I'm not sure one can really understand what stereotypes one has until those stereotypes are challenged. I think that this trip to China has both challenged the stereotypes we hold as Americans, and the stereotypes the Chinese people hold about us. It always surprises me who knows some English here, and clearly it surprises the Chinese people when we ask them, in Chinese, what the price of something is, or tell them that we aren't interested in buying it.

Because we have not yet left, it's hard to know whether the people of China share PLU's commitment to justice, health, sustainability, and peace. I hope that my experiences and conversations during the trip will help me to learn more about these values, and the ways in which China is viewing and addressing them.

With our trip to China only a few weeks away, I keep thinking about what I am looking forward to. The course is looking at the various art forms in China and the effects globalization and modernity has had on Chinese traditions. As a psychology major, I'm really interested in how art forms reflect one's culture and identity, and what it might mean for a group of people when those traditional values are threatened.

I've also loved learning about other cultures. They've always fascinated me, but I've never had the opportunity to really experience other cultures. I'm so excited to have this op