Hangzhou, Zhejiang

In about two months I will be leaving to China, and I'm so excited that all I can think of doing now is research where I'll be staying! I'm also not receiving any new emails from the program except information about two tests I have to complete as part of the scholarship, so I'm even MORE eager to learn more about my host city. I wanted to share some of the information I picked up while researching so that you could have a better understanding of Hangzhou, Zhejiang. :)

Hangzhou (formerly Lin'an during the Song Dynasty) is the capital of Zhejiang province, and is the 6th largest city in China. It's about 45 minutes away from Shanghai by the high-speed railway trains (travels about +124 mph!!!). The city is modern yet still has significant historic sites and retains its cultural heritage, which is why it attracts so many tourists. Hangzhou (as well as Suzhou) is referred by many people as "heaven on earth" because of its scenic and aesthetic surroundings. Hangzhou is very well known for their silk, and also for their longjing tea. Longjing tea directly translates to "dragon well tea," a type of green tea which was originated in Hangzhou. The West Lake is also a famous attraction, where you can view the city skyline and visit different historic sites and monuments. According to one of my friends, Hangzhou is cleaner than Beijing, and although the city is old, it is beautiful. During my stay, around late June to early August, it will be very hot, humid, and will include frequent precipitation...great! I heard that there are no shortages of delectable foods and restaurants, and that much of the food is made with seafood because the city is located near water. Perfect! I love seafood....and every other kind of food.

The host institution I will be attending is the High School Attached to Zhejiang University, which is also the high school that my host sibling will be attending! This high school also has a beautiful scenery, and is nearby the famous West Lake. Looking through the pictures of the high school, it seems like an amazing campus with an abundance of greenery and natural surroundings.



















 It's nice, right?
There are more pictures here.

The more I talk about the aspects of the journey that awaits, the more I want to already be there.

The Start of Something New

Hey guys! I've never blogged before, but since I'd like to keep a record of my time in China during the summer, I thought of creating one. I'm guessing some of my family and friends would like to learn about what I will be doing there, and that future NSLI-Y applicants would like to know as well, so....here goes!

After checking my email constantly for several months, I finally received a notification three weeks ago that I was selected as a finalist for the 2013 NSLI-Y summer program! Before I continue on with more details about myself, where I will be going, etc., let me introduce you to the program that I was accepted to. NSLI-Y, or The

National Security Language Initiative for Youth, is funded by the US Department of State and grants full scholarships for high school students to learn "less commonly taught languages" overseas during the summer or year. These languages include Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Korean, Persian, Russian, and Turkish. You can find out more info at http://www.nsliforyouth.org. The program I got accepted to is implemented by American Councils and is a six-week intensive study program in China at one of five locations: Suzhou, Nanjing, Changchun, Hangzhou, or Xi'an. I found out a week after my finalist notification that I will be going to Hangzhou! I will also be living with a host family and attend Chinese classes/participate in cultural activities daily. I'm extremely excited because I love to travel, and I've never been to China before. If you know me well, food will be one of the top things I will be looking forward to :). I can't wait to share my experiences, and in about two months my adventure will begin!

If you are wondering where Hangzhou is...