Sophomore from Suzhou: A Discussion on Climate Change and the SSU International Experience

By Dylan Deforge

Sitting amongst the light buzz at the Dunkins in Meier Hall, I met with Yangxu Shen. Yangxu is a sophomore college student from Suzhou—in the Jiangsu Province of China—attending her first semester here at Salem State University. I got to meet her in my Reading Closely class and I reached out to her to speak about the international student experience here and her thoughts on climate change.

D: Around what time did you consider climate change as a considerable factor? Was it when you were living in Suzhou?

Y: I took this class called Environmental Science [at school in China] and it talked about climate change. One serious climate problem in China would have to be air pollution. In recent years, [the Chinese] government [has] taken many actions [to combat pollution]... Five to ten years ago, the sky was gray and we could not distinguish the clouds from the sky, but now we can start seeing blue skies again. The air quality has improved a lot.

D: What do you think the issue is with climate change not going as smoothly as we’d like?

Y: I think it’s more like the problem should be solved by people around the world rather than

just [putting the responsibility] on one country or district.

China is one of the leading countries in climate change, with both positives and negatives. Coal plants—which contribute a vast proportion of global CO2 emissions—are on the rise alongside wind and solar energy.

D: How is your experience here, in terms of education, compared to where you are from? Because, you transferred from another university before here, right?

Y: I think one of the biggest differences between the schools in China and the schools here are the relationships between professors and students. There is a clear distinction or space between teachers in China, while here, connecting with professors is more like being friends. It’s my feeling that I can raise my own thoughts in the classroom setting and the professor is very open to all kinds of sources [or opinions]. The conversation that that interaction brings up is much more casual.

D: Was news coverage of America much more prevalent in China? I noticed that when it comes to international news, we [Americans] don’t tend to hear about other countries unless a big political event is taking place.

Y: One of the big issues in America that I heard about when I was in China was about gun... accidents?

D: About guns? Like gun control?

Y: Yes. I think my parents are very concerned about that idea. The older generations are more concerned about the safety of me studying abroad.

D: Have you come across any opportunities or challenges when it comes to getting used to Salem State?

Y: The first problem for me is (laughing) listening comprehension in class, but I think I’ll get better with time. In American universities, classes are arranged from what I took in China. One class would be separated into two days, while in China, the class would be scheduled for once a week... so the workload is much heavier.

D: Have you been involved in any groups or events on campus?

Y: When I don’t have too much homework, I attend the Coffee Hour [at the Center for International Education]. I’ve also looked into the Writers Series seminars and every time I go, I can come across books or series that make me want to write more.

D: What drew you to being an English major?

Y: I really enjoy art and when I originally finished high school, I wanted to study art. However, my parents thought that it would be challenging to study art in university because it would be difficult to find a job after, so they wanted me to choose a major that would be more suitable for a job. One thing I noticed is that learning English here is like learning Chinese in China.

D: Do you have any ideas for a future career or goals by majoring in English?

Y: I would like to be a teacher... but I tend to be a shy person.