In the summer vacation of 2019, BNUBS organized 8 overseas study exchange programs, sending altogether 183 undergraduate, master, doctor and MBA students. Among them, 57 students went to University of Cambridge, 26 to Imperial College London, 21 to Cornell University, 13 to the University of Munich in Germany, 16 to the University of Coimbra in Portugal, 11 to Singapore Management University, 12 to Rikkyo University in Japan and 27 to Obirin University in Japan.

 

Cambridge Essays (excerpt)

 

Xu Shengyi (From Accountant, Class of 2017)

 

Every cell in our body got excited to fight the jet lag when we came out of the London Heathrow Airport on seeing the gorgeous sky soaked by the afterglow of the setting sun. After preparing for a long time, I dragged my suitcase and finally started the two-week study tour in Britain with my teachers and classmates.

 

Located in the northwest of the center of Cambridgeshire, Girton College, Cambridge, is the most remote college, so we took the bus shuttling among empty boulevards, seeing the change of tall trees in the light and shadows, interspersed with English idyllic cottages, which shows the harmony between man and nature on the island of England.

 

The Girton College not only has a long history of teaching, but a long history of its architecture. The potholes on the surface of the old, solid red bricks tell us the glory days of the church and its past as a women's college. The paintings on the walls range from historical photos to modern styles, and the classrooms like old kitchen and FDR room keep the names of the old buildings, which play for us a melody giving the illusion of passing through the ancient-modern.

 

Lessons started the next day. The pressure brought by English-immersed courses was gradually cleared up by the guidance of the professors. Business Strategy lasted for the first week. In the morning, by combining with simple cases, we gradually understood one theory and concept after another which seemed boring and dull; in the afternoon, we worked in group to share the harvest and questions of what we got in the morning. Under the encouragement and reviewing of the teacher, the scattered knowledge got linked, and gradually formed a complete and firm knowledge system.

 

In the second week, we learned a small part of financial engineering. Under the humor Turkish professor’s explanation, the monotonous formula derivation seemed to be very witty. And we gradually mastered several common valuation methods for companies. In the afternoon, the Chinese teacher led us to understand the implications of financial statements and various economic indicators. Although the room was full of Chinese, we communicated fluently in English. It seemed funny, but we enjoyed it.

 

In addition to the courses, we also had a taste of the university cocktail party and the English afternoon tea. In July evening, the sun is still shining here. Walking gracefully in the small garden outside the formal hall with a glass of champagne, or sipping tea and enjoying a snack in an elegant room. At that moment, it was as if we’ve become a part of the view. The formal dinner was also amazing, with the solemn prayers before the meal, the well-laid table and the plates of exquisite food...This was the English elegance!

 

Rambled around the Cambridgeshire, stepped over the gravel road, passed the Bridge of Sighs, by the side of the road we could see the colleges, tall and stately, elegant and straight. Under the direction of the student assistant, we also experienced the fun of boating, laughing all the way.

 

In the past two weeks, we experienced different education methods, different lifestyles and different cultural environments. In a foreign country, we also helped each other, and the teamwork was growing. I believe that the quiet, stately and elegant atmosphere of England still haunts us...

 

 

The Cornell Trip Brought a Different Life

 

Zheng Yulei (From Finance, class of 2017)

 

I had an unforgettable three weeks at Cornell University from July 17th to August 3rd, 2019. Three weeks could be very short, because it counted by going through the big slope twice a day and attending the English courses and forums; three weeks could be very long, because it was filled with verdure woods and lawns, frolicking squirrels and rabbits, magnificent Niagara Falls, majestic Capitol Hill and exotic cuisine.

 

I think, rather than taught me the practical knowledge which can be used directly, the three weeks’ experience opened a door I have never seen. Behind the door was a completely different world, different scenery, different lifestyles, different dietary habits, different concepts, and even different values from what I have lived with in the previous twenty years. These distinct things made my life at Cornell both new and challenging.

 

What attracts me most about Cornell is the quiet and leisurely pace of life. I still remember that on arriving in Ithaca, we were charmed by the scenery. Cornell University is located in the scenic town of Ithaca, hidden among lush forests, roaring waterfalls, rolling grass and a shimmering river. There, casual encounters with a cute little squirrel are common; deer and rabbits also visit now and then, and fireflies add a touch of mystery to nights at Cornell. The beauty of the landscape slowed down the pace of life throughout Ithaca, and as we walked, we often felt the urge to stop and admire the scenery (which was not allowed, of course, because we would be late for class). Most impressive of all was the lawn concert on Friday, when the entire town seemed to be out in force, bringing picnic blankets, beach chairs, picnic baskets and even goblets and champagne with cool breeze in the evening. The band played in front of the stage. The audience, young and old, did not listen with constraint, but danced, talked and laughed on the grass. Children held balloons and bubble machines donated by the staff. The flying colorful bubbles added romance to the concert.

