SlideShare a Scribd company logo
1 of 16
Download to read offline
Division of
International Affairs
Newsletter
“They are off to an adventure of a lifetime”
Vol.4:Issue2
President Wilson went to extraordinary lengths to ensure
comfort for the traveling students and their parents
before they set off. In his comments before the students
departed, Dr. Wilson reiterated trends of his vision for
enhancing the current scholarship package and created
avenues for the parents in understanding the safe and
peaceful nature of the environment their children were
headed. Having traveled himself to China on several
occasions, his attitude set a tranquil ambiance; thus
bidding farewell to the students by saying-------
Inside this issue:
Summer 2015 Travelog–
Morgan Bears Travels 2
Thurgood Marshall
College Fund 8
Congressional Black Caucus	 10
Everything Old is New Again 14
Left to Right: Frederick Taylor, Khir Henderspn, Vanessa Kone, Jodi Radebaugh, Ariel
Jones, Dr. David Wilson Ashley Jones, Angel Bailey, Alicia Igodan, Dr. Sumanth Reddy,
Missing but fellow travelers - Josselyn Tabora and Aliyyah Chapman
Chinese universities and the HBCUs. Those
conversations led to the Chinese government
establishing a very promising scholarship
program which is making available 1,000
scholarships for students at HBCUs to study in
China at the government’s expense. I currently
serve as Chair of the HBCU-China Network, and
over the next three years, we want to ensure
that all of these scholarships are awarded to
students across all HBCU campuses in America.
It is critically important for college students, and
utterly a necessity for students at HBCUs, to
experience the rise of other nations in real time.
China is rising rapidly and is soon to be the
dominant economic power in the world. HBCU
students must be exposed to Chinese culture,
Chinese customs and the Chinese language
in order to become competent in working,
interacting with and leading in a world where
countries like China will be rivaling with the U.S.
I am very pleased that many of our students
here at Morgan are taking advantage of
these opportunities. This past summer,
twelve Morgan students went to China on
an immersion experience, and based on the
feedback that I have received from those
students, their experience was transformational.
Just as we are making opportunities available
for Morgan students to study abroad, we also
are increasing our outreach to students in other
countries to make their way to Morgan where
they will experience African American history,
culture and traditions. Those efforts are paying
off handsomely. As of today, nearly 7 percent of
our student body is international, representing
over 65 countries.
We are serious here at Morgan when we say
we are Growing the Future and Leading the
World, and we take our responsibility of imbuing
our students with global perspectives quite
personally.
*Dr. David Wilson is President of Morgan State
University
Dr. David Wilson, President of Morgan State
Univeristy shares……..
I take global education personally and seriously.
I do so because I came through my entire
undergraduate and graduate experiences never
having set foot outside of the United States of
America. In June 1987, as I came across the
stage and received my doctorate from Harvard
University, I realized that I had acquired four
college degrees, and I had gained an intellectual
understanding of the world, but my education
was so incomplete. It was incomplete because
I had never had an immersion experience in
another country, which would have enabled me
to look at all global issues from the perspective
of those living them every day. And so, from
that point forward, every place that I found
myself – Rutgers, Auburn, the University of
Wisconsin and now Morgan State – has been
an opportunity for me to make available for
students experiences where they understand
the importance of global education.
We are very excited about the numerous
partnerships that we have formed with
institutions around the world. Those
partnerships are enabling Morgan students to
study in Australia, Africa, South America and
Asia, to name a few places.
Two years ago, I was asked to lead a
delegation of Historically Black College and
University (HBCU) Presidents to China to
begin exploring possible relationships between
2
Eighteen HBCU students were part of a two-
week study abroad trip to China from July 11-25,
2015. The group had a total of 18 students and
2 chaperones – 10 students from Morgan State
University, 7 students from Harris-Stowe State
University, and 1 student from Florida Memorial
University. The two chaperones were Dr.
Sumanth Reddy from Morgan State University
and Dr. Fara Zakery from Harris-Stowe State
University. The program was sponsored by
the China United States Exchange Foundation
(CUSEF) and the two hosting institutions in
China; Beijing Language and Culture University
(BLCU) in Beijing, and Hangzhou Wanxiang
Polytechnic (HWXP) in Hangzhou. We spent six
days in Beijing, five days in Hangzhou, and one
day in Shanghai. All expenses in China (room
and boarding, meals, transportation, and site
visits) were covered by the scholarship. Morgan
students had to pay for their own airfare,
visa, and travel/medical insurance which cost
approximately $1600.
The CUSEF was established in 2008 as a non-
profit organization and is supported entirely by
donations. Its mission is to further improve
communication and enhance understanding
between the people of China and the United
States. Since its inception, the foundation has
launched a number of initiatives to promote
cultural, academic, and education exchanges.
In China, we spent 12 days learning about the
country’s language, philosophy, political system,
economics, education system, astrology,
calligraphy & painting, ethnic minorities, martial
arts, and clean energy initiatives. We had
classroom lectures as well as site visits to the
Great Wall of China, Summer Palace, Forbidden
City, Lingyin Buddhist Temple, Leifeng Pagoda,
Song Dynasty Town, Xixi Wetland Museum,
Yu Garden & the City God Temple, Oriental
Pearl Radio & TV Tower and the Bund. Most
of our days lasted 10-12 hours as we learned,
discussed, walked, hiked, experienced, and
soaked up all the information and sights and
sounds of China.
At times, the students were exhausted because
of the amount of scheduled activities. However,
we had a highly productive, eye-opening,
and wonderful trip to China. The students
enjoyed trying new food, meeting new people,
and soaking in all that is China. Some of the
words that they used to describe the trip are:
unforgettable, amazing, enlightening, life-
changing, inspiring, humbling, educational, and
spectacular.
The Land of the Great Wall, Chop Sticks,
and So Much More by Dr. Sumanth Reddy, Ph.D
Summer 2015 Travelog–Morgan Bears Travel
Summer 2015 China Adventure by Alicia Igodan.
Follow your passion, figure out what it
is you love--who you really are. Have the
courage to do that, I believe that is the only
courage anybody ever needs is the courage
to follow your own dream.” – Oprah Winfrey
I was provided a great opportunity to study
abroad in Beijing, Hangzhou, and Shanghai,
China with Morgan State University taking
a classes such as; Understanding China-
U.S. Relations, Chinese Language, Chinese
Philosophy, Political System and Economic
Development in China, Chinese Astrology
and Everyday Life and Ethnic Minorities in
China. The study abroad program in China
has significantly enhanced my career and
educational goals by expanding my horizons and
providing me with insights into one of the most
populated cities in the world. In our changing
society, I believe it is important for me to have
intercultural awareness. While in China, I was
be given the opportunity to observe a new
culture and become more aware of the history
and traditions outside of my own environment.
This program offered me a fresh perspective
academically on how to approach different
individuals and communicate with people who
have had a different life than I have. Overall,
my time abroad allowed me to bring together
all of my past experiences and combine with
this new and exciting opportunity to impact
my career. I believe every interaction was an
opportunity to learn, establish international
connections and form lasting relationship.
Besides learning about the relationship of China
and the United States, we had the opportunity
to tour cultural and visit monument sites
such as; the Summer Palace, the Great Wall,
the Forbidden City and many more culture
experiences. I am now prepared to support,
motivate and influence positive changes both in
individuals and communities. Studying abroad
is not only academically and culturally fulfilling,
but also fosters personal growth. I highly
recommend students in college not be afraid
to take chances and step outside their comfort
zone. There’s a bigger world outside of what
we are used to. Everyone is capable of doing
anything that they put their minds to; I am a
reflection of that mantra.
3
Like many of my peers, I have never been
outside of America’s borders or never been
given the opportunity to experience the joy
of life through another culture’s lens. Well,
fortunately, July 12, 2015, was the day that all
of this changed. Naturally, when I was given the
opportunity to visit China through Morgan State
University, I had a million and one thoughts and
questions running through my mind. Would I
be treated well? Was it strict? Would I even like
it? Any question or preconceive notion about
China that ever existed flowed through my
mind or bombarded me from family and friends.
However, now I can happily say that China will
always have a special place in my heart.
My fellow peers and I had the pleasure of
visiting top Chinese Universities and learning
about a variety of topics that peeked each
of our interest and tied to most of our major
at Morgan. We also learn much about China
through all of our visits to historical monuments
and attractions: the Great Wall, the Summer
Palace, the Forbidden City, Lingyin Temple,
Leifeng Pagoda, Yu Garden, Song Dynasty
town, and more. In addition, as we explored
the country, we were able to explore our taste
buds with new and flavorful dishes. It was truly
an amazing and beautiful opportunity to not
only be able to experience so many new things,
but to watch my fellow peers and chaperones
experience these things and step out of their
comfort zone, which sparked such a remarkable
growth in each and every one of us.
Lastly, I just want to say that above everything
else that I could experience in China and
truly the highlight of the trip was the Chinese
people. During our entire stay, each of our tour
guides, the Chines students that helped and
accompanied us, and the local citizens, greeted
us with such warming welcomes, loving smiles,
and gleaming non-judgmental eyes. They really
made us hold back tears to leave, but gave us
joy to visit again. This is why I will always be
grateful to Morgan State University for giving
me two weeks of a life-time!
Two Weeks of a Lifetimeby Angel Bailey
HBCU – China Scholarship Network
4
When I first received the flyer about an
opportunity to study aboard in China I would
have never thought I would have the chance
to actually go. In the end it turned out that in a
few months I would be taking a 12 hour flight
across the world to China. In the beginning
before I left for China I really did not have a
perception of what I thought China was going to
be like. I knew it was a very populated country
and they were technological advanced but that
was as far as I thought about China. One thing
that has stuck with me from my time in China
is a conversation that I had with Henry. We
were talking about the reason why the Chinese
government sponsors a lot of delegations
with African Americans and the answer
surprised me. Henry told me that the Chinese
government believes that African Americans
will eventually become the leaders of America
and they want to form a close relationship with
the African American community. This surprised
me because in America, African Americans go
through a lot to get to the top. When I went
outside of my country and heard that people
of another culture and ethnicity have faith and
believe in us; made me even prouder to be an
African American. It was an experience of a
lifetime
An Opportunity of a Lifetime–China 2015by Ashley Jones
Making the decision to go to China during
the summer of 2015 was one of the greatest
decisions I have made thus far in my young
life. I was able to immerse myself in a culture
significantly different than mine for two weeks
and I would do it again! I was introduced to
authentic Chinese cuisine, explored a beautiful
country with magnificent landmarks and made
amazing friendships with both the students in
China and my cohort of students from Morgan.
The most memorable part of China however,
was the fact that in China they were so
welcoming and hospitable to all of us and
embraced the fact that we were African-
Americans. Leaving my home country where
race plays a major role in our daily lives and
entering a foreign country who completely
welcomes those that look different than them
made me admire the citizens of China even
more. The looks of excitement that came
across their face when seeing us made me
think “Wow why can’t the majorities in America
welcome those who are different than them
with such style and grace”! To be adored
by the citizens in China made my trip much
more special because for once in my life I was
exposed to a country that showed me that race
does not always matter, being different is okay
because to them we are all the same. It gave
me hope and showed me that the rest of the
world is in fact different and unique and shares
different values and cultural norms than in the
USA.
China 2015 – A Great Decisionby Ariel Jones
China was a place I always wanted to visit but
never thought I’d actually make it there. When
I found out I was able to go I was nervous,
yet very excited. I did not know anybody I
was traveling with nor, did I know much about
China in itself. My guards were down and
my mind was opened and for that I was able
to experience the Chinese culture first hand.
While in China I experienced places I did not
even know existed. I was able to meet a lot of
wonderful people and make new friends.
I loved visiting the Great Wall and walking
to the top which was something I’ve always
wanted to do. Going to the Buddha temple was
most intriguing and peaceful. Seeing where
the Beijing Olympics where held was another
highlight. The food was very different however;
I enjoyed trying new items daily.
Shanghai was our last stop however, my
favorite. The city sky line reminded me so
much of New York. All the shopping made my
day. The revolving restaurant where we had
dinner the last night was by far the best meal I
had the whole trip. The view and atmosphere
completed the whole experience at the
restaurant.
I learned so much about the Chinese culture
that interests me. The martial arts class was
an educational experience that left my muscles
sore for days. Dough sculpture was a fun
event, I loved making my panda bear. The plays
and shows we saw, taught me more about
the Chinese culture and history even though I
couldn’t understand what they were saying; the
actions were performed beautifully.
Even after being back in the states it seems so
surreal that I was actually there. This experience
is definitely one thing I will cross off my
bucket list. This trip was a once in a life time
experience that will always be appreciated and
never forgotten.
Our two week long trip to China has ended;
these are my reflections of the extraordinary
experience. In order to take a look at my overall
experience in China I would like to share my
initial motivations in joining the trip. The largest
opportunity I saw from joining the China study
abroad trip was the chance to learn about
another culture. Throughout my trip, I faced little
culture shock. However, the hardest part was
adjusting to the food because Chinese food is
so radically different than American. There were
also a lot of instances when people would want
to take pictures, which at first I found strange
but later grew fond of the exchanges I had with
the people asking me.
Aside from the challenge of adjusting to such
very slow Internet connection and extreme heat
at times, I really enjoyed the little things like
shopping at the markets. Haggling and chatting
with the shopkeepers is both entertaining and
economical. None of that fixed price business;
it’s the simplest form of supply and demand.
The last few days spent in China were
bittersweet and filled with some of the most
memorable times of the entire experience.
Already, I miss the sense of spontaneity,
adventurousness, and openness to try new
experiences. Not only visiting, but truly living
in, another country forces you to change your
mindset, learn to be more flexible, and adapt to
the unexpected. For better or for worse, I have
returned to the relative comfort of home.
I was excited to see my family and friends, but
at the same time, I did not want to leave the
Chinese culture, the people in my study abroad
group, and the excitement of discovering a new
site or new piece of culture every day. I felt as
though, if I could have spent a couple days with
my parents in America, I would have been ready
to go back to China within less than a week
and I believe that everyone should have a life
changing experience like study abroad whether
to China or anywhere else in the world.
A Once in a Life Trip by Jodi Radebaugh
I am back from China, WOW! by Josselyn Tabora
5
It’s been my dream to go to China ever since
I was a child; China has been number one on
my list of countries that I must visit. Never in
a million years would I have dreamed that it
would become a reality.
My main motivation for this trip was my; I love
Asian food. Frankly, I have always wanted to
travel to China and other Asian countries solely
for the purpose of indulging in their food. Not
only was I able to indulge in Chinese food, but I
was able to immerse myself in the knowledge
and insight about the Chinese people and their
rich culture.
I gained many friendships during this trip,
both with my Morgan cohort and other HBCU
students as well as our Chinese ambassadors.
Moreover, I learned a lot of cool cultural facts
about China such as, Chinese people do not
wear wedding rings when they get married,
and brides in China wear red instead of white
on their wedding days. Chinese people do not
have a religion, and that the majority of them
have never seen African American people in
real life. Other firsts were riding a bullet train,
being in China and learning Chinese, to being
in a country with censorship and a ban on all
western social media platforms and Google.
Imagine my surprise seeing a BMW being
used as a taxi and having the opportunity to
ride in one as well as my first time seeing black
chickens.
China has a one child policy, and couples can
have more than one child, if both spouses were
from only one child families. The education
system in China is quite different for example,
high schoolers in China spend twelve hours a
day in school.
Not only did I meet Morgan students that I’d
never met or even seen on campus before but
I also got to meet and form new friendships
with students from across the U.S., as well as
with Chinese students. Aside from climbing
the Great Wall of China and eating dinner at the
Bund (a pedestrian area in Shanghai across from
all the skyscrapers), my favorite part of this trip
was making new friendships with students from
Morgan, other HBCU’s, and China. I now have
new networks and connections that could be
of value to me in the future. I also now have
friends in China that could serve as an excuse
for me to go back to China and to visit other
parts of China. I look forward to maintaining
all of my new friendships, returning to China
one day and reuniting with the students that I
met there, and especially seeing the faces of
the Morgan cohort students from the trip on
campus. I hope to have classes with you all!
My Dream Come True by Vanessa Kone
Unforgettable Experience by Frederick Taylor
Staying in China was an interesting experience
that I will never forget. Like most of the people
on the trip, it was my first time traveling
international so I had little to no knowledge
about China and its people. During my travel,
I witnessed and learned many things. I found
it strange how parents allow their children to
urinate or defecate anywhere they wanted
outside or inside buildings and people using
umbrellas most of the time even when it was
not raining. High levels of heat, humidity, and
fog were constant throughout the trip. Every
Chinese restaurant we went to had interesting
food and I grew fond of the dumplings they
served. The restaurants mainly had chopsticks
but sometimes had forks for people to use.
Unfortunately, I was forced by my group to use
chopsticks for most of the trip, which I was
horrible at, but I became skilled at using them
by the end of the trip. The language is complex
in my opinion but was also interesting trying
to learn it. I didn’t like how sites and apps
were restricted such as not being able to use
YouTube and Google. The people we interacted
with were always nice to us and knew English
to a good degree. Places we went to, such as
the Great Wall and Forbidden Kingdom, were
fun/interesting to visit but required us to do a
lot of walking. People would constantly look at
us and ask us for pictures because apparently
they rarely see people that looked different
from them. To me, China has similarities to New
York because it’s very crowded and traffic was
always aggressive. From this whole trip though,
my favorite part was meeting different people
either living in America or in China. Dr. Reddy
said something that I thought would never
happen. It was in relation to the group acting
as a close family by the end of the tour. To my
surprise, it did happen and I enjoyed being with
everyone to the very end.
6
China! An Experience Beyond Words by Aliyyah Chapman
China was an experience of a lifetime. I
honestly will forever be in disbelief that I
actually went to China. During my entire
two weeks study abroad I felt as if I was in
a dream. I made sure I documented every
single day by making a blog for the first time
(OnthegowithAliyyah.wordpress.com). Every
day was a learning experience for me and I
gained such valuable insight on life. Living is not
only about making ends meet and making sure
you have a secured future for yourself. While
in china I learned that life is to never be taken
for granted, that pushing yourself to new limits
allows you to surpass everything that has ever
held you back. I was very nervous and skeptical
to embark on a trip alone where I knew no one
at all. But I soon realized that China was that
gauge for me. I have come out of the old shell
of fear, failure, and lack of determination I had
before landing in China. I will never be the same
after all that I conquered mentally, physically,
and spiritually in China. I am humbled because
not many will ever have the chance to partake
in something so life changing like I did. I was
very moved by the variations there between the
United States of America and China. It made me
grateful for my family and siblings even when
I learned they were only allowed one child per
household. When I thought about that I got
quite emotional. I then realized how important
my siblings were are to me and how much they
mattered in my accomplishments. The student
ambassadors made this trip very memorable
and I connected with almost all of them. I was
saddened to leave them. If I could I would have
brought them all back with me to the United
States. They truly were one of a kind, they took
pride in helping me understand and learn more
about their country and culture. It took me some
time to acquire a taste for their food but I really
enjoyed the thrill of nervousness I had when
trying something new. Going to China was
something very big for me. I have evolved into a
fearless young lady who is ready to take on the
world and conquer all I put my mind to. It was
the breath of fresh air that I needed to really
see what my purpose was in life. I would like to
thank Dr. Sumanth Reddy, who saw my passion
and strong interest in being a part of this trip.
Sometimes it takes the right person to see
the right thing in you which you may not even
see in yourself, and Dr. Reddy was that person
for me. I will never forget traveling to China,
meeting such great people, and finding myself
while being there. It will certainly not be my last
international journey!
China Taught ME about the World by Khir Henderson
China, the country with the largest population
in the world; rich tea and rice fields, hackers,
totalitarianism disguised as communism. These
were some of the thoughts I had about China.
After visiting I realized essentially that China
was little different than the US. I expected
China to be an alien planet but upon arriving I
realized that there I was still on “earth” and that
often the people there were more “human”
than those that I’ve encountered even in the
States. The majority of the people I met were
caring, loving, and even more curious. They
were eager to embrace the world that was
quickly coming to embrace them, and the world
was fast approaching.
China showed me what the growing world
had to offer, it showed me the second highest
GDP in the world. China showed me growth,
and “crash industrialization”, even ghost cities
I saw the influence of world economy in the
port cities of Shanghai and Hangzhou. I saw the
historic influence of government in Tienanmen
Square, Beijing. I met students, who were so
similar, the only difference was the language,
and even that barrier was small. I made life-long
friends, networked with amazing individuals. I
saw the second tallest skyscraper in the world.
I saw Shanghai from a birds eye view, and ate
the best of foods on what seemed like the top
of the world. I bargained so hard in the markets,
we were friends after the exhausting exchange
grateful the ordeal was over. I saw culture, and I
saw history. I saw similarities and differences.
	
