First-year's China trip brings campus course to life

(Editor’s Note: Marilyn Hernandez-Stopp ’14 visited China as part of the university’s Benton Scholars Program and writes about her experience.)

Now that I am back home, I’ve had a chance to reflect on my trip to China and attempt to readjust to the time difference!

For the last week that I was in China, the Benton Scholars group took the overnight train to Xi’an. I will just say that that was quite an experience!

I’ve never slept in a tiny bunk with five other people in one cramped room. Fortunately, I slept very nicely and the overnight trip flew by.

In Xi’an, we saw the famous terracotta warriors and I was able to procure two mini-warrior replicas for my brother, which he loved.

We also visited the city wall of Xi’an. We rode bikes along its length, and for some reason the chain to my bike kept falling off. Many other bikers stopped to help me along the way, which was much appreciated!

I was finally able to finish the ride, though it seemed as though it would never end, with a new bike.

In Xi’an, we also visited with another group of students. These students were studying English so we were able to communicate with them quite well. It astounds me to know that students all the way in China are learning English very early on!

We then took a tour to Yenan, the city to which Mao led his great march many years ago. It was very interesting. We also went to a museum that documented the history of China’s Communist Party.

It was fascinating to see the differences in histories that China and the United States have, and it was also amazing to tangibly see the people, places, and things we learned about in our Modern East Asia course.

I forgot to mention that before we left for Xi’an, we visited the Great Wall, the stalwart monument that represents China’s prowess. We walked for about two hours straight, and by the end of it, I felt as though my legs would fall off.

Still, I am so proud to be able to say that I scaled the Great Wall of China, and I am glad that I didn’t give up!

I am glad to be back home, but I also am missing my fellow Benton Scholars very much.

This trip brought us so much closer and I believe that I can truly consider them some of my best friends at Colgate. I hope I can go on a trip with them again, and I can’t wait to visit China in the future!