Yun-Yun Li - Bridge Year China
Growing up in a family that bridges cultures (my Dad’s family is from Hong Kong, while my mother’s is Italian-American) has made me dream of learning Mandarin and rediscovering my family’s roots. I grew up in the Washington DC area, and I have lived for the past two years at an international boarding school (United World College) in New Mexico. At UWC I found lifelong friendships with students from over 80 countries and began to perceive the world through the sensibilities of other cultures; 9 months in China offers the opportunity for a deeper, sustained encounter with a single culture. I love learning different types of dance (ballet, to Bollywood, to bellydance), and I enjoy playing the cello, singing, rock-climbing, hiking, napping, and doing yoga in my free time. Sustainability and environmental awareness--and how environmental issues relate to poverty and inequity-- are topics that I hope to pursue in our service work in China, and perhaps in depth later in college. The UWC mission statement asks us to “unite people, nations, and cultures for peace and a sustainable future.” With this inspiration, I am ecstatic to be embarking on this adventure in China!