I am extremely grateful for the opportunity and
will never forget what I learnt in China. I will
incorporate my world views into making my
life better as well as those around me. I feel
indebted to this trip for the life lessons that I
have learned during my stay in China I have
made lifelong friends, timeless memories,
developed a world network, and shared
wonderful experiences. China has opened my
eyes and forever changed how I see it along
with the rest of the world.
7
When I was presented the opportunity to study
in China, I did not know what was to come.
Honestly, I did not know the life changing
events that were going to take place. I knew I
was going to be changed by these events but I
did not know to what magnitude.
China is filled with so many amazing historical
relics that we read about in our history books.
Listen to me, being there in the atmosphere
around those artifacts was a totally different
experience. The last week I was in Xi’an, my
friend insisted that I climb Mt. Huashan. He
said “Jeff, you will regret that you came this
far and did not climb… you must climb”. Well
when he said “you will regret it” that was when
I said “challenge accepted”. Mt. Huashan is
one of the five sacred mountains (Wŭ Yuè) of
the Daoists in China. My friend insisted we
climb the mountain at night to see the sun rise
at the East Peak. Again, I did not know what to
expect. I was so excited. Oh, but reality hit me
when we were at the foot of the mountain and
had to pay to climb. The tickets were 90 yuan
with a student id ($15.49 USD). Here is the
kicker— an additional 10 yuan ($1.61USD) was
for life insurance just in case I died! We started
climbing at 23:15 (11:15PM) it was beautiful
from the start- hearing the waterfalls, listening
to nature, but my favorite view was looking
up at the moon. I promise, it never looked so
close. It was gorgeous. The most amazing thing
happened 15 minutes into our climb. I saw an
amputee climbing the mountain. He had one
leg and was holding onto the shoulder of his
wife. I quickly stopped and turned to my friend
and told him to translate to the gentleman,
“you are my hero”. He laughed and replied,
“son, you are my hero. I will see you at the
top.” I did not see him at the top but I will bet
any amount of money he reached the top. As
we continued to climb into the night, doubt,
fear, and the question “what am I doing?”All
began to set in. Every step began to hurt. We
went from taking no break to “hey let’s rest
for two minutes”. That two minutes usually
turned into 10 minutes. The weight of climbing
the mountain began to take its toll on my body.
But mentally, it was as if each step I took made
me feel the weight of my troubled past. Each
mistake I made in life began to “eat at me” like
termites eating through wood. I wanted to quit
so badly. Especially, when the mountain got so
narrow that only one person could pass through
at a time and with one false step could have
been my last. I knew I was not going to quit,
but I needed to find some type of motivation
whether it be intrinsic or extrinsic motivation,
which ever one… I needed it! I did not find any
until 2:30 (2:30 AM) when we reached the top
of North Peak. I wrote in my journal, ate my
snickers, and I fell asleep on the mountain. I
tried to fight it but I could not resist sleeping
anymore. When I woke up an hour later (it was
only supposed to be 20 minutes) BOOM! My
eureka moment hit me square in the face. Just
as in life, I had obstacles to overcome and in
some way something to overcome them. Now,
Mt. Huashan was no different. I had to dig deep
and overcome this obstacle. I told myself “Jeff
you came this far, there is no turning back.” it
was now 3:30AM and we had to race the clock
to beat the sunrise at 5:00AM. Even though I
got a surge from this awesome pep talk I gave
myself, I literally wanted to throw in the towel.
It was as if the closer I got to East Peak, the
harder the climb became…that’s life. But I kept
seeing the elderly gentleman hopping along—
that was my boost. Ultimately, we reached
the top… 6,857 feet later. The sunrise was
beautiful. I was so elated and exhausted.
The scream I let out at the top of the mountain
could not have even awakened a new born
baby. Now the next two questions— were we
going to climb West and South Peake? Ohh no,
I will save those for the next time. How would
we get down from the top? Simple, Cable Car…
smartest decision I ever made!
Climbing Mt. Huashan was a great experience
in my life. This was an unplanned but needed
excursion. It did wonders for my personal
development. It let me know that no matter
the obstacle in front of you, if you are patient
and persistent and make the decision to endure
pain, you will be capable of accomplishing great
feats in life.
NOTE: No one is allowed to use a mountain
climbing analogy around me unless they have
climbed one. My hamstrings have still not
forgiven me.
Mt. Huashan Story by Jeffrey Holmes
Thurgood Marshall College Fund
8
While Abroad in China by Imani Brown
9
While Abroad in China – By Imani Brown
Xi’an, china is a place I called home while
abroad this summer. I spent six weeks as
a: student at Xi’an Shiyou University, tourist
throughout the city, and a traveler in places like
Beijing and Pingyao. I made it a point to open
myself up to all the wonderful experiences
as well as challenges that I would encounter.
The biggest challenge for me was living as
a celebrity. On one hand, the attention and
compliments were flattering and made me
feel appreciated. On the other hand, all of
the pictures, videos, and point became an
annoyance, naturally. Ironically, I learned a
lesson: to appreciate my Blackness. Every place
I went and everything I did awed the Chinese. I
was most famous at Mt. Huashan and the Great
Wall of China. Mt. Huashan is the mountain
Buddha climbed and reached enlightenment
and is also China’s most dangerous mountain;
which I climbed. I never had any aspiration or
inclination to climb any mountain, but the locals
inspired me to take a rewarding risk. Many
people in Xi’an have climbed Mt. Huashan two
and three times, even children. On my way up,
I paid respects to every temple and interacted
with monks. I am not sure, but I may have been
the first black woman to climb the mountain.
Once I reached the peak, I was greeted by
cameras, smiles, and requests for pictures.
Once the crowd faded, feelings of immense
pride and appreciation poured over me. The
Great Wall was a duplicate experience, but with
more paparazzi. It is still unbelievable that after
learning about this chunk of history your entire
academic life that you actually get to witness it
firsthand. The Great Wall is just mesmerizing.
We took a 13-hour train to Beijing and stayed
in a hotel for the weekend. All we had were
backpacks, little understanding of the language,
money, and our Chinese friend, Victor.
I was able to recreate this same euphoria, on
a smaller scale, every time I ate a meal. I tried
nearly everything (a few food allergies limited
my reach though). On my first day around the
city I tried a donkey burger that exceeded my
expectations. I ate street food very often which
offered things like squid, kabobs, and fried hot
pockets. The hot pockets I ate for breakfast
every other morning on the way to school
were filled with spinach, chicken, and noodles.
American brands like McDonalds, Burger King,
KFC, Papa John’s, and Pizza Hut I frequented
pretty often. I enjoyed the pizza places because
1) pizza is my favorite food and 2) the menus
were full of variety. To add some perspective,
the menus were about 15 pages long and
offered choices like pasta, dessert, champagne,
alcoholic beverages, and even coffee! To
my surprise, fast food spots were not only
absolutely delicious, but the customer service
was excellent! Like the locals, I took the time
to sit down with each meal, even in the fast
food chains (no such thing as drive-thru). While
exploring around the city I had the opportunity
to see Buddha’s finger bone in the Great Wild
Goose Pagoda, rode a bike on top of the Xi’an
City Wall, and visited the Bell and Drum Towers.
I shopped at the Muslim Market and familiarized
myself with public transportation. It did not
take long before I was comfortable haggling
when buying things and navigating the city. At
clubs and bars we were the center of attention
and had VIP treatment almost everywhere.
KTV, a place for karaoke, has been dubbed my
favorite place, but not karaoke as we know it
here in the United States. Each group gets a
private room equipped with booth seating, flat
screens, microphones, and instruments to aid
the experience. The number of American songs,
including Rap, was overwhelming because we
tried performing them all! In class and with
our professors we learned and performed
Chinese folk and pop songs. From professors
to students, and even complete strangers,
everyone was excited and proud to teach us
and share. I was delighted to have learned so
much about the culture in which you really do
not have a choice. All around you in Xi’an there
is rich history and culture. Even how you use
chopsticks determines a life of committed love
or dying alone.
My experience was just that, my experience.
So I strongly encourage people to visit China
and other countries too. The secret is to fully
immerse yourself into the culture and relinquish
your social biases, ideologies, and whatever
else hinders growth in perspective—even if
it is just for the time being. You also have to
be willing to take risks and be spontaneous
and adventurous. While away we continually
asked one another, “How is China making an
impression on you so far?” It was a question
that we could not formulate a reasonable
answer to. It was not until I was picked up
from the airport that I began noticing what sort
of impact the trip had on me. Each day since
arriving home I find that I am still noticing the
impressions made on me. My desire to travel
the world is stronger than ever before and my
confidence in my abilities is greater. I genuinely
want this same exhilarating, self-reflective
experience for all people. Opportunities like this
will change you, but your intent and personal
motivations will determine the intensity of that
change.
Studying abroad in China was a life changing
experience. Each day was full different
adventures that I had never experienced in
the U.S. When I first stepped off the plane,
reality hit me. I said to myself “Alexis, you’re
really in China” People often ask me what was
different there and what did I enjoy the most. I
tell everyone I come across that I enjoyed 95%
of the trip and the other 5% were things I had
never experienced. In addition, I also tell people
you can hear about places but never know what
to expect when you’re living in the moment. I
would describe China as a very humorous and
welcoming culture. They were welcoming in
a way that they provided us with small gifts to
show their appreciation. In addition, I celebrated
my 20th birthday in Beijing, China. When the
Chinese student Ambassadors noticed it was
my birthday, they gave me a surprise party
with flowers and a cake. I truly felt loved
and welcomed by Chinese. I instantly built
relationships with student ambassadors who
were near the same age as me.
The biggest eye opener on this journey was
“PAPARAZZI”. While being in public the
Chinese would take pictures of me and my hair.
I learned that they were amazed by my skin
color and hair texture. This personally helped
me to build my confidence as a young black
woman. Furthermore, China’s culture is truly
one to remember when it comes to Business
Relation and Reputation. When doing business
in China, be prepared for much socializing. In
China, business becomes secondary as the
parties get to know each better. If it delays a
contract that is perfectly acceptable as long
as the correct social time is allotted for. In
America, business associates are usually more
aloof. There might be some social gathering
but the business is more important and the
socializing will be sacrificed to get the job done
if needed. Though there seems to be shift in
America regarding this.
Reputation of the individual is very important in
China. If an action will humiliate someone
A Life Changing Experience by Alexis Holmes
Congressional Black Caucus
Being able to both travel and learn about China
firsthand with almost no expenses made
this truly a remarkable experience. I will have
a lifetime of memories! I enjoyed learning
the Mandarin language and about Chinese
philosophies and their political system, however,
it was really great to be able walk outside and
use what I was learning. For example, after
learning about Chinese currency I was able
to understand the cashiers in the shops and
give them exact change, which was previously
impossible. This trip was especially meaningful
to me because it was my first international
experience. Most likely, the first of many,
because it has inspired in me a strong desire to
travel and see the world and its diverse cultures.
The phrase, I often use to describe this trip is
“life-changing”. I returned from China hungry
for more experiences, interested in learning
new languages, and eager to explore not just
places on the other side of the world, but also
our spectacular national parks and lakes that I’ve
always desired to visit. I now pay more attention
to world news and have learned to consider the
cultural perspective of others. I truly identify
with the term “global citizen”. I definitely
recognize the full worth of this opportunity and
deeply thank the Congressional Black Caucus
Foundation and the China-U.S. Exchange
Foundation for making it possible.”
Oh, The Thrill of it All! by Devin Gavin
10
I would never have imagined that in the
summer of 2015 I would be studying aboard
in Tokyo, Japan learning the language and
embracing the culture. My study abroad
experience taught me to always try new things,
regardless of fear. For some people trying new
things that are not apart of their everyday lives
is a scary thought. I learned that the idea of
trying something foreign can be scary, but the
action of trying something new is encouraging
and sometimes life changing.
The second my plane landed in Japan I became
a foreigner. My first meal in Japan was the start
of a completely new experience. My first night
I tried a completely new dish known as Soba. I
had never seen this dish in person before, and
my initial reaction was hesitation. I wanted to
see if others were going to enjoy it before I took
a bite. However, I realized that I did not want
my life to be based on what others did and what
they deemed as okay. So, I plunged into the
cuisine. To my surprise the Soba was delicious!
The noodles and broth were mouth watering
and it instantly became my favorite meal. After
some time, I realized my peers were waiting
and looking at me for reassurance that the meal
was okay to eat. I eagerly encouraged them to
do so. I had conquered the fear of being out
of my comfort zone and I loved the feeling of
bravery in a foreign environment.
During my first full day of classes, I realized
I was out of my comfort zone. During my
commute to class there were not many people
who looked like me, and I could not fully read
the street signs, and advertisements. The
background conversations I heard on the
train were in foreign languages and I did not
understand them. I soon began to understand
the true meaning of adjusting. After class, a few
of my classmates and I explored the culture of
Tokyo. We went to the Meiji Shrine, a peaceful
and quiet place in the center of the bustling
city. Watching tourist and native people collide
in various interactions made me realize that the
world is much larger than we think. We may not
be able to experience all cultures of the world
but experiencing even just one new culture
will increase our appreciation of the world. It is
important to understand that the ever increasing
globalize world we live in is waiting for us to be
a link in a global chain.
I will never forget my experience studying the
Japanese language in Tokyo. This experience
has broadened my overall perspective on
life. I think it is extremely important for one
to venture out of their comfort zone and try
new things. I believe once you step out of
your comfort zone you will find comfort in
your newfound act of courage. Living in Tokyo
for two months was my first time out of the
United States and it was a scary, life-changing,
and insightful experience that I will forever
cherish. I encourage you to study abroad and
step out of your comfort zone to gain a new and
unforgettable experience.
India: Mid-Atlantic Consortium Center
for Academic Excellence by Dr. Arlene Maclin
Study Abroad Japan Summer 2015
by Khali Hampton
“Closing Ceremonies in Jaipur, India”
The Mid-Atlantic Consortium-Center for
Academic Excellence led by Morgan State
University and directed by Dr. Arlene Maclin
sponsors students each year for an intensive
cultural immersion program in India. During
the summer of 2015, 9 students from 5 HBCUs
participated in the summer immersion program
in Jaipur, India with a focus on learning Hindi.
Two of the students were from Morgan State
University.
Priscilla Offei, a junior majoring in biology
stated that “India was an amazing experience
including the food, the vibrant colors, dresses,
language, religions, culture and customs. As I
was leaving for India, I was excited. I thought it
was about to be just another trip, but that was
11
Our Two Bears Returning from a CLS Summer Adventure
Isaiah Weaver –
Lucknow India:
isawas not a large tourist location; my arrival
was during a heat wave, and the start of
Ramadan. Despite, the difficulties it was one of
the most intense growing periods in my life. My
Urdu language ability grew exponentially, in a
short period, due to this I started to understand
