Trinity Magazine: Fall 2005

In Their Words:Michelle Mitchell '06

Destination: China
Dual Major: Political science & economics
Inspiring Course: "Weapons and Peace"
Currently: President, Student Government Association
Aspires to: One day be an advocate on Capitol Hill

The People’s Republic of China is a beautiful country with beautiful people; surprisingly, it is also a country that I had never envisioned myself traveling to. I suppose this is because I felt it was out of my reach. This international experience has changed my life and my perspective. I was a diplomat on a 17-day long International Mission on Diplomacy to the People’s Republic of China which spanned four great cities. We began in Beijing, traveled to Xi'an, spent a day in Suzhou, and finished our tour in Shanghai. Studying China’s current and future economic, social and political environments, my travels included discussing Sino U.S.-China relations with senior level members of the Foreign Ministry in Beijing and meeting with China’s future diplomats at the China University of Foreign Affairs. During our stay in Beijing we had diplomatic relations with the Chinese Friendship Association and were briefed by members of the U.S. Embassy to receive the American perspective on the issues we were examining.

The mission was a perfect blend of educational and culturally enriching experiences. We traveled to Shanghai where we visited the Shanghai Institute of International Studies and spent the day in lectures and break-out sessions designed to help the students exchange ideas with their Chinese counter-parts.

During our stay in Shanghai, we ventured out of the city to visit a simple Chinese village and learn about village life from some of the local families. We also took the train to Suzhou which is the part of the ancient Silk Road. In this wonderful city we toured the silk factories and rug-making factories, sailed down the Grand Canal, ate Mongolian barbecue and traveled back to Shanghai. Visiting the Bund and the historic French and British concessions was amazing.

One of the best aspects of the mission as we neared the end in Shanghai was that we were given a chance to experience China on our own. These days of ample free time were very valuable; I saw it as a chance to get to know the country on another level. I took my money out of my hotel safe, packed my video camera and set out to discover whatever I could discover.

On these exploration journeys I felt the most in touch with the country — taking the subway, taking the ferry, shopping, and visiting the Pearl TV tower were some of my exploits. All of the things that we were exposed to were crucial to our role as diplomats in a country we were unfamiliar with. These experiences helped us to understand the perspective of the Chinese people when discussing the issues that the United States and China must face. Thus we were in a unique position to contemplate, and were encouraged to discuss, our ideas about what would be successful foreign policy on the part of the United States.

On my tour of China I traveled by plane, train and automobile to see and learn about the country we were in. I learned that jet-setting around the world can be quite tiring; however, in China, there was no time to be tired. Recognizing that I was on a trip that could possibly be a once in a lifetime opportunity, I vowed not to rest until I returned home to the States. Of all of the things that I learned in China, what was the most profound was the simple realization that Americans and the Chinese, as well as people all over the world, have an uncanny sameness that is constant regardless of our many differences.

Return to Global Travels

Return to Trinity Magazine Fall 2005 table of Contents