Chong Gu - Bridge Year Peru
I was born and raised in Shanghai, a beautiful coastal city that lies on the mouth of the Yangtze River. In the middle of my freshman year, my mom brought me to New York. I spent two years there studying in Cardozo High School before finishing my high school education at Phillips Exeter Academy. Many academic topics fascinate me, including mathematics, ethics, economics, psychology, physics, and computer science. I am also a big fan of sports, both as a spectator and as a participant. Among my favorite are soccer and tennis. This year, the Bridge Year Program will allow me to set foot in a whole new continent as well as immerse in a different culture. I will also have the opportunity to use the knowledge that I have learnt throughout these years and try to improve the living condition of others. Last but not least, Peruvians’ appreciation for and mastery in savory cuisine have long caught my attention. I can’t wait to try out all the great food!!
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Posted Apr 26, 2012
Before coming to Peru, basketball and tennis always fascinated me more than soccer. One important standard with which I evaluated sports is the frequency of one´s contact with the ball, and it doesn´t take a math major to reach the conclusion that, with the number of balls constant, fewer participants means more contact. There was also the problem of finding soccer fields in my hometown Shanghai, a city half the size of Lima but with a greater population than all of Peru.
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Posted Dec 29, 2011
A phrase that I constantly hear in Peru is “con confianza,” which translates to something like “just do it” in English. However, unlike its English equivalent that has been taken hostage for advertising purposes, “con confianza” can be used in pretty much every situation. You can drink a plate of soup con confianza, carry a bag of sand half your weight con confianza, say something in Spanish that is bound to contain multiple grammar mistakes con confianza...