aspects of Indian culture that previously was
unnoticed. I will relate a profound example
of this. I befriended a homeless beggar child
named Shakira near my favorite eatery one
day on my return to my home. She asked for a
bottle of my mango juice that I owned so I gave
her one. The next time I saw her I invited her to
join me at Café Coffee Day for lunch. However,
the restaurant employees promptly attempted
to remove her from the premises and serve
me instead. I spoke enough Urdu to argue with
them on behalf of Shakira however; she fled
soon after I started arguing with the employees
and manager. The incident reminded me of the
Jim Crow era of US history; except I was the
white man arguing for a color person to be able
to eat with me in a segregated restaurant. Due
to CLS sponsoring my trip to India I truly started
to understand the privileged bubble that I lived
in by being an American. I would encourage
anyone to apply for the Critical Language
Scholarship, it truly will expand your worldview,
and the benefits of it are much greater than the
language learning aspect.
not the case. It was not just another trip. It was
a trip that changed my views and my beliefs. A
trip where I made friends that I will keep for a
lifetime. A trip that made me appreciate cultural
differences. All the words used to describe my
trip to India does not outdo your experiencing it
for yourself.
Raigan Wheeler, a junior in strategic
communications summed up her experience
by stating that India has definitely made a huge
impact on my spirit. From visiting temples, to
holy cities like Pushkar, and just feeling a new
ambiance, I feel like a new person. This country
has awoken every sense I have in seeing the
beauty and devastation of everything. I have
been exposed to so much that I can feel in
every aspect of being a different person. I am all
for change and growing! This experience is the
precursor for what is ahead for me. “Exposure
equals mentality.” By that I mean what you
see, hear, taste, smell, and feel will definitely
open your mind and soul. The people on the
streets literally make use of what they have. In
India, any day could really be your last (even for
me, I almost got hit by a rickshaw or scooter
every day). I can guess that it is a way of life in
many parts of the world but have never been
this up close with people in these situations.
I can no longer complain or feel ungrateful
for anything. I wish people back home could
see some of the things I saw in India. Their
outlook on life would be very different. This
is a humbling, eye-opening, attitude adjusting
experience indeed. In addition, being a black
woman made me really popular with the
Indian people. At times I was offended by
the stares and people trying to take pictures
of me. I realized that here, unlike back home,
that I am marveled at because of my skin! It
does something to you when are not even
appreciated or praised like this by your own
people! I had to come halfway around the world
to feel like an African goddess.
In regards to academics and my career, the
course I took at the AIIS was extremely
rigorous. My friends and I jokingly compared
it to the hardest level of an engineering or
math class. The Hindi language is not easy but
through excessive practice and a full immersion
into the culture, we scored anything less than
A’s in the course. Career wise, I plan to work for
a US agency involved in international relations
or international community development. I
would like to work for the government in the
U.S. and other countries helping to manage
crisis, operate in media settings or participate in
political campaigns. I know that having a high
competency in critical languages will propel us
all into arenas that we never thought we could
reach as people of color. I am so ready to see
what having global experience and knowledge
in a critical language(s) will do for us (the others
in my group). A master’s in international or
government relations is definitely in my future!
12
Oi! Greetings from Miya Clay and Jameela
Chisolm. We are both juniors here at
Morgan State University studying Business
Administration and Marketing. We received
the opportunity to study abroad in Sao Paulo,
Brazil during the summer of 2015. The school
that held the program was the Universidade
Paulista and the focus was directed towards
strategic marketing for emerging countries. Oi,
which means hello, is one of the first words
that we learned in Portuguese upon our arrival
in Brazil. Our initial thoughts prior to arriving in
Brazil weren’t the same once we were actually
immersed. The main difference that stood out
to us was the language. In Brazil, the official
language is Portuguese, not Spanish like most
would assume. Being completely surrounded
by a language that is unfamiliar to you really
does something to your psyche; we felt like
outcasts. During our time in Brazil, we stayed at
City Lights Hostel. The hospitality at City Lights
was very welcoming and we were happy to be
around people who could speak English. Since
we stayed at the hostel for three weeks, we
were able to meet so many different types of
people. People from Ireland, Germany, Korea,
England, all over Europe, and of course, Brazil.
Being able to interact and share ideologies with
these people was mentally expanding because
we got to see, first hand, how diverse the
world actually is. You begin to realize that the
way of life in which you currently live is not all
there is. For three weeks we were forced to
adapt to a foreign way of life that we’d never
thought we would have to. Every day on the
way to the university, we would walk about ten
minutes to the train station and then take two
trains to reach the area where the school was.
Sao Paulo is a small city that has a very dense
population of 20 million. Imagine, the many
unique experiences having to commute every
day. In the strategic marketing class, we were
taught a lot about the reasons why Brazil is still
considered an emerging country and how it
should be seen as an opportunity for growth.
Brazil is without a doubt a beautiful place with
beautiful people, but there is a lot of poverty.
We learned that one of the main reasons for the
vast amount of economic imbalance is the lack
of infrastructure and resources. Brazil is full of
great potential and innovative ideas, but money
is the issue. The U.S Dollar is worth 3 times
more than the Brazilian Reia, and that means
100 US Dollars is worth 300 Brazilian Reias. We
really got a glimpse of how “good” Americans
really have it, at least from the Brazilian
perspective. While adapting to the Brazilian
lifestyle, we tried many different types of foods
mainly beef, as well as a traditional Hawaiian
dish served on jazz nights in our hostel. We
also had an amazing opportunity to take a
weekend trip to Rio de Janeiro, where we spent
an entire day soaking up the sun at one of the
most famous beaches in the world, named
Copacabana beach. Overall we had the times
of our lives. We had an opportunity which we
never could have imagined, and that we would
continue to cherish. Being immersed in an
entirely new culture enabled us to see our own
cultures through new eyes, and we returned
home with new perspectives about ourselves,
our own culture, and the world. Studying abroad
is an opportunity to discover new strengths and
abilities.
Miya Clay
Jameela Chisolm
Oi! Greetings from Sao Paulo, Brazil
by Miya Clay and Jameela Chisolm
Qimmah Najeeullah
Amman, Jordan:
I studied Arabic for eight weeks
in Amman, Jordan through the
Critical Language Scholarship
Program. Although, I have
recently traveled to the Middle
East for a work assignment this trip was different. Due to the current crisis in
the region, I was more alert than I normally would have been. The benefit of
the time period was the CLS program occurred during Ramadan this year thus
it was a lively time of the year. The language learning aspect of the program
was exceptional. I quickly achieved intermediate fluency with Arabic over the
weeks, which greatly impacted my experiences with the local population.
Many of my cohorts have been studying Arabic for years, thus it was a bit
intimidating to be a beginner in the language surrounded by them. Yet, the
benefit was it allowed my language acquisition to occur faster and built my
confidence to experiment with them first, then start conversations with the
Jordanians. CLS truly allowed me to develop professionally, in my language
abilities in a short time period that normally would amount to a year of study
in the United States.
13
Qimmah at the Nancy Ashram Concert – Jeresh Music Festival
with CLS Program Cohort
Fly Over Sao Paulo, Brazil
Each time I travel, I change and grown into a
wiser global citizen. The most significant trip
I took was provided by Morgan State. We
traveled Cuba in June 2015, and it was a dream
comes true. I was eager to learn as much as
could in the short week and create strong work
as a multimedia journalism student.
In Cuba, Synclaire Cruel and I were engrossed
in a broadcast boot camp. Because of my
background in documentary filmmaking, I
needed to alter the way I worked. Months prior,
I learned how to write for broadcast television
journalism and more recently learned how to
work in a live studio setting. Field reporting for
television was as new to me as the country.
My initial uneasiness about speaking on
camera withered after the first “stand-up,”
and with each day I was able to write stories
more quickly and understand the process
of production. The most difficult aspects of
the Cuba trip were caused by a tour group
schedule, which limited our ability to conduct
in-depth reporting. Our schedule was approved
in advance by the Cuban government and we
did not stray from the group the first few days.
Though, US newscasts do not give viewers
enough time with subjects either.
Synclaire and I did the best we could in the
limited time available. One week in a location
with a group is simply too short, but we had the
best teams possible in each instance. I think
about these experiences daily and will never
forget how they shaped me professionally and
personally. The trips allowed me to immerse
myself in a completely new place and produce
stories for a variety of platforms. Selma and
Cuba will have a profound impact on me for the
rest of my life.
Cuba by Emily Pellan
Everything Old
is New Again
New Flash – Full and normal relations between
the United States and Cuba. Secretary of State
John Kerry states, “Coming a quarter of century
after the end of the Cold War, we recognize the
reality of the changed circumstances and it will
serve to meet a number of practical needs”.
For American and Cuban people, this is the new
beginning of a people to people relationship that
was in existence prior to 1961. Some fifty-four
(54) years after, in the twenty-first century,
Americans and Cubans can re-connect their
educational, cultural – music, dance, art theatre,
history, architecture medical – bio-medical
research, hospitality industries and many other
exchanges for good regardless government
rules
Nonetheless, the opening of diplomatic
relations is a signal to the world of goodwill to
solve a complex historic dispute with respect
and possible future coexistence and better
understanding.
It is an exciting time for colleges and
universities to once again be able to visit and
study in Cuba and share bilaterally the academy.
14
Re-Opening of the Cuban Embassy in Washington D.C. taken by DeWayne Wickham
Synclaire Cruel and Emily Pelland
Each time I travel, I change and grown into
a wiser global citizen. The most significant
trip I took was provided by Morgan State.
We traveled Cuba in June 2015, and it was
a dream comes true. I was eager to learn as
much as could in the short week and create
strong work as a multimedia journalism
student.
In Cuba, Synclaire Cruel and I were engrossed
in a broadcast boot camp. Because of my
background in documentary filmmaking, I
needed to alter the way I worked. Months
prior, I learned how to write for broadcast
television journalism and more recently
learned how to work in a live studio setting.
Field reporting for television was as new to
me as the country. My initial uneasiness about
speaking on camera withered after the first
“stand-up,” and with each day I was able to
write stories more quickly and understand
the process of production. The most difficult
aspects of the Cuba trip were caused by
a tour group schedule, which limited our
ability to conduct in-depth reporting. Our
schedule was approved in advance by the
Cuban government and we did not stray from
the group the first few days. Though, US
newscasts do not give viewers enough time
with subjects either.
Synclaire and I did the best we could in
the limited time available. One week in a
location with a group is simply too short,
but we had the best teams possible in each
instance. I think about these experiences
daily and will never forget how they shaped
me professionally and personally. The
trips allowed me to immerse myself in a
completely new place and produce stories for
a variety of platforms. Selma and Cuba will
have a profound impact on me for the rest of
my life.
The Cuba trip was an eye – opening
experience. I learned so much about a country
in a little over a week. Ranging from its racial
adversity to its culture rich communities, Cuba
is one of the most dynamic countries I have
ever been too. My first glimpse into Cuban life
was completely mesmerizing. Fresh off the
plane, the first things I saw were 1950’s style
cars, tall palm trees, and bustling commuters
on buses. While there, I was in awe of the
country’s blatant openness and friendliness
towards Americans. Cubans made a point that
the strained relationship between the U.S.
and Cuba was long overdue for a fresh start.
Lastly, it was incredible to speak with Cuban
intellectuals, students, and many others
about their viewpoints on race, technology,
and education. Cuba is country full of life and
has a completely original, and unparalleled
atmosphere. I am anxious to get back to such
a beautiful country.
My Cuba Trip An Eye–Opening Experience
by Synclaire Cruel, Senior Broadcast journalism Major
15
Videographer Derrick Cheston,
student journalist Emily Pelland,
Jacqueline Jones, Multimedia
Journalism Chair, student journalist
Synclaire Cruel and Professor
Fredric Kendrick.
– Photo by DeWayne Wickham
Hotel Telégrafo – Anchors corners of Prodo
and Neptune taken by Robin Howard
Hotel Inglaterro in Old Havana – taken by
Robin Howard
Division of International Affairs
Morgan State University • 1700 East Cold Spring Lane • Montebello D-205 to D-211 • Baltimore, Maryland 21251 • 443-885-4716 • www.morgan.edu
Funding for this publication was made available by the MSU Title III Office • Design and Layout by the MSU Office of Public Relations and Communications
My Team Will Help You See the World
16
Incoming to Morgan
State University
Dr. Richard Kitson-Walters,
Director, Office of internationals Student
and Faculty Services
Kitson-Walters@morgan .edu
Telephone: 443-885-3038
Ms. Qimmah Najeeullah,
Program Manager/SEVIS Coordinator
Qimmah.Najeeullah@morgan .edu
Telephone: 443-885-4039
Ms. Marisa A. Francois,
Coordinator – HBCU Alliance Program
and Latin America
Mafra2@morgan.edu	
Telephone: 443-885-4714
Outgoing/Study
Abroad Students
Dr. Robert Nettey,
Executive Director, Center for Global
Studies and International Education
Robert.Nettey@morgan.edu 	
Telephone: 443-885-4711
Mr. Johnson Niba,
Director, Study Abroad and Exchange
Programs
Johnson.Niba@morgan.edu 		
Telephone: 443-885-4029
Ms. Pamela E. Johnson,
Study Abroad Counselor/Asia and
China Imitative
Pamela.Johnson@morgan.edu		
Telephone: 443-885-4716
Dr. Carleen Leggett,
Director Fulbright Program
Carleen.Leggett@morgan.edu 	
Telephone: 443-885-3097
Dr. Elizabeth Gunn,
Director, English as a Second Language
(ESL) Program and Assistant Director,
Fulbright Program
Elizabeth.Gunn@morgan.edu 	
Telephone: 443-885-1980
Division of International
Affairs Leadership
Dr. T. Joan Robinson,
Vice President of International Affairs
Joan.Robinson@morgan.edu	
Telephone: 443-885-4031
Ms. Joan Williams
Executive Administrative Assistant
Joan.William@morgan.edu
Telephone: 443-885-4755
International Education Week – November
15 – November 20, 2015, is an opportunity
to celebrate the benefits of international
education and exchange worldwide.
Our theme this year is
“Educating Globally Competent Citizens and Professionals”
Dr. Robinson’s understanding of international
relationship bodes well for Morgan State
University. As Vice President for International
Affairs, her continued efforts on placing
Morgan State University on the global map
are exemplary. She recently participated in the
following activities:
•	 Accompanied President Wilson to
Ghana to sign a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) with the Ghana
Institute of Management and Public
Administration (GIMPA) to foster faculty
exchange between the two institutions
•	 Hosted the Liberia Amputee Federation
Football (soccer) team
•	 Hosted the Bahamian Consul General’s
visit to campus. Consul General, Ms.
Paulette Zonicle wants to cultivate a
relationship between the country of the
Bahamas and Morgan State University.
IEW is a joint venture of the US Department of State and the US Department of Education. IEW’s purpose is to promote, programs that prepare
Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn and exchange experiences in the United States. Morgan
State University’s Division of International Affairs which I lead, encourages one and all to participate in our offerings during the week
Division of International
Affairs Newsletter
Pamela E. Johsnson
Editor
Dr. Robert Nettey
Dr. Richard Kitson-Walters
Ms. Marisa A. Francois
Editorial Reviewers

