The Holland Fellows program prestigious fellowship that presents at the Shanghai Economic Forum. Twelve students from Appalachian State University partnered with twelve students from Fudan University to create a cohesive and insightful presentation on the future of transportation. Our presentation was broken down into three groups, autonomous vehicles, ride-sharing, and electric vehicles. Each group had a total of eight students with half being from China and the other half from the United States. I learned how to work cross-culturally, adapt to changes, and how foster effective communication.
The program lasted the entire Spring 2018 semester ending with three weeks traveling through Asia. We visited Beijing, Shanghai, Taipei, and Hong Kong. It was an unforgettable and enlightening experience. Growing up as an immigrant I was constantly walking a cultural tightrope but that will never compare to being exposed to a totally new part of the world. I gained a deeper understanding and appreciation for the "East" through this experience and interactions with our Chinese fellows.
