Bowie State University News February 10, 2016 China Scholars Share Their Stories as Second Group Prepares to Depart Six Bowie State Students Depart for China Study Abroad Program Angel Tillery knows the importance of making connections - as one of eight Bowie State University students in the China Study Abroad Scholarship Program<http://www.bowiestate.edu/academics-research/international-initiatives/china-study-abroad/>, she knew she'd built a solid group of friends when she celebrated her 20th birthday over dinner a few weeks after moving to China. Nearly 20 people showed up. "There were people from all different countries there celebrating my birthday with me," she said. "It was just nice being able to look at this huge table and think, 'Wow, look at all my friends from around the world.' So, it was the best birthday ever." Now, Tillery, a junior, is preparing to return to Heilongjiang University later this month for another semester with five new China Scholars. She is looking forward to continuing to improve her skills in Mandarin Chinese and reconnecting with her friends. She and the other China Scholars took a Mandarin course, as well as other courses related to their majors. "I have Chinese friends who don't speak any English and I can communicate with them. We still video chat and text all the time," she said. "After I graduate and get my degree in art [at Bowie State], who's knows? I may go back to China, live in China, stay in China [or] teach in China." Soon after moving to China, she learned she needed to make friends with other students just to learn her way around Harbin, a college town in China's northernmost province "Meeting other international students who speak English was really nice, especially if they've lived there for several years," she said. "[The Bowie State students] would go on adventures ourselves trying to find things, and we would go out walking for hours and just fail terribly at finding anything. But once we had friends and they would just send us the address of places, it was really easy to get around." Another China Scholar, senior Sierra Boney, often found herself teaching other international students about life in America from her perspective. "I enjoyed having the opportunity to teach them about [African-Americans] because they see certain things on TV and they always have questions like 'Is it this way or is it this way?' They'd never met black Americans before." In China, senior Bumni Akinmade struggled to find patience - with herself and others - as she learned the culture and language. "It was very humbling. ... That's one of the biggest lessons that I've learned. ... Because I was going into an environment where I don't know how to communicate with the traditional Chinese individual." Because she is returning to China for another semester, Tillery is helping to prepare the next group of China Scholars to learn and grow in a new, unfamiliar culture. She met so many other international students who had lived, studied and traveled abroad extensively, which showed her possibilities she never even considered for her life and career. "The experience was just so great. It's so eye-opening," she said. "Once you go overseas, your whole mindset changes, and that's why I'm going back. I love it there!" The additional spring 2016 China Scholars are: * Lamar Baker, junior, sports management major * Scott Fitzgerald, senior, psychology major * Tigidanke Kabbany, senior, psychology major * Danielle Keene-El, junior, biology major * Joseph Wilson, senior, visual communication and digital media arts major SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-592-4820 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/hbculibraryalliance1/ 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.