International

From the Great Plains to the Great Wall
Agricultural students study in China and Tibet
By Angelika Stuler, Lawton, Okla.

Eighteen days. Six domestic flights. One of the Seven Wonders of the World.

In May 2007, 10 Oklahoma State University students traveled to China and Tibet where they visited uncommon places and experienced different cultures.

During the trip, Shida Henneberry, international agricultural economics professor, incorporated education, history, economics, and the role of government and policy makers into the experience. Henneberry said she believes students can learn only so much in a classroom setting.

“I teach international trade, and I see from the classroom to reality there is a big gap,” Henneberry said. “[Seeing and experiencing another culture] takes students to a different stage.”

It opens their eyes and minds to global events and how people live and work in other parts of the world, she said.

The China study abroad trip is sponsored by the China Ministry of Agriculture, which is equivalent to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Henneberry said. The MOA provided a full-time native guide from Beijing who served as an English interpreter.

During their visit to China, students visited Beijing, Chengdu, Nanjing, Suzhou, Shanghai and Lhasa, which is in Tibet. In Beijing, the students visited the China Agricultural University and traveled to the Great Wall of China.

“To say that you visited one of the Seven Wonders of the World is pretty amazing,” said Aimee Lee, food science junior. “I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

One of the experiences the students had was being able to visit Lhasa, Tibet.

“Dr. Henneberry expressed how important it was to be able to go to Tibet,” said Matt Dvorak, international agricultural economics senior. “Not a lot of people get to go into Tibet.”

To enter Tibet, Henneberry obtained permission for each of the 10 students from the Tibetan government, which was not an easy task.

“I met two people on campus who applied [for permission] but were declined,” Henneberry said. “For students [to enter Tibet] is a very unique opportunity.”

To get to Lhasa, Tibet, the students and faculty took a 29-hour train ride from Beijing to Lhasa. Henneberry said the train ride offered amazing views of the landscape such as the Tibetan Plateau, snow-capped mountain peaks and different autonomous regions. It also allowed the students to become acclimated to the climate and altitude changes. Oxygen was slowly pumped through the cabin so passengers would not pass out. At times, the train would pass through regions as high as 5,000 meters or 16,404 feet.

“It went from a temperate climate to desert-looking areas to a mountain type of terrain,” said Gavin Rey, agricultural business sophomore. “Lhasa itself is in a valley in the middle of mountains.”

In Lhasa, the students visited the Potala Palace, where the Dali Lama lived before he was exiled.

They also visited the Tibetan Agricultural Science Academy where research is done on wild mushrooms that grow only in high altitudes. Henneberry said growing anything in such a high altitude is limited.

“It was amazing to see the culture and the agriculture,” Lee said. “I loved Tibet. It was a great opportunity, and many people do not realize that.”

From Tibet, the students traveled to Chengdu, China, where they visited the Panda Breeding Station and the Dujiangyan Dam. The Dujiangyan Dam is more than 2,000 years old and is used as an irrigation system for people in the Chengdu Plain. Henneberry said the dam was special to see because it is so old.

“The 2,000-year-old irrigation system dams up [the Minjiang River] and was constructed so well that it is still fully functional today,” Rey said.

After visiting Chengdu, the students traveled to Nanjing where they visited the Nanjing Agricultural University. NAU students hosted a welcoming party for the OSU students and showed them a martial arts demonstration. The NAU students also performed a calligraphy demonstration. Calligraphy is a traditional Chinese writing art form.

During their stay at NAU, OSU students listened to lectures and interacted with NAU students.

“I got to talk to animal science and food science students who are interested in what type of careers they could have after they got their degrees,” Lee said. “I guess China is strict and most [students] go into nutrition and developing food, whereas in the United States we have so many opportunities.”

NAU sent some students with the OSU group as they traveled around Nanjing. Henneberry said it was a great experience for the OSU students to participate in that kind of cultural exchange.

“Not even tour companies can provide that,” Henneberry said. “Seeing China on that level is a unique opportunity. The most fulfilling part of the trip for me is to see the students grow through that experience.”

Students also visited an elementary school associated with NAU. While there, they taught the younger students English. The elementary students did not know much English, which made communicating difficult when OSU students pointed to Oklahoma on the map.

“When the school bell rang, all [the elementary students] came up to us and wanted our autographs,” Rey said. “I do not know if they were under the impression that we were somebody famous or what — we were swamped.”

Rey said the trip to China was an insight to a different culture.

“It is a very enlightening view of the rest of the world and also how the world views the United States,” Rey said. “The U.S. is kind of stuck in a rut.

“We think our way of doing things is the best, and we should be more open-minded. When you compare the civilizations, we are the new kids on the block.”

Henneberry said she believes college is a good time for students to study abroad because students have a flexible schedule and are hopefully free of any prior prejudices. She said she believes the experiences will remain in students’ hearts and minds for the rest of their lives.

“[The experience] was simply amazing,” Dvorak said. “I’ve become more culturally aware. It was neat to see the way [the Chinese] interact with each other, the games they play and their traditions. It is an experience I would not trade.”

Lee said she believes studying abroad allows you to get out of your comfort zone and it shows how privileged people are in the United States.

“Spending three weeks in another country may not be the cheapest thing, but the experience is worth it,” Dvorak said. “I did not know anyone going on the trip, but I came back with 10 new friends. That’s pretty cool.”

Dvorak, who plans to study abroad in the Czech Republic for the entire spring semester, said he has had many people comment on his experience in China.

“[Studying abroad] has opened so many doors for me,” Dvorak said. “As I’m entering the job market, people see that I am willing to go abroad.”

Henneberry said for students who are interested in international jobs, it helps if they can say they have experienced another country and culture.

“This is a great opportunity, so take advantage of it,” Henneberry said. “While you’re young, invest in it. It is an investment in your life, in your career and in your future growth.”

For additional information on study abroad visit http://www.internationalagprograms.dasnr.okstate.edu.

The Great Wall of China is the world’s longest and largest man-made structure. (Photo by Lora Young)

OSU students Jeff Stewart (left), Benson Chu, Matt Dvorak, Lora Young and Gavin Rey visit the Great Wall of China. (Photo courtesy of Matt Dvorak)

Dragon fountains greet visitors at the Ming Tombs. (Photo by Lora Young)