Discover Jiangxi: Two Undergraduate Students’ Experience

For two weeks in July, architecture student Irvin Chen and nursing student Natalie Corella (B.S. ’23) studied on the other side of the globe in Discover Jiangxi, a short-term study abroad opportunity in collaboration with Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics (JUFE) located in Nanchang, the capital of China’s Jiangxi province.

New York Tech maintains an educational cooperation agreement with JUFE. Under the guidance of Senior Director of the Center for International Business Studies Joyce Chiu, who traveled with them, Chen and Corella benefited academically, culturally, and personally from the universities’ partnership through an immersive and interactive learning environment that goes beyond the limitations of traditional classrooms and academic conferences.

The students’ impressive itinerary operated primarily in Nanchang but included day trips to Shangrao and Jingdezhen, two cities in northeastern Jiangxi province. No two days were the same, as each morning and afternoon offered new opportunities to learn and experience.

Following the program “Contemporary China and Traditional Culture,” Chen and Corella participated in themed academic sessions, hands-on cultural workshops, local field visits, and youth-to-youth interaction designed to strengthen their cross-cultural communication and understanding.

Cultural experiences included calligraphy, martial arts, heritage craft-making, pottery, tea picking, and visiting local sites, while lecture sessions explained Chinese values like the development of higher education, traditional thought and culture, ceramics, and film.

“As a Chinese American, I was partially familiar with many of the activities we experienced, but many things were still foreign to me,” says Chen, who was able to meet with relatives for the first time and connect with his family’s origin. “I think my time in China was significantly enhanced by the interactions and activities that I shared with my friends.”

Beyond full immersion in Chinese tradition, the students learned about themselves, as well. Chen and Corella agree that personal growth was a major highlight of the trip. The former grew more appreciative of his Chinese American background, while the latter discovered how “communication goes far beyond speaking the same language.”

Chen—who is bilingual—understood many local concepts that some of his peers in the program struggled to grasp. He took pride in his ability to communicate between local guides and English speakers on the trip. Corella cites kindness, patience, respect, and curiosity as the foundation of sharing cultures, experiences, and perspectives. “The relationships I built became one of the most valuable parts of the program,” she says.

The opportunity to take part in Discover Jiangxi was unexpected for the undergraduates, who each opened the informational email on a whim. Their lucky travels deeply impacted them, though, as they observed how other cultures tied into their future careers in the United States.

Aspiring architect Chen reflects on exploring a redeveloped village. He explains how its new, well-thought-out design positively affected the prosperity of the local region as it now draws an abundance of tourism and commercial stalls; he hopes to have a similar legacy in his future career.

“Exploring other cultures is key to succeeding as an architect,” he says. “My goal as a future architect is to provide positive change and lasting impact to local communities. I also hope to bring more sustainable and environmentally focused construction to places that lack implementation of those methods.”

Corella shares how the trip pushed her outside of her comfort zone as she learned to adapt and welcome unfamiliar experiences with an open mind—reminiscent of her decision to return to school to pursue nursing after realizing her first bachelor’s degree in health sciences wasn’t quite right. A future nurse who hopes to care for patients of all backgrounds, Corella gained a greater appreciation for how culture influences communication, beliefs, and healthcare experiences.

“My trip to China ended up being one of the most rewarding experiences of my college journey,” Corella says. “It strengthened my cultural competence and reinforced the importance of understanding each person’s unique perspective—something that will make me a more compassionate, empathetic, and effective nurse.”