But really, these last 3 months have been more than words can describe. We each wrote a little something to our families about what you should expect from us upon our arrival home. Most of what we have learned will only be obvious to you when we......Read More

  As our trip draws to a close, the Fall 2017 South of the Clouds group (code name Crack Team of Linguistic Monks, or CTLM) finds itself northeast of Dali in a region called the Nu Jiang Valley. This will be the final destination of our student......Read More

Dear Fall 2017 China Semester Families, It is hard to believe that 3 months have passed since your student embarked on this incredible adventure! It won’t be long until students will be boarding their planes back home. We are sure you are......Read More

November 22nd marked the beginning of our X-phase. After 5 days of living in tropical Xishuangbanna alongside Dai minority people in a small village called Manzhang, we ended our time with a large home-cooked meal with our homestay families. Elly......Read More

In addition to studying the Chinese language, each one of us has chosen an element of Chinese culture and tradition to delve into in what is called an ISP (Independent Study Project). Below you’ll find a short paragraph from some students about......Read More

Last week, our instructors encouraged us to disperse to different corners of the city and simply observe. Stop trying to learn, to speak, to be immersed, to understand, but just observe. We’d like to share that little tidbit about Kunming life......Read More

To mark our last week in Kunming, we organized a “thank you” potluck for all homestay families, ISP teachers, language teachers, and students. Each family brought a delicious dish, and students studying Chinese cooking as their......Read More

Transportation in China has proven to be full of unpredictable and thrilling experiences. We have skidded around dozens of potholes in the Sangke Grasslands, gone on long bus rides along the sides of cliffs, grown to know the smell of bullet-train......Read More

1) Halloween There are few things we miss about home, but almost every day for the past two weeks we have lamented missing fall foliage, apple cider donuts, and Halloween candy. Two nights ago, we finally got to fulfill our autumnal longings. We......Read More

Hello China Semester Families & Friends – This fall, people in China have experienced a tightening of control over the internet and it’s been difficult for the group to get online and access our Yak Board. We’re trying to get......Read More

There are some things you don’t feel as they happen – you remember them later, in bits and pieces, like something from a dream.   The moment comes slow; sound starts to fade, the heavy rumble of rushing traffic, shifting cars and bikes......Read More

Dear and friends and family, I know that you didn’t see me before and that society says that I’m undesirable, but I might be here to stay.  It’s been great introducing myself! Sincerely, The unexpected pudge that’s......Read More

… and it was the best thing that could have happened. I’ve recently arrived in Kunming, capital of the Yunnan province of China. It’s a small city by Chinese standards but to give you a bit of perspective: you can drive from the center......Read More