More Related Content

What's hot

Africa U in a Nutshell_september 2019
Africa U in a Nutshell_september 2019Africa U in a Nutshell_september 2019
Africa U in a Nutshell_september 2019AfricaUniversity
 
University of Dayton Magazine Winter 2014
University of Dayton Magazine Winter 2014University of Dayton Magazine Winter 2014
University of Dayton Magazine Winter 2014Jed Gerlach
 
IPC Matriculation Campaign 2014 - Volunteer Calling Instructions
IPC Matriculation Campaign 2014 -  Volunteer Calling InstructionsIPC Matriculation Campaign 2014 -  Volunteer Calling Instructions
IPC Matriculation Campaign 2014 - Volunteer Calling InstructionsTiffani Scott
 

What's hot (7)

Denver05b
Denver05bDenver05b
Denver05b
 
Girl Education
Girl Education Girl Education
Girl Education
 
Africa U in a Nutshell_september 2019
Africa U in a Nutshell_september 2019Africa U in a Nutshell_september 2019
Africa U in a Nutshell_september 2019
 
University of Dayton Magazine Winter 2014
University of Dayton Magazine Winter 2014University of Dayton Magazine Winter 2014
University of Dayton Magazine Winter 2014
 
Jaaaayyyy
JaaaayyyyJaaaayyyy
Jaaaayyyy
 
IPC Matriculation Campaign 2014 - Volunteer Calling Instructions
IPC Matriculation Campaign 2014 -  Volunteer Calling InstructionsIPC Matriculation Campaign 2014 -  Volunteer Calling Instructions
IPC Matriculation Campaign 2014 - Volunteer Calling Instructions
 
82035796 ee
82035796 ee82035796 ee
82035796 ee
 

Viewers also liked

Finansijska podrska EU
Finansijska podrska EUFinansijska podrska EU
Finansijska podrska EUNenad Bjelos
 
TAHSA. Promoting a 'Clean Environment' at USP
TAHSA. Promoting a 'Clean Environment' at USPTAHSA. Promoting a 'Clean Environment' at USP
TAHSA. Promoting a 'Clean Environment' at USPArieta Bale
 
expert_2009_HS_528x365mm
expert_2009_HS_528x365mmexpert_2009_HS_528x365mm
expert_2009_HS_528x365mmKimmo Nordstr
 
Cach Chua Benh Khop
Cach Chua Benh KhopCach Chua Benh Khop
Cach Chua Benh Khopjackie770
 
1. sejarah dan pengertian sistem transportasi
1. sejarah dan pengertian sistem transportasi1. sejarah dan pengertian sistem transportasi
1. sejarah dan pengertian sistem transportasiMiftachul Huda
 
