Orientation week at the Hopkins-Nanjing Center 南京大学–霍普金斯大学中美文化研究中心的预备课

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By Shen Hao, translation by Amy Bodner

*Co-Director Davies welcomes all new students to the HNC (Photo credits: Amy Bodner)*

秋天是一个开学季，到处充满了欢声笑语，南大–霍普金斯大学中美文化研究中心也不例外。中心迎来了第33届学生，包括来自全球各地的国际学生，例如美国、丹麦、挪威、加拿大等地。大部分国际学生刚刚下飞机就赶来了中美中心，有点倒时差，不大适应。中心的志愿者热情地接待他们，帮他们把行李搬到双人间公寓。除此之外，志愿者学生还带着国际学生参观校园。桂花开了，整个校园香气扑鼻。

NANJING, China — Autumn signals the beginning of a new semester here at the SAIS Hopkins-Nanjing Center (HNC). Now in its 33rd year, the HNC is a bilingual graduate center of Chinese and international students who study international relations in either English or Mandarin. Last month, jet-lagged international students poured in from the U.S., Canada, Denmark and Norway to join their Chinese classmates for orientation week. Student volunteers graciously greeted new students at the door, hauled their suitcases upstairs, showed them to their dorm rooms and offered tours of the HNC’s cozy campus.

*Student volunteers helped arriving students familiarize themselves with campus.*
*志愿者学生帮助刚刚来校的同学熟悉校园。*
*(Photo credits: HNC WeChat group)*

中美中心是一个特殊的校园。中国学生和国际学生可以体验不一样的授课方式和课外活动。其中对于中国学生而言，最特殊的地方是他们接受全英文授课方式，他们在课堂上体会到debate的魅力，相信人人都有爱知识的权力，并且被鼓励积极地加入讨论和思考。国际学生也有机会参加各种特别有意思的课外活动，例如太极拳和二胡、书法等课程。其中太极拳课程的老师是一位年近80的老者，他的动作敏捷娴熟，身体也非常好，每一个动作都引来一阵喝彩。在中心学习的课程及课外活动，都别具风味。

Many students are drawn to the HNC because it offers a highly specialized educational experience. Students experience both Western and Eastern teaching styles, as well as traditional Chinese culture. For the Chinese students, the best part of the HNC is that they can perfect their academic English, learn to debate and are encouraged to discuss critical issues — elements that are not found in most Chinese institutions. Through classes with Chinese professors, international students study the Chinese perspective on world issues, which is invaluable information for those who plan on pursuing careers in U.S.-China relations. Additionally, international students who want to immerse themselves in traditional Chinese culture can sign up for extracurricular activities like tai chi, erhu or calligraphy. The tai chi teacher is somewhat of an icon on campus — at 80 years old she can hold her leg straight over her head far longer than her students.

*Students take a break from an orientation lecture. 学生在预备讲座结束后稍作休息。*
*(Photo credits: HNC WeChat group)*

中美中心的课程设置很丰富，也很有挑战性。在开学初，中美中心通常都有一个orientation week，用来帮助学生对课程设置有个更全面的了解。课程大致分了4个方向，包括国际政治、国际经济、国际法律、国际能源与运用，除了4个主流方向，还有一些有趣课程，包括农村政治，电影欣赏等。其中农村政治这门课，是带有农村考察性质的，每个参与课程的同学都有机会到中国某个省份进行田野调查。而电影赏析这门课则鼓励学生观看经典影片，并且给学生很大空间进行人生思考，将电影融入人生，创造出无数种可能。

The Center has a vast range of challenging classes, so a large part of orientation week was allocated for professors to introduce their classes to the student body. Class topics cover international politics, international economics, international law and energy, resources and environment studies. Classes such as politics of rural development and Chinese film studies, which promised a hands-on approach to learning, were especially popular on registration day. The rural politics class will include a trip to a rural Chinese province to conduct fieldwork, while the film class challenges students to view classic Chinese films with a modern take.

Students gather in the Kuang Yaming Auditorium.
学生们在匡亚明礼堂聚集。
*(Photo credits: Amy Bodner)*

中美中心的课程非常繁忙，通常很多学生都熬夜阅读材料，但是课后娱乐也非常丰富。例如，在中秋节那天傍晚，集体师生都参加了一个barbecue。中美中心的两位中美主任担任了主持人，负责烤肉，所有的学生都沉浸在音乐和美食之中，忘记了学业带来的烦恼。等聚餐结束之后，国际学生和中国学生一起上天台，赏月吃月饼，共度佳节。

在中美中心学习真的是一个颇具回报的经历.

Although the heavy course load ensures that students will spend the next few weeks confined to the library, the HNC wrapped up orientation week by hosting a celebratory barbeque. On the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival, a traditional Chinese harvest holiday, HNC students and staff gathered in the courtyard to grill some American-style hamburgers, drink beer and listen to student music performances. Students also enjoyed quintessential Mid-Autumn Festival yuebing, or mooncakes, made of lotus root and duck egg yolk. All students look forward to the highly-rewarding upcoming school year.