 

Life at Cornell was not always easy, and challenges were part of it. In retrospect, the biggest challenge was not in the classroom, not in the schoolwork, but in life-- ordering food. I remember the first time I went out of school to have a meal, and the English menu was dazzling. There were 12 different kinds of cheese, not to mention different spices and side dishes. At that time, we threw away the "Travel English Examples" we had learned in school and stuttered all the way. Fortunately, the waitress was gentle and patient and saved us from embarrassment. Not to mention in the school cafeteria, it's scary to be stuck in a long line with a menu you didn’t understand. At first, we were in such a mess every day; but day by day, we gradually learned how to order food by learning the way of the students ahead of us, how to ask about the flavor of different dishes in the restaurant, and even how to give a proper tip after a meal. I also had a good understanding of why language needs to be learned through immersion. The English I had learned in the three weeks was much more effective than that from reciting books in school.

 

I want to thank the Cornell Trip, for what it is presented to me: the different world across the ocean, and the different life the students there have. More importantly, to go to a strange country, to start an unknown journey, to make a group of friends, to have a vivid memory, all of these are my priceless treasure brought by this study tour.

 

 

Perceptions on Rikkyo University Summer Study Tour (excerpt)

 

Hao Dongmei (From MBA, Class of 2017)

 

After farewell to the scorching heat of Beijing in late July, I set foot on the rainy land of Tokyo with over 10 students from Beijing Normal University, and began the nine-day study tour in Japan.

 

Rikkyo University, the host of this summer study tour, is a prestigious private university in Japan with a long history and excellent location. It was founded by a western Christian missionary more than 100 years ago. At that time, Japan was rushing to catch up with the advanced nations of West and in the Meiji Restoration in Japan. Now Rikkyo University is located in Ikebukuro, the bustling commercial center of Tokyo.

 

On July 23^rd, the first day of the study tour, guided by Satomi Taniguchi, teacher of International Business School, Rikkyo University, we visited the campus of rich western style and features: the main teaching building which is like the Big Ben in London, the student canteen which imitates the wizard academy in Harry Potter, a tall pine tree elaborately trimmed into the shape of a Christmas tree, and a solemn church, which left us a deep and ancient impression.

 

Underneath the appearance of primitive simplicity, we can see that the internal campus facilities and teaching methods are relatively advanced. The desks and chairs in the classroom are mostly placed in a round-table manner with self-contained network and multimedia facilities. In the following five teaching days, three professors at Rikkyo University respectively lectured us about the Overview of the Development of Corporate Sports in Japan, the Sports Marketing and Baseball Culture in Japan, the Human Resource Management and Organization in Japan, the History of Development of Japanese Financial Markets and other special courses. After the related theoretical courses, Rikkyo University also arranged a series of field trips and business visits. There was an on-site learning activity almost every afternoon. In the course of the week, we visited Tokyo Dome, Panasonic Corporation, Japan Airlines Haneda Airport, Tokyo Stock Exchange, Ueno Park Business District and sports brand monopolized stores in Harajuku.

 

At the Tokyo Stock Exchange, the huge trading floor is no longer the bustling scene showing in the old photos, but the flashing screens and rolling digital walls show that Japanese financial markets are still alive after the great upheaval of the 1990s. After the visit, the subtitles of "Welcome Beijing Normal University" appeared on the central screen, which made us feel more cordial and honored. In the process of visits, enquiry and exchanges, we had a deeper understanding and experience of Japan's economic development, sports culture, and humanistic concepts, and had more perceptions about Japan's science and technology.

 

After the end of the courses and the visits, Professor Tsuji and Professor Takezawa held an individual personal summary and presentation class for our learning harvest and achievements. In accordance with the activity groups assigned before, we reported what we learned with the aid of PPT one by one from the perspective of the comparison of Chinese and Japanese sports and business culture. Our unique perspectives and different feelings got the boost of both professors.

 

I concluded our group. I have bunch of feelings on the popularity of team sports in Japan, such as baseball, football and American football.

 

During the weekend, we had the honor to visit the Tokyo National Museum, Waseda University and other famous cultural landmarks, and tasted the local delicacies, which gave us a more vivid understanding of the humanities, art and history of Tokyo, Japan outside the classroom.

 

Japan is a small country, but its economic size and cultural strength are worth further study. Seeing is better than hearing. This study tour is the first time for me to see Japan up close. This program has given me a visualized and vivid lesson on Oriental culture, which has started my curiosity about Japanese culture, refreshed my understanding of it, and driven me to explore more in the future.