Succeed To Lead, LLC (STL) Management & Technical Training Services
Succeed To Lead, LLC (STL) Management & Technical Training ServicesSucceed To Lead, LLC (STL) Management & Technical Training Services
Succeed To Lead, LLC (STL) Management & Technical Training ServicesCOL (Ret) Byron L. Cherry, PhD
 
Cara membuat e mail
Cara membuat e mailCara membuat e mail
Cara membuat e mailtesshakazuto
 

Viewers also liked (12)

Silabus pai kelas ix
Silabus pai kelas ixSilabus pai kelas ix
Silabus pai kelas ix
 
Finansijska podrska EU
Finansijska podrska EUFinansijska podrska EU
Finansijska podrska EU
 
TAHSA. Promoting a 'Clean Environment' at USP
TAHSA. Promoting a 'Clean Environment' at USPTAHSA. Promoting a 'Clean Environment' at USP
TAHSA. Promoting a 'Clean Environment' at USP
 
expert_2009_HS_528x365mm
expert_2009_HS_528x365mmexpert_2009_HS_528x365mm
expert_2009_HS_528x365mm
 
Cach Chua Benh Khop
Cach Chua Benh KhopCach Chua Benh Khop
Cach Chua Benh Khop
 
Programa ampliado de inmunizacion diplomada
Programa ampliado de inmunizacion diplomadaPrograma ampliado de inmunizacion diplomada
Programa ampliado de inmunizacion diplomada
 
Administracion de medicamentos
Administracion de medicamentosAdministracion de medicamentos
Administracion de medicamentos
 
1. sejarah dan pengertian sistem transportasi
1. sejarah dan pengertian sistem transportasi1. sejarah dan pengertian sistem transportasi
1. sejarah dan pengertian sistem transportasi
 
Eng8 participles
Eng8 participlesEng8 participles
Eng8 participles
 
Succeed To Lead, LLC (STL) Management & Technical Training Services
Succeed To Lead, LLC (STL) Management & Technical Training ServicesSucceed To Lead, LLC (STL) Management & Technical Training Services
Succeed To Lead, LLC (STL) Management & Technical Training Services
 
Cara membuat e mail
Cara membuat e mailCara membuat e mail
Cara membuat e mail
 
Spin hu hud guide
Spin hu hud guideSpin hu hud guide
Spin hu hud guide
 

Similar to HBCU Division of International Affairs Newsletter Highlights Student Trip to China

TMC_White Paper_PreparingEastAsianUndergraduates_Aug2014
TMC_White Paper_PreparingEastAsianUndergraduates_Aug2014TMC_White Paper_PreparingEastAsianUndergraduates_Aug2014
TMC_White Paper_PreparingEastAsianUndergraduates_Aug2014Daniel Basil Kerr
 
vanguard-magazine-vol-12
vanguard-magazine-vol-12vanguard-magazine-vol-12
vanguard-magazine-vol-12Amber Morley
 
Center for International Programs 2014-2015 Annual Report
Center for International Programs 2014-2015 Annual ReportCenter for International Programs 2014-2015 Annual Report
Center for International Programs 2014-2015 Annual ReportCharity Alinda, MPA
 
The Importance Of International Students
The Importance Of International StudentsThe Importance Of International Students
The Importance Of International StudentsErin Torres
 
Influence On College, Study Abroad Programs
Influence On College, Study Abroad ProgramsInfluence On College, Study Abroad Programs
Influence On College, Study Abroad ProgramsAmber Rodriguez
 
Immediacy, Engagement, and Immersion: Critical Pedagogy and the Study Abroad ...
Immediacy, Engagement, and Immersion: Critical Pedagogy and the Study Abroad ...Immediacy, Engagement, and Immersion: Critical Pedagogy and the Study Abroad ...
Immediacy, Engagement, and Immersion: Critical Pedagogy and the Study Abroad ...CIEE
 
Locally-Raised Students Are Still Primarily Influenced By Their Culture.
Locally-Raised Students Are Still Primarily Influenced By Their Culture.Locally-Raised Students Are Still Primarily Influenced By Their Culture.
Locally-Raised Students Are Still Primarily Influenced By Their Culture.hussanisoyat
 

Similar to HBCU Division of International Affairs Newsletter Highlights Student Trip to China (10)

TMC_White Paper_PreparingEastAsianUndergraduates_Aug2014
TMC_White Paper_PreparingEastAsianUndergraduates_Aug2014TMC_White Paper_PreparingEastAsianUndergraduates_Aug2014
TMC_White Paper_PreparingEastAsianUndergraduates_Aug2014
 
Nyu Essay Prompt
Nyu Essay PromptNyu Essay Prompt
Nyu Essay Prompt
 
vanguard-magazine-vol-12
vanguard-magazine-vol-12vanguard-magazine-vol-12
vanguard-magazine-vol-12
 
Nyu Essay Prompts
Nyu Essay PromptsNyu Essay Prompts
Nyu Essay Prompts
 
Center for International Programs 2014-2015 Annual Report
Center for International Programs 2014-2015 Annual ReportCenter for International Programs 2014-2015 Annual Report
Center for International Programs 2014-2015 Annual Report
 
The Importance Of International Students
The Importance Of International StudentsThe Importance Of International Students
The Importance Of International Students
 
Nyu Entrance Essay
Nyu Entrance EssayNyu Entrance Essay
Nyu Entrance Essay
 
Influence On College, Study Abroad Programs
Influence On College, Study Abroad ProgramsInfluence On College, Study Abroad Programs
Influence On College, Study Abroad Programs
 
Immediacy, Engagement, and Immersion: Critical Pedagogy and the Study Abroad ...
Immediacy, Engagement, and Immersion: Critical Pedagogy and the Study Abroad ...Immediacy, Engagement, and Immersion: Critical Pedagogy and the Study Abroad ...
Immediacy, Engagement, and Immersion: Critical Pedagogy and the Study Abroad ...
 
Locally-Raised Students Are Still Primarily Influenced By Their Culture.
Locally-Raised Students Are Still Primarily Influenced By Their Culture.Locally-Raised Students Are Still Primarily Influenced By Their Culture.
Locally-Raised Students Are Still Primarily Influenced By Their Culture.
 

HBCU Division of International Affairs Newsletter Highlights Student Trip to China

