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Students Reflect on Life-Changing Trip to China
“This journey made me reflect on how powerful cultural exchange can be, and how much more you learn when you’re actually in a place, experiencing it firsthand. I came back not just with a deeper appreciation for China, but also with a new perspective on global history, travel, and even myself.”
– Lila Suter-Chung ‘28
“Once in a lifetime, memorable, recommended” are all words that students use to describe their time in China last month. The trip was part of Poly’s Global Studies Curricular Travel 2024-25 Program. Students in Grades 7 to 12 share reflections on their experiences abroad as they returned to Brooklyn with expanded worldviews. During the trip, they immersed themselves in Chinese culture and embraced powerful new levels of language acquisition—deepening classroom learning with real-world application.
Over the past two months, students and their faculty and staff advisors have journeyed to China, France, and London, embracing new experiences, forging meaningful connections, and returning home with lasting memories and fresh perspectives. Read about them in their own words.
Beijing
Lila Suter-Chung ‘28
“Traveling to China with the Curricular Travel program was an unforgettable experience that deepened my understanding of both the culture and the history we have studied in Mandarin class thus far.
One of the highlights for me was walking through the Forbidden City and seeing how much tradition was embedded in the architecture, it truly brought dynastic history to life. I also loved spending time in local neighborhoods, especially trying new foods at night markets and talking with people in smaller communities. It was a great way to practice the language I’ve been learning for the past five years, and those moments are ones I’ll cherish for a long time.
Another standout experience was visiting schools and connecting with students our age. Talking with them reminded me how connected we all are, despite coming from different parts of the world. Through these shared experiences, I also made a lot of new friends, both from China and from our travel group, which made the trip even more meaningful. This journey made me reflect on how powerful cultural exchange can be, and how much more you learn when you’re actually in a place, experiencing it firsthand. I came back not just with a deeper appreciation for China, but also with a new perspective on global history, travel, and even myself.”
Ruoran Huang, World Languages Faculty
“Planning and leading the Poly China trip has been an incredible experience. It was equally rewarding to continue the journey through the classroom instruction when we returned to Poly. Throughout the trip, students immersed themselves in a new culture, gaining a deeper understanding of the language, history, and traditions of China. Each day, they picked up new vocabulary and immediately put it to use in real-life situations.
One of the most memorable moments for me was when we were walking through the Hutong alleys, also known as the soul of Old Beijing. Without any planning in advance, students began chatting with local residents in Mandarin and joined them in playing 毽子 (shuttlecock/featherball). It was such a genuine and joyful exchange—they weren’t just observing the culture, they were living it. Even more exciting, they brought this traditional game back to Poly and are now planning to start a club next year. Experiences like this underscore how important it is that Poly continues to offer curricular paths. They provide students with meaningful, hands-on opportunities to expand what they’re learning in powerful and lasting ways.”
Xi’an
Alessandra Di Pietra ‘27
“After traveling with Poly Prep to China and touring many of its famous landmarks and being able to see firsthand the different cultures within each city, I feel as though I better understand Chinese society than I ever did before. During these tours, I learned much from our guides about the histories of each city and landmarks that we visited, teaching us why the landmarks were important, specifically to Chinese customs. Between touring I was also thankful for the free time we were able to spend at street vendors and shops because it helped me to practice speaking Mandarin more fluently. Coming back from the trip, speaking Mandarin feels much easier and more comfortable, especially after adjusting to speaking and listening to it at much higher speeds with the local Chinese people. Overall I had a lot of fun and I would definitely recommend the trip to anyone interested in Chinese culture and languages.”
Tyler Chan ‘28
“Unforgettable is the only word that I can use to describe the trip. I can confidently say that this experience was one of the most memorable of my life.”
Chengdu
Zoë Kim ‘27
“This trip was amazing. I loved going to temples and learning about the history of China, especially because we don’t have that same ancient history here in the States. Everything about the trip was incredible: the historical sights and buildings we explored, the immersive Chinese-speaking experience, the food we ate, and especially the free time we had to explore the cities for ourselves. For me, one of the highlights was visiting a high school in China. It was so fun to interact with local kids and see what their lives were like. This was truly an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime trip.”
Anna Lisa Di Pietra ‘25
“Being able to speak and listen to the Mandarin language, around me at all times, pushed me to take what I’ve been learning in the classroom and utilize it in the real world. I met and spoke with students from each level of high school Mandarin whom I likely wouldn’t have had the chance to get to know otherwise. I felt that this trip was majorly successful in teaching what would be the “cultural” aspect of our Mandarin courses at Poly and am grateful to have been so fortunate to say that I traveled there.”
Shanghai
Olivia Chu ‘27
“I really liked the China trip and I thought it was a lot of fun. It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime trip. I have made some new friends from the school that I often talk to, and they have helped me with my Mandarin. Overall, the experience has given me a greater appreciation for China and its culture, and it’s something I’ll always remember.”
