Asian and African Studies students returned from summer school at Jilin University of Foreign Studies

The summer language school for students of the “Asian and African Studies” program of the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs at Jilin University of Foreign Languages (JUFL) was held August 6-26. The students immersed themselves in learning the basics of the Chinese language, as well as spent several days in the Russian-Chinese border area, visited the sacred mountain Paektusan (Chinese: Changbaishan) on the border of the PRC and the DPRK and the Jingyuetan National Park Reserve.

Since the founding of the School of Asian Studies, faculty members have been organizing summer language schools for students at various universities in China. Although the tradition was interrupted during the pandemic, such an internship was held in 2024 in Changchun, Jilin Province, with the support of Jilin Foreign Language University.

Students of the educational program “Asian and African Studies” consisting of 65 people went on a big trip to China for the first time in their lives. Their journey took them through the Russian-Chinese border region, including visits to Chita, Zabaikalsk in Russia and Manchuria, and Changchun on the PRC side. The students' ethnographic experience included researching the peculiarities of these cities, communicating with local residents, etc.

In Chita, the group visited the Damba Braibunling Datsan, which is a significant site of architecture and culture of the Far East. Lamas (Buddhist clergymen - ed.) gave a tour of the Datsan and spoke about the spread of Tibetan Buddhism into the territory of the Trans-Baikal Territory, the peculiarities of local Buddhism and the history of the Chita Datsan. The head of the Buddhist Traditional Sangha (community) of Moscow and the abbot of Chita Datsan Bair-lama Tsympilov made a speech to the students, in which he emphasized the necessity of studying Buddhism as a religion and as a philosophy by students of Oriental Studies. The students had the opportunity to ask Bair-lama questions they are interested in. This experience broadened the students' understanding of the culture of the regions of the Russian Far East.

In addition, Maria Efimenko, a professor of the School of Asian Studies, and Vitaly Senotrusov, a 5th year student of the “Asian and African Studies” program, took part in the “Theme of the Day” program on Radio Russia at the invitation of the staff of GTRK (State Broadcaster) Chita. They talked about the current Russian-Chinese humanitarian cooperation, what Oriental Studies’ students are occupied with and how to enroll into the Higher School of Economics University.

Then the students had to pass the Russian and Chinese borders and live in Manchuria (Manzhouli) on the Chinese side, where the students could observe the result of the intersection of Chinese and Russian culture.

Sophia Lyubitskaya, a 2nd year student of Asian and African Studies, told us about her impression: “I am very happy to visit Manchuria, to make friends with everyone, to communicate with the locals, to visit historical sights, as well as to study the city on my own.”

Ekaterina Toroptseva, a 3rd year student of Asian and African Studies said: “I am very glad that this summer I decided to go to China together with the team of our faculty! It was the biggest trip of my life. We traveled a long way from Moscow to Changchun in the most unusual ways: we had several days of travel, several transfers and two types of parlor trains. Over the past month I have developed a feeling of endless long-distance travel, which I already miss very much. Of course, this impressed me a lot”.

Upon arrival at Jilin University of Foreign Languages, the students started their studies. It included several aspects: learning the grammatical basics of the language, vocabulary, as well as the features of speaking and listening. Students were invited to join workshops on fan dancing, traditional paper-cutting and modeling Chinese jiao-chi dumplings.

Exploring the city of Changchun and its attractions began with a visit to the Palace Museum of Pu Pu Yi Pu Puppet Emperor of the Manchu puppet state of Manchukuo Aisingyoro, after which the students traveled to Jingyuetan National Park and World Sculpture Park.

On August 17th and 18th, the students went on a tourist trip to the sacred mountains of the Korean people, Paektusan, located on the border with the DPRK. They had the unique experience of being invited by local ethnic Koreans to visit their home and enjoy drinks and snacks. An important part of the trip was a visit to the Tianchi Heavenly Lake of volcanic origin at the top of the mountains.

Nikita Petrenko, a 3rd year student of Asian and African Studies, said: “I would like to emphasize the trip to Paektusan. It is an incredibly beautiful place that will not leave anyone indifferent. Many tourists from all over China come to the mountain, there are also a lot of Koreans there, we even managed to meet a family from Seoul. The most pleasant and valuable thing for me was putting the knowledge I received at university into practice. During the two years of studying Chinese we have learned a lot and I wanted to use my spoken Chinese to the maximum.

At the ceremony of awarding training certificates, the professor of the School of Asian Studies Maria Efimenko exchanged gifts with Vice-Rector Wang Zhiguo, Director of the Institute of International Exchanges Song Dandan, expressing gratitude to Jilin University of Foreign Languages for the warm welcome and high quality of the Chinese teaching.

For Nejmi Akman, a 3rd year student of Asian and African Studies, the trip was a fateful one: “The trip was as comfortable as possible, because almost every action was planned and scheduled in advance. It was a rather complete acquaintance with China, a good practice of the language. I would like to stay longer in this beautiful country. Thanks to this trip, I was finally convinced that I had chosen the right destination and language”.

We express our gratitude to the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs for the financial support of the professors. We thank the Chita Datsan for the warm welcome and GTRK “Chita” for the opportunity to take part in the broadcast!