  • 1. Division of International Affairs Newsletter “They are off to an adventure of a lifetime” Vol.4:Issue2 President Wilson went to extraordinary lengths to ensure comfort for the traveling students and their parents before they set off. In his comments before the students departed, Dr. Wilson reiterated trends of his vision for enhancing the current scholarship package and created avenues for the parents in understanding the safe and peaceful nature of the environment their children were headed. Having traveled himself to China on several occasions, his attitude set a tranquil ambiance; thus bidding farewell to the students by saying------- Inside this issue: Summer 2015 Travelog– Morgan Bears Travels 2 Thurgood Marshall College Fund 8 Congressional Black Caucus 10 Everything Old is New Again 14 Left to Right: Frederick Taylor, Khir Henderspn, Vanessa Kone, Jodi Radebaugh, Ariel Jones, Dr. David Wilson Ashley Jones, Angel Bailey, Alicia Igodan, Dr. Sumanth Reddy, Missing but fellow travelers - Josselyn Tabora and Aliyyah Chapman Chinese universities and the HBCUs. Those conversations led to the Chinese government establishing a very promising scholarship program which is making available 1,000 scholarships for students at HBCUs to study in China at the government’s expense. I currently serve as Chair of the HBCU-China Network, and over the next three years, we want to ensure that all of these scholarships are awarded to students across all HBCU campuses in America. It is critically important for college students, and utterly a necessity for students at HBCUs, to experience the rise of other nations in real time. China is rising rapidly and is soon to be the dominant economic power in the world. HBCU students must be exposed to Chinese culture, Chinese customs and the Chinese language in order to become competent in working, interacting with and leading in a world where countries like China will be rivaling with the U.S. I am very pleased that many of our students here at Morgan are taking advantage of these opportunities. This past summer, twelve Morgan students went to China on an immersion experience, and based on the feedback that I have received from those students, their experience was transformational. Just as we are making opportunities available for Morgan students to study abroad, we also are increasing our outreach to students in other countries to make their way to Morgan where they will experience African American history, culture and traditions. Those efforts are paying off handsomely. As of today, nearly 7 percent of our student body is international, representing over 65 countries. We are serious here at Morgan when we say we are Growing the Future and Leading the World, and we take our responsibility of imbuing our students with global perspectives quite personally. *Dr. David Wilson is President of Morgan State University Dr. David Wilson, President of Morgan State Univeristy shares…….. I take global education personally and seriously. I do so because I came through my entire undergraduate and graduate experiences never having set foot outside of the United States of America. In June 1987, as I came across the stage and received my doctorate from Harvard University, I realized that I had acquired four college degrees, and I had gained an intellectual understanding of the world, but my education was so incomplete. It was incomplete because I had never had an immersion experience in another country, which would have enabled me to look at all global issues from the perspective of those living them every day. And so, from that point forward, every place that I found myself – Rutgers, Auburn, the University of Wisconsin and now Morgan State – has been an opportunity for me to make available for students experiences where they understand the importance of global education. We are very excited about the numerous partnerships that we have formed with institutions around the world. Those partnerships are enabling Morgan students to study in Australia, Africa, South America and Asia, to name a few places. Two years ago, I was asked to lead a delegation of Historically Black College and University (HBCU) Presidents to China to begin exploring possible relationships between
  • 2. 2 Eighteen HBCU students were part of a two- week study abroad trip to China from July 11-25, 2015. The group had a total of 18 students and 2 chaperones – 10 students from Morgan State University, 7 students from Harris-Stowe State University, and 1 student from Florida Memorial University. The two chaperones were Dr. Sumanth Reddy from Morgan State University and Dr. Fara Zakery from Harris-Stowe State University. The program was sponsored by the China United States Exchange Foundation (CUSEF) and the two hosting institutions in China; Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU) in Beijing, and Hangzhou Wanxiang Polytechnic (HWXP) in Hangzhou. We spent six days in Beijing, five days in Hangzhou, and one day in Shanghai. All expenses in China (room and boarding, meals, transportation, and site visits) were covered by the scholarship. Morgan students had to pay for their own airfare, visa, and travel/medical insurance which cost approximately $1600. The CUSEF was established in 2008 as a non- profit organization and is supported entirely by donations. Its mission is to further improve communication and enhance understanding between the people of China and the United States. Since its inception, the foundation has launched a number of initiatives to promote cultural, academic, and education exchanges. In China, we spent 12 days learning about the country’s language, philosophy, political system, economics, education system, astrology, calligraphy & painting, ethnic minorities, martial arts, and clean energy initiatives. We had classroom lectures as well as site visits to the Great Wall of China, Summer Palace, Forbidden City, Lingyin Buddhist Temple, Leifeng Pagoda, Song Dynasty Town, Xixi Wetland Museum, Yu Garden & the City God Temple, Oriental Pearl Radio & TV Tower and the Bund. Most of our days lasted 10-12 hours as we learned, discussed, walked, hiked, experienced, and soaked up all the information and sights and sounds of China. At times, the students were exhausted because of the amount of scheduled activities. However, we had a highly productive, eye-opening, and wonderful trip to China. The students enjoyed trying new food, meeting new people, and soaking in all that is China. Some of the words that they used to describe the trip are: unforgettable, amazing, enlightening, life- changing, inspiring, humbling, educational, and spectacular. The Land of the Great Wall, Chop Sticks, and So Much More by Dr. Sumanth Reddy, Ph.D Summer 2015 Travelog–Morgan Bears Travel
  • 3. Summer 2015 China Adventure by Alicia Igodan. Follow your passion, figure out what it is you love--who you really are. Have the courage to do that, I believe that is the only courage anybody ever needs is the courage to follow your own dream.” – Oprah Winfrey I was provided a great opportunity to study abroad in Beijing, Hangzhou, and Shanghai, China with Morgan State University taking a classes such as; Understanding China- U.S. Relations, Chinese Language, Chinese Philosophy, Political System and Economic Development in China, Chinese Astrology and Everyday Life and Ethnic Minorities in China. The study abroad program in China has significantly enhanced my career and educational goals by expanding my horizons and providing me with insights into one of the most populated cities in the world. In our changing society, I believe it is important for me to have intercultural awareness. While in China, I was be given the opportunity to observe a new culture and become more aware of the history and traditions outside of my own environment. This program offered me a fresh perspective academically on how to approach different individuals and communicate with people who have had a different life than I have. Overall, my time abroad allowed me to bring together all of my past experiences and combine with this new and exciting opportunity to impact my career. I believe every interaction was an opportunity to learn, establish international connections and form lasting relationship. Besides learning about the relationship of China and the United States, we had the opportunity to tour cultural and visit monument sites such as; the Summer Palace, the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and many more culture experiences. I am now prepared to support, motivate and influence positive changes both in individuals and communities. Studying abroad is not only academically and culturally fulfilling, but also fosters personal growth. I highly recommend students in college not be afraid to take chances and step outside their comfort zone. There’s a bigger world outside of what we are used to. Everyone is capable of doing anything that they put their minds to; I am a reflection of that mantra. 3 Like many of my peers, I have never been outside of America’s borders or never been given the opportunity to experience the joy of life through another culture’s lens. Well, fortunately, July 12, 2015, was the day that all of this changed. Naturally, when I was given the opportunity to visit China through Morgan State University, I had a million and one thoughts and questions running through my mind. Would I be treated well? Was it strict? Would I even like it? Any question or preconceive notion about China that ever existed flowed through my mind or bombarded me from family and friends. However, now I can happily say that China will always have a special place in my heart. My fellow peers and I had the pleasure of visiting top Chinese Universities and learning about a variety of topics that peeked each of our interest and tied to most of our major at Morgan. We also learn much about China through all of our visits to historical monuments and attractions: the Great Wall, the Summer Palace, the Forbidden City, Lingyin Temple, Leifeng Pagoda, Yu Garden, Song Dynasty town, and more. In addition, as we explored the country, we were able to explore our taste buds with new and flavorful dishes. It was truly an amazing and beautiful opportunity to not only be able to experience so many new things, but to watch my fellow peers and chaperones experience these things and step out of their comfort zone, which sparked such a remarkable growth in each and every one of us. Lastly, I just want to say that above everything else that I could experience in China and truly the highlight of the trip was the Chinese people. During our entire stay, each of our tour guides, the Chines students that helped and accompanied us, and the local citizens, greeted us with such warming welcomes, loving smiles, and gleaming non-judgmental eyes. They really made us hold back tears to leave, but gave us joy to visit again. This is why I will always be grateful to Morgan State University for giving me two weeks of a life-time! Two Weeks of a Lifetimeby Angel Bailey HBCU – China Scholarship Network
  • 4. 4 When I first received the flyer about an opportunity to study aboard in China I would have never thought I would have the chance to actually go. In the end it turned out that in a few months I would be taking a 12 hour flight across the world to China. In the beginning before I left for China I really did not have a perception of what I thought China was going to be like. I knew it was a very populated country and they were technological advanced but that was as far as I thought about China. One thing that has stuck with me from my time in China is a conversation that I had with Henry. We were talking about the reason why the Chinese government sponsors a lot of delegations with African Americans and the answer surprised me. Henry told me that the Chinese government believes that African Americans will eventually become the leaders of America and they want to form a close relationship with the African American community. This surprised me because in America, African Americans go through a lot to get to the top. When I went outside of my country and heard that people of another culture and ethnicity have faith and believe in us; made me even prouder to be an African American. It was an experience of a lifetime An Opportunity of a Lifetime–China 2015by Ashley Jones Making the decision to go to China during the summer of 2015 was one of the greatest decisions I have made thus far in my young life. I was able to immerse myself in a culture significantly different than mine for two weeks and I would do it again! I was introduced to authentic Chinese cuisine, explored a beautiful country with magnificent landmarks and made amazing friendships with both the students in China and my cohort of students from Morgan. The most memorable part of China however, was the fact that in China they were so welcoming and hospitable to all of us and embraced the fact that we were African- Americans. Leaving my home country where race plays a major role in our daily lives and entering a foreign country who completely welcomes those that look different than them made me admire the citizens of China even more. The looks of excitement that came across their face when seeing us made me think “Wow why can’t the majorities in America welcome those who are different than them with such style and grace”! To be adored by the citizens in China made my trip much more special because for once in my life I was exposed to a country that showed me that race does not always matter, being different is okay because to them we are all the same. It gave me hope and showed me that the rest of the world is in fact different and unique and shares different values and cultural norms than in the USA. China 2015 – A Great Decisionby Ariel Jones
  • 5. China was a place I always wanted to visit but never thought I’d actually make it there. When I found out I was able to go I was nervous, yet very excited. I did not know anybody I was traveling with nor, did I know much about China in itself. My guards were down and my mind was opened and for that I was able to experience the Chinese culture first hand. While in China I experienced places I did not even know existed. I was able to meet a lot of wonderful people and make new friends. I loved visiting the Great Wall and walking to the top which was something I’ve always wanted to do. Going to the Buddha temple was most intriguing and peaceful. Seeing where the Beijing Olympics where held was another highlight. The food was very different however; I enjoyed trying new items daily. Shanghai was our last stop however, my favorite. The city sky line reminded me so much of New York. All the shopping made my day. The revolving restaurant where we had dinner the last night was by far the best meal I had the whole trip. The view and atmosphere completed the whole experience at the restaurant. I learned so much about the Chinese culture that interests me. The martial arts class was an educational experience that left my muscles sore for days. Dough sculpture was a fun event, I loved making my panda bear. The plays and shows we saw, taught me more about the Chinese culture and history even though I couldn’t understand what they were saying; the actions were performed beautifully. Even after being back in the states it seems so surreal that I was actually there. This experience is definitely one thing I will cross off my bucket list. This trip was a once in a life time experience that will always be appreciated and never forgotten. Our two week long trip to China has ended; these are my reflections of the extraordinary experience. In order to take a look at my overall experience in China I would like to share my initial motivations in joining the trip. The largest opportunity I saw from joining the China study abroad trip was the chance to learn about another culture. Throughout my trip, I faced little culture shock. However, the hardest part was adjusting to the food because Chinese food is so radically different than American. There were also a lot of instances when people would want to take pictures, which at first I found strange but later grew fond of the exchanges I had with the people asking me. Aside from the challenge of adjusting to such very slow Internet connection and extreme heat at times, I really enjoyed the little things like shopping at the markets. Haggling and chatting with the shopkeepers is both entertaining and economical. None of that fixed price business; it’s the simplest form of supply and demand. The last few days spent in China were bittersweet and filled with some of the most memorable times of the entire experience. Already, I miss the sense of spontaneity, adventurousness, and openness to try new experiences. Not only visiting, but truly living in, another country forces you to change your mindset, learn to be more flexible, and adapt to the unexpected. For better or for worse, I have returned to the relative comfort of home. I was excited to see my family and friends, but at the same time, I did not want to leave the Chinese culture, the people in my study abroad group, and the excitement of discovering a new site or new piece of culture every day. I felt as though, if I could have spent a couple days with my parents in America, I would have been ready to go back to China within less than a week and I believe that everyone should have a life changing experience like study abroad whether to China or anywhere else in the world. A Once in a Life Trip by Jodi Radebaugh I am back from China, WOW! by Josselyn Tabora 5
  • 6. It’s been my dream to go to China ever since I was a child; China has been number one on my list of countries that I must visit. Never in a million years would I have dreamed that it would become a reality. My main motivation for this trip was my; I love Asian food. Frankly, I have always wanted to travel to China and other Asian countries solely for the purpose of indulging in their food. Not only was I able to indulge in Chinese food, but I was able to immerse myself in the knowledge and insight about the Chinese people and their rich culture. I gained many friendships during this trip, both with my Morgan cohort and other HBCU students as well as our Chinese ambassadors. Moreover, I learned a lot of cool cultural facts about China such as, Chinese people do not wear wedding rings when they get married, and brides in China wear red instead of white on their wedding days. Chinese people do not have a religion, and that the majority of them have never seen African American people in real life. Other firsts were riding a bullet train, being in China and learning Chinese, to being in a country with censorship and a ban on all western social media platforms and Google. Imagine my surprise seeing a BMW being used as a taxi and having the opportunity to ride in one as well as my first time seeing black chickens. China has a one child policy, and couples can have more than one child, if both spouses were from only one child families. The education system in China is quite different for example, high schoolers in China spend twelve hours a day in school. Not only did I meet Morgan students that I’d never met or even seen on campus before but I also got to meet and form new friendships with students from across the U.S., as well as with Chinese students. Aside from climbing the Great Wall of China and eating dinner at the Bund (a pedestrian area in Shanghai across from all the skyscrapers), my favorite part of this trip was making new friendships with students from Morgan, other HBCU’s, and China. I now have new networks and connections that could be of value to me in the future. I also now have friends in China that could serve as an excuse for me to go back to China and to visit other parts of China. I look forward to maintaining all of my new friendships, returning to China one day and reuniting with the students that I met there, and especially seeing the faces of the Morgan cohort students from the trip on campus. I hope to have classes with you all! My Dream Come True by Vanessa Kone Unforgettable Experience by Frederick Taylor Staying in China was an interesting experience that I will never forget. Like most of the people on the trip, it was my first time traveling international so I had little to no knowledge about China and its people. During my travel, I witnessed and learned many things. I found it strange how parents allow their children to urinate or defecate anywhere they wanted outside or inside buildings and people using umbrellas most of the time even when it was not raining. High levels of heat, humidity, and fog were constant throughout the trip. Every Chinese restaurant we went to had interesting food and I grew fond of the dumplings they served. The restaurants mainly had chopsticks but sometimes had forks for people to use. Unfortunately, I was forced by my group to use chopsticks for most of the trip, which I was horrible at, but I became skilled at using them by the end of the trip. The language is complex in my opinion but was also interesting trying to learn it. I didn’t like how sites and apps were restricted such as not being able to use YouTube and Google. The people we interacted with were always nice to us and knew English to a good degree. Places we went to, such as the Great Wall and Forbidden Kingdom, were fun/interesting to visit but required us to do a lot of walking. People would constantly look at us and ask us for pictures because apparently they rarely see people that looked different from them. To me, China has similarities to New York because it’s very crowded and traffic was always aggressive. From this whole trip though, my favorite part was meeting different people either living in America or in China. Dr. Reddy said something that I thought would never happen. It was in relation to the group acting as a close family by the end of the tour. To my surprise, it did happen and I enjoyed being with everyone to the very end. 6
