communicate effectively, and to bring mutual understanding between
them. At the same time, strengthening local education is also a pressing goal
to achieve. I think this story is the most memorable experience for me during
the whole SEP, and it is why I have chosen to continue to work with Machik
since then.
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| Llamo |
Has your service experience affected what you
might want to do in the future in any way? What are your plans after
graduation?
Currently
I have been awarded a grant from the Jefferson Public Citizens to do a
follow-up community research project in Lhamo, a Tibetan township on the border
of Sichuan and Gansu. Last year, I already went to this place with two other
students with a smaller grant to do a pre-research for our project. The title
of our research is "Community building: cultivating environmental
stewardship and cross cultural dialogue through the construction of a community
center in Lhamo, China.” One of the problems on the plateau is the tension
between the development of the tourism industry and other economic industry
versus the increasing demand for trash collection and recycling systems, we
have spent twenty days there last year, and will spend another five weeks in
the area, hopefully to gain a more comprehensive picture of how Tibet as a
whole is addressing these issues.
If you were in a position of power in
education in China would you make community service a requirement for students?
Community service, for me,
should be something serious and thought provoking, instead of some three-week
vacation for students to have something to write on the resume. Since high
school, I have seen quite a lot of the above situation, which is why sometimes
I hold back from promoting community service as a requirement for students in
China: I do not want it to become something mandatory. What is more important
is what the students gain from the service: how one as a human being is
changed; how his or her perspective on a certain issue is affected; what
long-term plan he or she has in mind concerning the issue after doing the
service. I would most likely provide more opportunity for students of interest
to do community service, instead of making it mandatory for all.
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| Yutong and students |
How have you come to feel about the people
from Tibet, both those you know here in the US and those you have met through
the program? Do you think people in the West have an accurate understanding of
the relationship between China and Tibet? If not what would you want them to
know?
I do not
think I have enough knowledge on the issue to remain unbiased, and I think most
people are the same. I do not know many Tibetans from the US: most of them are
from the Machik office, and some from my university. I would consider all of
them quite knowledgeable about the history and the current problem, and most of
them are trying their best to make a change. For those within China I met in
SEP, I am still in close contact with them, and all of them are also somewhat
involved in Machik. All of us agree on the need for bridge-building and mutual
understanding between Han Chinese and Tibetans.
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| Yutong and students |
As I
said above, most people, both within China and those from the west who are
aware of the Sino-Tibetan issue have not themselves read enough on the problem
to make any judgment. I personally do not like the somewhat abstract talk of
'democracy', 'human rights' and so on whenever addressing the problem. This is
like cooking a traditional Chinese cuisine: knowing and randomly mixing all the
material involved is not enough; specific ways of dealing with them in the larger
context of the dish is critical to whether it is made successfully. The Chinese
political situation is much more complex than people usually think, and the way
to achieve the goals called for is usually different from that in the west.
Do you have anything else you want to add that
might give parents, students or educators in China or the US a way to approach
service and education?
As I already mentioned above, one should put in effort
to understand the deeper meaning of service and education, and to focus on how
he or she can be changed through the process. If one does it for the sake of a
resume or because it is required, the whole point of doing service would be
lost. I think educators can provide more means through which students can get
to research on the topics they are interested in, instead of telling them what
they should do.
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Yutong’s
not just smart but wise. There are not many who travel have a world away to
study philosophy. And there are even fewer who have devoted the time, energy
and support she has to the people of Tibet. But for those who think philosophy is
just a major with few prospects think again. Those who do well in this major
tend to be grabbed up by companies, NGOs and graduate schools because they know
how to think. Yutong knows many things and one of them is that a degree isn’t always
about a major—it’s about skill sets. She has learned to take a philosophical approach
to the world. In part this is what makes her exceptional. But rather than just
think great thoughts she also partakes in actions that change people and if she
continues to do what she is doing perhaps she will be part of the change between
countries and groups who at are odds because they don’t have the education to
bring peaceful solutions to hard problems.
I
wish to thank Yutong for sharing her inspiring words and deeds. I am lucky to know
someone who cares enough about others to contribute to their well being. She also
knows that in giving to others she receive great gifts in return—the intangible
feelings of making a difference and the understanding of people much different than
her.
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