"How have you been？"暑假伊始，南京中医药大学国际教育学院国际中文教育专业硕士研究生顾舒越同学收到了来自美国伯米吉州立大学Geofrey同学的越洋微信问候。此时，距两校青年学子交流活动结束正好一个月。在交流活动闭幕离别之际，Geofrey曾赠送小礼物给顾舒越，以感谢她的热情与友好。
“How have you been?” At the beginning of the summer vacation, Gu Shuyue, a master’s student in International Chinese Education at the School of International Education of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, received a WhatsApp message from Geofrey from Bermidge State University in the United States. It had been exactly one month since the exchange program between the students from the two universities came to an end. During the closing ceremony of the exchange program, Geofrey had given Gu Shuyue a small gift as a token of his appreciation for her enthusiasm and friendliness.
"How are you doing？"南京中医药大学国际教育学院国际中文教育专业硕士研究生王政同学也收到了来自美国伯米吉州立大学Crow同学的微信问候。Crow还在微信中提到了近日美国为庆祝独立250周年而举办的盛大庆典活动。这两位中美年轻大学生，自从在两校交流活动中认识之后，彼此的交流互动就从未间断，话题涵盖了日常的学习生活、美国的政治生态与枪支管控，以及中美关系等。离开南京的那天，Crow将一张签有自己名字的校园卡留给王政作纪念，冀望两人的友情不会因时空的阻隔而中断。
“How are you doing?” Wang Zheng, a master’s student in International Chinese Education at the School of International Education of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, also received a WeChat message from Crow from Bemidji State University in the United States. Crow also mentioned the grand celebrations held in the U.S. to mark the 250th anniversary of independence. Since meeting each other during exchange programs between the two universities, these two young students from China and the U.S. have maintained constant communication. Their conversations covered various topics, including daily life, U.S. political dynamics and gun control, as well as Sino-U.S. relations. On the day he left Nanjing, Crow gave Wang Zheng a campus card with his own signature as a memento, hoping that their friendship wouldn’t be broken by distance.
美国伯米吉州立大学（Bemidji State University）是一所1919 年建校的公立高校，坐落于明尼苏达州（Minnesota）北部。2024年5月，两校联手成功举办了“首届中国健康之夏短期培训班”，10位美国师生“满载而归”，并由此开启了两校间的友好合作与交流关系。
Bemidji State University is a public institution founded in 1919. It is located in the northern part of Minnesota. In May 2024, the two universities jointly organized the “First China Health Summer Short-Term Training Program.” Ten American teachers and students returned from the program with valuable insights, marking the beginning of friendly cooperation and exchanges between the two institutions.
Faculty and students from Bermigui State University in the United States attended a training course on traditional Chinese medicine and Chinese culture at Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine
今年5月25日，13位伯米吉州立大学的师生如约而至，参加了在南京中医药大学举办的为期2周的中医及中国文化交流学习班。这批美国学生所学的专业多属健康相关领域（Health-related knowledge and skills），他们在美国学到的主要是基于现代医学理论框架下的健康知识与技能，此前从未探索过中医基础理论体系下的健康内涵。因此，在练习打太极拳、亲自动手制作中药香囊、体验针灸推拿养生保健、跟随老师野外采药，以及相互操练舌诊脉诊时，大家都感到格外兴奋。这些内容不仅新鲜，更是颠覆了他们原有对医学健康知识的认知，仿佛打开了另一扇通往健康的大门。
On May 25th of this year, 13 faculty and students from Bemidji State University arrived as scheduled to participate in a two-week workshop on traditional Chinese medicine and Chinese cultural exchange, held at Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine. Most of these American students majored in health-related fields. In the United States, they learned health-related knowledge and skills based on modern medical theories. They had never previously explored the concepts of health within the framework of traditional Chinese medicine. Therefore, they were particularly excited to practice Tai Chi, make traditional Chinese medicine sachets, experience acupuncture and massage for health preservation, learn how to gather herbs in the wild from instructors, and practice tongue and pulse diagnosis together. These experiences were not only novel but also challenged their existing understanding of medical knowledge, as if opening a new door to understanding health.
每一次功法课，Jacob在赵丰润老师指导下练完一套动作后都汗流浃背，他深有体会地说：“气功与太极拳的动作看似轻轻柔柔，实则柔中有刚，这就是中华武术中以柔克刚的至高境界。” Lauren跟随戴仕林老师在羊山湖的小道上采药时，不禁感慨：“真没想到这些山间水边生长的野草和盛开的野花还可以治病。”在沈甜教授的香囊制作课上，同学们惊叹：“中药调配出的香囊外观雅致，和昂贵香水相比，它散发出的气味更清新怡人，带着独有的自然草木气息。”
During each qigong class, Jacob would be drenched in sweat after completing a set of exercises under the guidance of Teacher Zhao Fengrun. He said earnestly, “The movements of qigong and Tai Chi seem gentle at first glance, but in reality, there's strength within that gentleness. This is the ultimate manifestation of overcoming hardness with softness in Chinese martial arts.” While collecting herbs along the paths around Yangshan Lake with Teacher Dai Shilin, Lauren marveled, “I never thought that the wild herbs and flowers growing in the mountains and by the water could be used for healing.”In Professor Shen Tian’s class on making sachets, the students were impressed:“The sachets made from traditional Chinese herbs are not only aesthetically pleasing, but their scent is also much more refreshing and pleasant compared to expensive perfumes. They carry a unique, natural aroma of herbs.”