  • 7. China! An Experience Beyond Words by Aliyyah Chapman China was an experience of a lifetime. I honestly will forever be in disbelief that I actually went to China. During my entire two weeks study abroad I felt as if I was in a dream. I made sure I documented every single day by making a blog for the first time (OnthegowithAliyyah.wordpress.com). Every day was a learning experience for me and I gained such valuable insight on life. Living is not only about making ends meet and making sure you have a secured future for yourself. While in china I learned that life is to never be taken for granted, that pushing yourself to new limits allows you to surpass everything that has ever held you back. I was very nervous and skeptical to embark on a trip alone where I knew no one at all. But I soon realized that China was that gauge for me. I have come out of the old shell of fear, failure, and lack of determination I had before landing in China. I will never be the same after all that I conquered mentally, physically, and spiritually in China. I am humbled because not many will ever have the chance to partake in something so life changing like I did. I was very moved by the variations there between the United States of America and China. It made me grateful for my family and siblings even when I learned they were only allowed one child per household. When I thought about that I got quite emotional. I then realized how important my siblings were are to me and how much they mattered in my accomplishments. The student ambassadors made this trip very memorable and I connected with almost all of them. I was saddened to leave them. If I could I would have brought them all back with me to the United States. They truly were one of a kind, they took pride in helping me understand and learn more about their country and culture. It took me some time to acquire a taste for their food but I really enjoyed the thrill of nervousness I had when trying something new. Going to China was something very big for me. I have evolved into a fearless young lady who is ready to take on the world and conquer all I put my mind to. It was the breath of fresh air that I needed to really see what my purpose was in life. I would like to thank Dr. Sumanth Reddy, who saw my passion and strong interest in being a part of this trip. Sometimes it takes the right person to see the right thing in you which you may not even see in yourself, and Dr. Reddy was that person for me. I will never forget traveling to China, meeting such great people, and finding myself while being there. It will certainly not be my last international journey! China Taught ME about the World by Khir Henderson China, the country with the largest population in the world; rich tea and rice fields, hackers, totalitarianism disguised as communism. These were some of the thoughts I had about China. After visiting I realized essentially that China was little different than the US. I expected China to be an alien planet but upon arriving I realized that there I was still on “earth” and that often the people there were more “human” than those that I’ve encountered even in the States. The majority of the people I met were caring, loving, and even more curious. They were eager to embrace the world that was quickly coming to embrace them, and the world was fast approaching. China showed me what the growing world had to offer, it showed me the second highest GDP in the world. China showed me growth, and “crash industrialization”, even ghost cities I saw the influence of world economy in the port cities of Shanghai and Hangzhou. I saw the historic influence of government in Tienanmen Square, Beijing. I met students, who were so similar, the only difference was the language, and even that barrier was small. I made life-long friends, networked with amazing individuals. I saw the second tallest skyscraper in the world. I saw Shanghai from a birds eye view, and ate the best of foods on what seemed like the top of the world. I bargained so hard in the markets, we were friends after the exhausting exchange grateful the ordeal was over. I saw culture, and I saw history. I saw similarities and differences. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity and will never forget what I learnt in China. I will incorporate my world views into making my life better as well as those around me. I feel indebted to this trip for the life lessons that I have learned during my stay in China I have made lifelong friends, timeless memories, developed a world network, and shared wonderful experiences. China has opened my eyes and forever changed how I see it along with the rest of the world. 7
  • 8. When I was presented the opportunity to study in China, I did not know what was to come. Honestly, I did not know the life changing events that were going to take place. I knew I was going to be changed by these events but I did not know to what magnitude. China is filled with so many amazing historical relics that we read about in our history books. Listen to me, being there in the atmosphere around those artifacts was a totally different experience. The last week I was in Xi’an, my friend insisted that I climb Mt. Huashan. He said “Jeff, you will regret that you came this far and did not climb… you must climb”. Well when he said “you will regret it” that was when I said “challenge accepted”. Mt. Huashan is one of the five sacred mountains (Wŭ Yuè) of the Daoists in China. My friend insisted we climb the mountain at night to see the sun rise at the East Peak. Again, I did not know what to expect. I was so excited. Oh, but reality hit me when we were at the foot of the mountain and had to pay to climb. The tickets were 90 yuan with a student id ($15.49 USD). Here is the kicker— an additional 10 yuan ($1.61USD) was for life insurance just in case I died! We started climbing at 23:15 (11:15PM) it was beautiful from the start- hearing the waterfalls, listening to nature, but my favorite view was looking up at the moon. I promise, it never looked so close. It was gorgeous. The most amazing thing happened 15 minutes into our climb. I saw an amputee climbing the mountain. He had one leg and was holding onto the shoulder of his wife. I quickly stopped and turned to my friend and told him to translate to the gentleman, “you are my hero”. He laughed and replied, “son, you are my hero. I will see you at the top.” I did not see him at the top but I will bet any amount of money he reached the top. As we continued to climb into the night, doubt, fear, and the question “what am I doing?”All began to set in. Every step began to hurt. We went from taking no break to “hey let’s rest for two minutes”. That two minutes usually turned into 10 minutes. The weight of climbing the mountain began to take its toll on my body. But mentally, it was as if each step I took made me feel the weight of my troubled past. Each mistake I made in life began to “eat at me” like termites eating through wood. I wanted to quit so badly. Especially, when the mountain got so narrow that only one person could pass through at a time and with one false step could have been my last. I knew I was not going to quit, but I needed to find some type of motivation whether it be intrinsic or extrinsic motivation, which ever one… I needed it! I did not find any until 2:30 (2:30 AM) when we reached the top of North Peak. I wrote in my journal, ate my snickers, and I fell asleep on the mountain. I tried to fight it but I could not resist sleeping anymore. When I woke up an hour later (it was only supposed to be 20 minutes) BOOM! My eureka moment hit me square in the face. Just as in life, I had obstacles to overcome and in some way something to overcome them. Now, Mt. Huashan was no different. I had to dig deep and overcome this obstacle. I told myself “Jeff you came this far, there is no turning back.” it was now 3:30AM and we had to race the clock to beat the sunrise at 5:00AM. Even though I got a surge from this awesome pep talk I gave myself, I literally wanted to throw in the towel. It was as if the closer I got to East Peak, the harder the climb became…that’s life. But I kept seeing the elderly gentleman hopping along— that was my boost. Ultimately, we reached the top… 6,857 feet later. The sunrise was beautiful. I was so elated and exhausted. The scream I let out at the top of the mountain could not have even awakened a new born baby. Now the next two questions— were we going to climb West and South Peake? Ohh no, I will save those for the next time. How would we get down from the top? Simple, Cable Car… smartest decision I ever made! Climbing Mt. Huashan was a great experience in my life. This was an unplanned but needed excursion. It did wonders for my personal development. It let me know that no matter the obstacle in front of you, if you are patient and persistent and make the decision to endure pain, you will be capable of accomplishing great feats in life. NOTE: No one is allowed to use a mountain climbing analogy around me unless they have climbed one. My hamstrings have still not forgiven me. Mt. Huashan Story by Jeffrey Holmes Thurgood Marshall College Fund 8
  • 9. While Abroad in China by Imani Brown 9 While Abroad in China – By Imani Brown Xi’an, china is a place I called home while abroad this summer. I spent six weeks as a: student at Xi’an Shiyou University, tourist throughout the city, and a traveler in places like Beijing and Pingyao. I made it a point to open myself up to all the wonderful experiences as well as challenges that I would encounter. The biggest challenge for me was living as a celebrity. On one hand, the attention and compliments were flattering and made me feel appreciated. On the other hand, all of the pictures, videos, and point became an annoyance, naturally. Ironically, I learned a lesson: to appreciate my Blackness. Every place I went and everything I did awed the Chinese. I was most famous at Mt. Huashan and the Great Wall of China. Mt. Huashan is the mountain Buddha climbed and reached enlightenment and is also China’s most dangerous mountain; which I climbed. I never had any aspiration or inclination to climb any mountain, but the locals inspired me to take a rewarding risk. Many people in Xi’an have climbed Mt. Huashan two and three times, even children. On my way up, I paid respects to every temple and interacted with monks. I am not sure, but I may have been the first black woman to climb the mountain. Once I reached the peak, I was greeted by cameras, smiles, and requests for pictures. Once the crowd faded, feelings of immense pride and appreciation poured over me. The Great Wall was a duplicate experience, but with more paparazzi. It is still unbelievable that after learning about this chunk of history your entire academic life that you actually get to witness it firsthand. The Great Wall is just mesmerizing. We took a 13-hour train to Beijing and stayed in a hotel for the weekend. All we had were backpacks, little understanding of the language, money, and our Chinese friend, Victor. I was able to recreate this same euphoria, on a smaller scale, every time I ate a meal. I tried nearly everything (a few food allergies limited my reach though). On my first day around the city I tried a donkey burger that exceeded my expectations. I ate street food very often which offered things like squid, kabobs, and fried hot pockets. The hot pockets I ate for breakfast every other morning on the way to school were filled with spinach, chicken, and noodles. American brands like McDonalds, Burger King, KFC, Papa John’s, and Pizza Hut I frequented pretty often. I enjoyed the pizza places because 1) pizza is my favorite food and 2) the menus were full of variety. To add some perspective, the menus were about 15 pages long and offered choices like pasta, dessert, champagne, alcoholic beverages, and even coffee! To my surprise, fast food spots were not only absolutely delicious, but the customer service was excellent! Like the locals, I took the time to sit down with each meal, even in the fast food chains (no such thing as drive-thru). While exploring around the city I had the opportunity to see Buddha’s finger bone in the Great Wild Goose Pagoda, rode a bike on top of the Xi’an City Wall, and visited the Bell and Drum Towers. I shopped at the Muslim Market and familiarized myself with public transportation. It did not take long before I was comfortable haggling when buying things and navigating the city. At clubs and bars we were the center of attention and had VIP treatment almost everywhere. KTV, a place for karaoke, has been dubbed my favorite place, but not karaoke as we know it here in the United States. Each group gets a private room equipped with booth seating, flat screens, microphones, and instruments to aid the experience. The number of American songs, including Rap, was overwhelming because we tried performing them all! In class and with our professors we learned and performed Chinese folk and pop songs. From professors to students, and even complete strangers, everyone was excited and proud to teach us and share. I was delighted to have learned so much about the culture in which you really do not have a choice. All around you in Xi’an there is rich history and culture. Even how you use chopsticks determines a life of committed love or dying alone. My experience was just that, my experience. So I strongly encourage people to visit China and other countries too. The secret is to fully immerse yourself into the culture and relinquish your social biases, ideologies, and whatever else hinders growth in perspective—even if it is just for the time being. You also have to be willing to take risks and be spontaneous and adventurous. While away we continually asked one another, “How is China making an impression on you so far?” It was a question that we could not formulate a reasonable answer to. It was not until I was picked up from the airport that I began noticing what sort of impact the trip had on me. Each day since arriving home I find that I am still noticing the impressions made on me. My desire to travel the world is stronger than ever before and my confidence in my abilities is greater. I genuinely want this same exhilarating, self-reflective experience for all people. Opportunities like this will change you, but your intent and personal motivations will determine the intensity of that change.
  • 10. Studying abroad in China was a life changing experience. Each day was full different adventures that I had never experienced in the U.S. When I first stepped off the plane, reality hit me. I said to myself “Alexis, you’re really in China” People often ask me what was different there and what did I enjoy the most. I tell everyone I come across that I enjoyed 95% of the trip and the other 5% were things I had never experienced. In addition, I also tell people you can hear about places but never know what to expect when you’re living in the moment. I would describe China as a very humorous and welcoming culture. They were welcoming in a way that they provided us with small gifts to show their appreciation. In addition, I celebrated my 20th birthday in Beijing, China. When the Chinese student Ambassadors noticed it was my birthday, they gave me a surprise party with flowers and a cake. I truly felt loved and welcomed by Chinese. I instantly built relationships with student ambassadors who were near the same age as me. The biggest eye opener on this journey was “PAPARAZZI”. While being in public the Chinese would take pictures of me and my hair. I learned that they were amazed by my skin color and hair texture. This personally helped me to build my confidence as a young black woman. Furthermore, China’s culture is truly one to remember when it comes to Business Relation and Reputation. When doing business in China, be prepared for much socializing. In China, business becomes secondary as the parties get to know each better. If it delays a contract that is perfectly acceptable as long as the correct social time is allotted for. In America, business associates are usually more aloof. There might be some social gathering but the business is more important and the socializing will be sacrificed to get the job done if needed. Though there seems to be shift in America regarding this. Reputation of the individual is very important in China. If an action will humiliate someone A Life Changing Experience by Alexis Holmes Congressional Black Caucus Being able to both travel and learn about China firsthand with almost no expenses made this truly a remarkable experience. I will have a lifetime of memories! I enjoyed learning the Mandarin language and about Chinese philosophies and their political system, however, it was really great to be able walk outside and use what I was learning. For example, after learning about Chinese currency I was able to understand the cashiers in the shops and give them exact change, which was previously impossible. This trip was especially meaningful to me because it was my first international experience. Most likely, the first of many, because it has inspired in me a strong desire to travel and see the world and its diverse cultures. The phrase, I often use to describe this trip is “life-changing”. I returned from China hungry for more experiences, interested in learning new languages, and eager to explore not just places on the other side of the world, but also our spectacular national parks and lakes that I’ve always desired to visit. I now pay more attention to world news and have learned to consider the cultural perspective of others. I truly identify with the term “global citizen”. I definitely recognize the full worth of this opportunity and deeply thank the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation and the China-U.S. Exchange Foundation for making it possible.” Oh, The Thrill of it All! by Devin Gavin 10
