My name is Akassia Molina, and I am an international student at 91Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ, double majoring in Urban Studies and Economics with a minor in Mandarin. I am passionate about economic development, urban planning, and language acquisition. This year, I was honoured to return to the immersive Mandarin program at Shantou University in Guangdong, China.
My primary goals for the trip were to strengthen my fluency—especially in spoken conversation—and to build meaningful connections with my peers and tutors. Compared to last year, another year of Mandarin coursework under my belt allowed me to approach conversations with more confidence. This stronger foundation helped me gain more from our classes, excursions, and everyday interactions. By the end of the trip, I felt at ease handling most day-to-day situations—ordering food, shopping, making friends, and even haggling. One memorable moment was reuniting with a tutor from last year and realizing just how many topics we could now discuss without major language barriers.
We also participated in several insightful and heartwarming sessions on intercultural communication, sharing and reflecting on the challenges and joys of navigating cultural and linguistic differences—particularly between Eastern and Western contexts. While learning how misunderstandings arise and how to bridge them, I was struck by the patience, openness, and generosity shown by the students, tutors, and instructors alike. Their willingness to be vulnerable and engaged made the learning environment incredibly meaningful.
I was especially grateful for opportunities to explore areas of Chinese culture that resonate with my academic and personal interests. A standout experience was our visit to the City Planning Hall at the Chaoshan Historical and Cultural Expo Center, where we learned about Shantou’s special status as a Special Economic Zone and how it shaped the city’s urban development. Other highlights included sampling and purchasing a variety of local teas—particularly green and oolong—and immersing myself in the vibrant food scene of Shantou. The trip gave me a deeper appreciation of the city’s unique urban transformation, making it a compelling case study in Chinese urban and economic development.
As it was the case last year, one of the most meaningful aspects of this trip was the relationships I built. I now have friends in China I’m excited to reconnect with, and back in Montreal, I return with a broader, more supportive network of Mandarin learners who share my passions.
As a member of the final LKS cohort, I feel incredibly proud and grateful to have been part of this unique partnership between Shantou and 91Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ. It enabled rich cultural exchange and forged lasting bonds between the two institutions. The 2025 LKS trip has reaffirmed my passion for economic development, urban studies, and—above all—my commitment to cross-cultural understanding. I believe this experience has prepared me well for future opportunities, including studying abroad in Mandarin-speaking regions and pursuing professional pathways in the area.