Finding Perspective in Nanjing

Name: Clemencia El Antouri
Degree: HNC Certificate + MAIR 

What sparked your interest in China?

I’ve always been interested in languages, cultures, and international affairs, and it seemed that no matter where I was in the world, China always held a significant presence. My curiosity deepened when I discovered Chinese love ballads and started studying Chinese to understand the emotion behind the lyrics. I enjoyed the intellectual challenge of learning the language, as well as the new perspectives it offered compared to the West. China represented an opposing reality that I was eager to understand.

The absence of academic censorship on campus allows for authentic dialogue amongst both international and Chinese classmates, which is near impossible to find in comparable programs.

Why did you choose the Hopkins-Nanjing Center over other programs in China?

I believe the Hopkins-Nanjing Center offers students several competitive advantages that other U.S. programs in China lack. It is certainly the program to choose for students compelled to take their Chinese to a professional level. This is the only program where students can take the majority of their graduate classes entirely in Mandarin while still receiving accreditation from an American university. 

The absence of academic censorship on campus allows for authentic dialogue amongst both international and Chinese classmates, which is near impossible to find in comparable programs. Additionally, Nanjing is a less international city compared to Beijing or Shanghai, making it the ideal environment for both language immersion and for genuinely experiencing life in China.

How have you adjusted to learning in Chinese?

Since beginning my classes here at the HNC, I definitely feel that my vocabulary has grown tremendously thanks to the course material. The learning curve is steep, and it can be intimidating to participate at first because of the language barrier. The readings were the most difficult aspect of adjusting, as academic Chinese isn’t typically emphasized in U.S. university Chinese programs, and there were hundreds, if not thousands, of new specialized terms to learn. However, with time, the readings became much easier to follow and required far less time to get through. Likewise, lectures that were once difficult to follow became fully understandable as I became accustomed to the vocabulary and the variety of Mandarin accents among professors.

What do you hope to gain from your time at the HNC?

Academically, I hope to develop a more nuanced understanding of China. It’s easy to form a monolithic view of the country from daily media reports, but I hope being at the HNC this year will allow me to break away from that simplistic viewpoint. Furthermore, I look forward to building connections with others who are deeply interested in international engagement and policy-making.

Has your personal background influenced or affected your time in China?

Yes, I think it’s impossible for your background not to shape your experience here. Attributes such as nationality, ethnicity, religion, gender, and age can come up in conversations with locals, but I personally have found those questions are usually driven by curiosity rather than anything negative. 

American students in China already make up a very small demographic, and being an American female student of color is even rarer. Coming from a multiracial and multicultural background, I’m conscious of representing both the U.S. and my ethnic heritage, since I’m often asked about both.

What do you miss most about home?

I would say the general familiarity that comes with living at home. As an American living in China, everything from language, humor, food, attitude, people, systems, and much more feels different. That’s part of what makes travel to China so exciting, as it's such a unique and culturally-rich destination unlike any other. Nevertheless, it is easy to sometimes miss the convenience of being in your home country and the confidence that exists in navigating all these attributes without certain barriers.

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