  • 11. I would never have imagined that in the summer of 2015 I would be studying aboard in Tokyo, Japan learning the language and embracing the culture. My study abroad experience taught me to always try new things, regardless of fear. For some people trying new things that are not apart of their everyday lives is a scary thought. I learned that the idea of trying something foreign can be scary, but the action of trying something new is encouraging and sometimes life changing. The second my plane landed in Japan I became a foreigner. My first meal in Japan was the start of a completely new experience. My first night I tried a completely new dish known as Soba. I had never seen this dish in person before, and my initial reaction was hesitation. I wanted to see if others were going to enjoy it before I took a bite. However, I realized that I did not want my life to be based on what others did and what they deemed as okay. So, I plunged into the cuisine. To my surprise the Soba was delicious! The noodles and broth were mouth watering and it instantly became my favorite meal. After some time, I realized my peers were waiting and looking at me for reassurance that the meal was okay to eat. I eagerly encouraged them to do so. I had conquered the fear of being out of my comfort zone and I loved the feeling of bravery in a foreign environment. During my first full day of classes, I realized I was out of my comfort zone. During my commute to class there were not many people who looked like me, and I could not fully read the street signs, and advertisements. The background conversations I heard on the train were in foreign languages and I did not understand them. I soon began to understand the true meaning of adjusting. After class, a few of my classmates and I explored the culture of Tokyo. We went to the Meiji Shrine, a peaceful and quiet place in the center of the bustling city. Watching tourist and native people collide in various interactions made me realize that the world is much larger than we think. We may not be able to experience all cultures of the world but experiencing even just one new culture will increase our appreciation of the world. It is important to understand that the ever increasing globalize world we live in is waiting for us to be a link in a global chain. I will never forget my experience studying the Japanese language in Tokyo. This experience has broadened my overall perspective on life. I think it is extremely important for one to venture out of their comfort zone and try new things. I believe once you step out of your comfort zone you will find comfort in your newfound act of courage. Living in Tokyo for two months was my first time out of the United States and it was a scary, life-changing, and insightful experience that I will forever cherish. I encourage you to study abroad and step out of your comfort zone to gain a new and unforgettable experience. India: Mid-Atlantic Consortium Center for Academic Excellence by Dr. Arlene Maclin Study Abroad Japan Summer 2015 by Khali Hampton “Closing Ceremonies in Jaipur, India” The Mid-Atlantic Consortium-Center for Academic Excellence led by Morgan State University and directed by Dr. Arlene Maclin sponsors students each year for an intensive cultural immersion program in India. During the summer of 2015, 9 students from 5 HBCUs participated in the summer immersion program in Jaipur, India with a focus on learning Hindi. Two of the students were from Morgan State University. Priscilla Offei, a junior majoring in biology stated that “India was an amazing experience including the food, the vibrant colors, dresses, language, religions, culture and customs. As I was leaving for India, I was excited. I thought it was about to be just another trip, but that was 11
  • 12. Our Two Bears Returning from a CLS Summer Adventure Isaiah Weaver – Lucknow India: isawas not a large tourist location; my arrival was during a heat wave, and the start of Ramadan. Despite, the difficulties it was one of the most intense growing periods in my life. My Urdu language ability grew exponentially, in a short period, due to this I started to understand aspects of Indian culture that previously was unnoticed. I will relate a profound example of this. I befriended a homeless beggar child named Shakira near my favorite eatery one day on my return to my home. She asked for a bottle of my mango juice that I owned so I gave her one. The next time I saw her I invited her to join me at Café Coffee Day for lunch. However, the restaurant employees promptly attempted to remove her from the premises and serve me instead. I spoke enough Urdu to argue with them on behalf of Shakira however; she fled soon after I started arguing with the employees and manager. The incident reminded me of the Jim Crow era of US history; except I was the white man arguing for a color person to be able to eat with me in a segregated restaurant. Due to CLS sponsoring my trip to India I truly started to understand the privileged bubble that I lived in by being an American. I would encourage anyone to apply for the Critical Language Scholarship, it truly will expand your worldview, and the benefits of it are much greater than the language learning aspect. not the case. It was not just another trip. It was a trip that changed my views and my beliefs. A trip where I made friends that I will keep for a lifetime. A trip that made me appreciate cultural differences. All the words used to describe my trip to India does not outdo your experiencing it for yourself. Raigan Wheeler, a junior in strategic communications summed up her experience by stating that India has definitely made a huge impact on my spirit. From visiting temples, to holy cities like Pushkar, and just feeling a new ambiance, I feel like a new person. This country has awoken every sense I have in seeing the beauty and devastation of everything. I have been exposed to so much that I can feel in every aspect of being a different person. I am all for change and growing! This experience is the precursor for what is ahead for me. “Exposure equals mentality.” By that I mean what you see, hear, taste, smell, and feel will definitely open your mind and soul. The people on the streets literally make use of what they have. In India, any day could really be your last (even for me, I almost got hit by a rickshaw or scooter every day). I can guess that it is a way of life in many parts of the world but have never been this up close with people in these situations. I can no longer complain or feel ungrateful for anything. I wish people back home could see some of the things I saw in India. Their outlook on life would be very different. This is a humbling, eye-opening, attitude adjusting experience indeed. In addition, being a black woman made me really popular with the Indian people. At times I was offended by the stares and people trying to take pictures of me. I realized that here, unlike back home, that I am marveled at because of my skin! It does something to you when are not even appreciated or praised like this by your own people! I had to come halfway around the world to feel like an African goddess. In regards to academics and my career, the course I took at the AIIS was extremely rigorous. My friends and I jokingly compared it to the hardest level of an engineering or math class. The Hindi language is not easy but through excessive practice and a full immersion into the culture, we scored anything less than A’s in the course. Career wise, I plan to work for a US agency involved in international relations or international community development. I would like to work for the government in the U.S. and other countries helping to manage crisis, operate in media settings or participate in political campaigns. I know that having a high competency in critical languages will propel us all into arenas that we never thought we could reach as people of color. I am so ready to see what having global experience and knowledge in a critical language(s) will do for us (the others in my group). A master’s in international or government relations is definitely in my future! 12
  • 13. Oi! Greetings from Miya Clay and Jameela Chisolm. We are both juniors here at Morgan State University studying Business Administration and Marketing. We received the opportunity to study abroad in Sao Paulo, Brazil during the summer of 2015. The school that held the program was the Universidade Paulista and the focus was directed towards strategic marketing for emerging countries. Oi, which means hello, is one of the first words that we learned in Portuguese upon our arrival in Brazil. Our initial thoughts prior to arriving in Brazil weren’t the same once we were actually immersed. The main difference that stood out to us was the language. In Brazil, the official language is Portuguese, not Spanish like most would assume. Being completely surrounded by a language that is unfamiliar to you really does something to your psyche; we felt like outcasts. During our time in Brazil, we stayed at City Lights Hostel. The hospitality at City Lights was very welcoming and we were happy to be around people who could speak English. Since we stayed at the hostel for three weeks, we were able to meet so many different types of people. People from Ireland, Germany, Korea, England, all over Europe, and of course, Brazil. Being able to interact and share ideologies with these people was mentally expanding because we got to see, first hand, how diverse the world actually is. You begin to realize that the way of life in which you currently live is not all there is. For three weeks we were forced to adapt to a foreign way of life that we’d never thought we would have to. Every day on the way to the university, we would walk about ten minutes to the train station and then take two trains to reach the area where the school was. Sao Paulo is a small city that has a very dense population of 20 million. Imagine, the many unique experiences having to commute every day. In the strategic marketing class, we were taught a lot about the reasons why Brazil is still considered an emerging country and how it should be seen as an opportunity for growth. Brazil is without a doubt a beautiful place with beautiful people, but there is a lot of poverty. We learned that one of the main reasons for the vast amount of economic imbalance is the lack of infrastructure and resources. Brazil is full of great potential and innovative ideas, but money is the issue. The U.S Dollar is worth 3 times more than the Brazilian Reia, and that means 100 US Dollars is worth 300 Brazilian Reias. We really got a glimpse of how “good” Americans really have it, at least from the Brazilian perspective. While adapting to the Brazilian lifestyle, we tried many different types of foods mainly beef, as well as a traditional Hawaiian dish served on jazz nights in our hostel. We also had an amazing opportunity to take a weekend trip to Rio de Janeiro, where we spent an entire day soaking up the sun at one of the most famous beaches in the world, named Copacabana beach. Overall we had the times of our lives. We had an opportunity which we never could have imagined, and that we would continue to cherish. Being immersed in an entirely new culture enabled us to see our own cultures through new eyes, and we returned home with new perspectives about ourselves, our own culture, and the world. Studying abroad is an opportunity to discover new strengths and abilities. Miya Clay Jameela Chisolm Oi! Greetings from Sao Paulo, Brazil by Miya Clay and Jameela Chisolm Qimmah Najeeullah Amman, Jordan: I studied Arabic for eight weeks in Amman, Jordan through the Critical Language Scholarship Program. Although, I have recently traveled to the Middle East for a work assignment this trip was different. Due to the current crisis in the region, I was more alert than I normally would have been. The benefit of the time period was the CLS program occurred during Ramadan this year thus it was a lively time of the year. The language learning aspect of the program was exceptional. I quickly achieved intermediate fluency with Arabic over the weeks, which greatly impacted my experiences with the local population. Many of my cohorts have been studying Arabic for years, thus it was a bit intimidating to be a beginner in the language surrounded by them. Yet, the benefit was it allowed my language acquisition to occur faster and built my confidence to experiment with them first, then start conversations with the Jordanians. CLS truly allowed me to develop professionally, in my language abilities in a short time period that normally would amount to a year of study in the United States. 13 Qimmah at the Nancy Ashram Concert – Jeresh Music Festival with CLS Program Cohort Fly Over Sao Paulo, Brazil
  • 14. Each time I travel, I change and grown into a wiser global citizen. The most significant trip I took was provided by Morgan State. We traveled Cuba in June 2015, and it was a dream comes true. I was eager to learn as much as could in the short week and create strong work as a multimedia journalism student. In Cuba, Synclaire Cruel and I were engrossed in a broadcast boot camp. Because of my background in documentary filmmaking, I needed to alter the way I worked. Months prior, I learned how to write for broadcast television journalism and more recently learned how to work in a live studio setting. Field reporting for television was as new to me as the country. My initial uneasiness about speaking on camera withered after the first “stand-up,” and with each day I was able to write stories more quickly and understand the process of production. The most difficult aspects of the Cuba trip were caused by a tour group schedule, which limited our ability to conduct in-depth reporting. Our schedule was approved in advance by the Cuban government and we did not stray from the group the first few days. Though, US newscasts do not give viewers enough time with subjects either. Synclaire and I did the best we could in the limited time available. One week in a location with a group is simply too short, but we had the best teams possible in each instance. I think about these experiences daily and will never forget how they shaped me professionally and personally. The trips allowed me to immerse myself in a completely new place and produce stories for a variety of platforms. Selma and Cuba will have a profound impact on me for the rest of my life. Cuba by Emily Pellan Everything Old is New Again New Flash – Full and normal relations between the United States and Cuba. Secretary of State John Kerry states, “Coming a quarter of century after the end of the Cold War, we recognize the reality of the changed circumstances and it will serve to meet a number of practical needs”. For American and Cuban people, this is the new beginning of a people to people relationship that was in existence prior to 1961. Some fifty-four (54) years after, in the twenty-first century, Americans and Cubans can re-connect their educational, cultural – music, dance, art theatre, history, architecture medical – bio-medical research, hospitality industries and many other exchanges for good regardless government rules Nonetheless, the opening of diplomatic relations is a signal to the world of goodwill to solve a complex historic dispute with respect and possible future coexistence and better understanding. It is an exciting time for colleges and universities to once again be able to visit and study in Cuba and share bilaterally the academy. 14 Re-Opening of the Cuban Embassy in Washington D.C. taken by DeWayne Wickham Synclaire Cruel and Emily Pelland
  • 15. Each time I travel, I change and grown into a wiser global citizen. The most significant trip I took was provided by Morgan State. We traveled Cuba in June 2015, and it was a dream comes true. I was eager to learn as much as could in the short week and create strong work as a multimedia journalism student. In Cuba, Synclaire Cruel and I were engrossed in a broadcast boot camp. Because of my background in documentary filmmaking, I needed to alter the way I worked. Months prior, I learned how to write for broadcast television journalism and more recently learned how to work in a live studio setting. Field reporting for television was as new to me as the country. My initial uneasiness about speaking on camera withered after the first “stand-up,” and with each day I was able to write stories more quickly and understand the process of production. The most difficult aspects of the Cuba trip were caused by a tour group schedule, which limited our ability to conduct in-depth reporting. Our schedule was approved in advance by the Cuban government and we did not stray from the group the first few days. Though, US newscasts do not give viewers enough time with subjects either. Synclaire and I did the best we could in the limited time available. One week in a location with a group is simply too short, but we had the best teams possible in each instance. I think about these experiences daily and will never forget how they shaped me professionally and personally. The trips allowed me to immerse myself in a completely new place and produce stories for a variety of platforms. Selma and Cuba will have a profound impact on me for the rest of my life. The Cuba trip was an eye – opening experience. I learned so much about a country in a little over a week. Ranging from its racial adversity to its culture rich communities, Cuba is one of the most dynamic countries I have ever been too. My first glimpse into Cuban life was completely mesmerizing. Fresh off the plane, the first things I saw were 1950’s style cars, tall palm trees, and bustling commuters on buses. While there, I was in awe of the country’s blatant openness and friendliness towards Americans. Cubans made a point that the strained relationship between the U.S. and Cuba was long overdue for a fresh start. Lastly, it was incredible to speak with Cuban intellectuals, students, and many others about their viewpoints on race, technology, and education. Cuba is country full of life and has a completely original, and unparalleled atmosphere. I am anxious to get back to such a beautiful country. My Cuba Trip An Eye–Opening Experience by Synclaire Cruel, Senior Broadcast journalism Major 15 Videographer Derrick Cheston, student journalist Emily Pelland, Jacqueline Jones, Multimedia Journalism Chair, student journalist Synclaire Cruel and Professor Fredric Kendrick. – Photo by DeWayne Wickham Hotel Telégrafo – Anchors corners of Prodo and Neptune taken by Robin Howard Hotel Inglaterro in Old Havana – taken by Robin Howard
  • 16. Division of International Affairs Morgan State University • 1700 East Cold Spring Lane • Montebello D-205 to D-211 • Baltimore, Maryland 21251 • 443-885-4716 • www.morgan.edu Funding for this publication was made available by the MSU Title III Office • Design and Layout by the MSU Office of Public Relations and Communications My Team Will Help You See the World 16 Incoming to Morgan State University Dr. Richard Kitson-Walters, Director, Office of internationals Student and Faculty Services Kitson-Walters@morgan .edu Telephone: 443-885-3038 Ms. Qimmah Najeeullah, Program Manager/SEVIS Coordinator Qimmah.Najeeullah@morgan .edu Telephone: 443-885-4039 Ms. Marisa A. Francois, Coordinator – HBCU Alliance Program and Latin America Mafra2@morgan.edu Telephone: 443-885-4714 Outgoing/Study Abroad Students Dr. Robert Nettey, Executive Director, Center for Global Studies and International Education Robert.Nettey@morgan.edu Telephone: 443-885-4711 Mr. Johnson Niba, Director, Study Abroad and Exchange Programs Johnson.Niba@morgan.edu Telephone: 443-885-4029 Ms. Pamela E. Johnson, Study Abroad Counselor/Asia and China Imitative Pamela.Johnson@morgan.edu Telephone: 443-885-4716 Dr. Carleen Leggett, Director Fulbright Program Carleen.Leggett@morgan.edu Telephone: 443-885-3097 Dr. Elizabeth Gunn, Director, English as a Second Language (ESL) Program and Assistant Director, Fulbright Program Elizabeth.Gunn@morgan.edu Telephone: 443-885-1980 Division of International Affairs Leadership Dr. T. Joan Robinson, Vice President of International Affairs Joan.Robinson@morgan.edu Telephone: 443-885-4031 Ms. Joan Williams Executive Administrative Assistant Joan.William@morgan.edu Telephone: 443-885-4755 International Education Week – November 15 – November 20, 2015, is an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. Our theme this year is “Educating Globally Competent Citizens and Professionals” Dr. Robinson’s understanding of international relationship bodes well for Morgan State University. As Vice President for International Affairs, her continued efforts on placing Morgan State University on the global map are exemplary. She recently participated in the following activities: • Accompanied President Wilson to Ghana to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) to foster faculty exchange between the two institutions • Hosted the Liberia Amputee Federation Football (soccer) team • Hosted the Bahamian Consul General’s visit to campus. Consul General, Ms. Paulette Zonicle wants to cultivate a relationship between the country of the Bahamas and Morgan State University. IEW is a joint venture of the US Department of State and the US Department of Education. IEW’s purpose is to promote, programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn and exchange experiences in the United States. Morgan State University’s Division of International Affairs which I lead, encourages one and all to participate in our offerings during the week Division of International Affairs Newsletter Pamela E. Johsnson Editor Dr. Robert Nettey Dr. Richard Kitson-Walters Ms. Marisa A. Francois Editorial Reviewers