Elizabethtown College students enrolled in a Chinese course this semester were given the opportunity, as well as a few others, to go on an all-expense-paid trip to New York City that occurred March 15 and 16.

Dr. David Kenley, associate professor of history and director of the Center for Global Understanding and Peacemaking, said, “This was the first time I have taken a group of students to New York’s Chinatown. The trip was supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Undergraduate International Studies and Foreign Languages Program. If we can find future funding, I would enjoy taking another group in the future.”

Kenley and professor Linye Jing, lecturer in Chinese for the department of modern languages, took the small group of students on their two-day adventure. The first day was spent mainly in Chinatown with events including a walking tour, viewing the Museum of Chinese in America and a group dinner in Chinatown. The second day consisted of events such as The China Institute and free time for the students to check out other famous landmarks in N.Y. such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Central Park, Museum of Modern Art and the Asia Society Museum.

“I would really encourage students to take advantages of such opportunities. Hardly will you have so many inexpensive opportunities for exploring a new city or a new country ever again. This trip is literally free! And there are many other weekend trips, day trips and short-term study abroad programs on campus,” Jing said.

Students agreed that the most popular parts of the trip were visiting the Museum of Chinese in America and when students got to explore the city on their own.

“We visited Chinatown, giving the Chinese language students a chance to practice their speaking skills. For those interested in history and art, we also went to the Museum of Chinese in America and to the Chinese Institute art gallery. New York is a close, convenient option for those individuals interested in China,” Kenley said.

“The grant is given to the school and [the money] is then used to support student activities and programs. For this trip, there was no charge to the students. Their transportation, hotel rooms, food and museum tickets were covered by the school [using the grant money]. Chinese-language students were given first priority in participating in the trip,” Kenley said.

Be sure to look for future trips and opportunities to New York and other locations through the Modern Language Department.