在与美国同学的交流过程中，中国的年轻学子们也是收获满满。“以前一直以为美国人个个都很open，真正接触后才发现，其实他们也和我们一样，有性格外向的，也有特别含蓄和内敛的，并不能一概而论。”“以前在学英语时，书本上说与美国人见面寒暄时主要聊当天的天气，但与美国同学交流后，发现并不完全是这样的，语言交流并不是公式化和机械式的。”
In their interactions with American students, Chinese young people also gained a lot.“I used to think that Americans were all very open-minded. But after actually getting to know them, I realized that they’re just like us—some are outgoing, while others are more reserved and introverted. It’s not possible to generalize about them.” “When I was learning English, textbooks said that when meeting Americans, one should talk about the weather. But after talking with American students, I found that’s not always the case. Communication isn’t something that follows fixed rules or patterns.”
穆雨纯同学在与美国师生相处的两个星期中发现，他们很喜欢中国文化元素。比如在中国非遗文化体验课上，大家对用宋锦手工制成的小物件就爱不释手，就连他们居住的仙林校区杏苑宾馆周边的那片小竹林也成了他们的最爱。Adeline说：“在美国很难见到竹子，熊猫与竹子就是美国人脑海中典型的中国符号之一。”
During her two-week stay with American teachers and students, Mu Yuchun noticed that they really appreciated Chinese cultural elements. For example, during the classes where traditional Chinese culture was explored, everyone was fascinated by the small objects made from Song Dynasty brocade. Even the small bamboo grove near the Xingyuan Hotel on the Xianlin campus became one of their favorite spots. Adeline said, “It’s rare to see bamboo in the United States. Pandas and bamboo are among the typical symbols of China in the minds of Americans.”
Faculty and students from Bermidge State University in the United States visited Nanjing’s Ming City Wall, the Laomen East Historical District, and Zhan Garden
中美两国之间的文化差异引发的一些小插曲，也让大家津津乐道。“美国同学用餐时不太会用筷子，我们就不断地给他们做示范；和美国同学一起去外面餐馆聚餐点菜时，他们开始时只点自己的菜，这是因为在美国聚餐实行分餐制，他们不了解中国人聚餐时习惯共享菜肴，即围坐在一张桌子旁一起用餐。”
The cultural differences between China and the United States have led to some amusing situations that people enjoy talking about. “American students don’t know how to use chopsticks properly when eating. So, we kept showing them how to use them. When we went out to restaurants with American students to order food, they initially only ordered their own dishes. This is because in the U.S., people eat separately at the table. They weren’t aware that in Chinese culture, people share dishes together while sitting around the same table.”
东西方之间的文化差异并不妨碍这些青年学子们在很多事情上产生共鸣。在游览南京的历史文化名胜和领略南京的山水自然风光时，中美两国的这些年轻人们内心都是喜悦的，他们都说南京历史文化底蕴深厚，有一种自然与人文相糅合的独特的美。在参观完侵华日军南京大屠杀遇难同胞纪念馆后，大家的表情都特别凝重，有人还流下了眼泪，Crow说：“来南京前，我只知道二战中日本军队偷袭珍珠港（Pearl Harbor），并不了解日军在南京犯下的罪行，看到日军的残忍和中国人遭受的苦难，我无法抑制内心的悲愤。”
Cultural differences between the East and West do not prevent these young people from finding common ground in many areas. While visiting Nanjing’s historical and cultural sites and enjoying its natural beauty, the young people from China and the United States felt joyous. They all agreed that Nanjing has a rich historical and cultural heritage, with a unique beauty that combines nature and culture. After visiting the Memorial Hall of the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre, everyone was deeply moved, with some even shedding tears. Crow said, “Before coming to Nanjing, I only knew about Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor during World War II. I had no idea of the atrocities committed by the Japanese army in Nanjing. Seeing the cruelty of the Japanese and the suffering of the Chinese people, I couldn’t hold back my grief.”
Faculty and students from Bermigui State University in the United States visited Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum in Nanjing with Chinese students
(The person in a wheelchair in the front row is Thomas, the instructor from Bermidge State University in the United States.)
伯米吉州立大学的带队老师Thomas曾于2024年率团访问过南京。他因下肢残疾，日常需依靠轮椅代步或借助拐杖行走。在2026年的此次交流活动中，他仍坚持亲自带队并参与其中。参观中山陵时，他凭借顽强的毅力，与同学们一同徒步登上台阶。他表示，将来会组织更多此类中美学生交流活动，让更多美国学生有机会来华实地了解中国。他强调，中美人民同属人类的一部分，命运休戚与共，尽管存在语言、文化与社会制度上的差异，但加强交流一定有助于双方在求同存异的基础上，共同应对人类面临的挑战。
Thomas, the instructor from Bermidge State University, led a delegation to Nanjing in 2024. Due to a lower-limb disability, he relies on a wheelchair or crutches to get around. During this exchange program in 2026, he insisted on leading the group personally. While visiting the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, he climbed the steps with his classmates, demonstrating great determination. He said he plans to organize more such exchanges between American and Chinese students, giving more American students the opportunity to learn about China firsthand. He emphasized that the people of China and the United States are part of humanity, sharing a common destiny. Despite differences in language, culture, and social systems, increased exchanges will help both sides work together to address global challenges.
在这个高速发展的时代，中美未来的样子与关系，虽无人可以精准预判，但有一点毫无疑问：塑造中美未来的重任终将会交到这些年轻人手中，由他们来规划与设计。
In this era of rapid development, while no one can accurately predict what the future of Sino-US relations will be like, one thing is certain: the responsibility of shaping the future of Sino-US relations will ultimately fall to these young people, who will be responsible for planning and shaping it.
Group photo taken at the opening ceremony between teachers and students from Bermidji State University in the United States and Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine
Group photo of teachers and students from Bermidji State University in the United States and Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine at the graduation ceremony
