Summer Program on Sustainable Development In China

When I made the decision to study abroad, I was ready to go wherever the school would take me. I had never traveled outside of the United States, and I was tired of letting opportunities pass me by. In the spring quarter, I took two classes with two of the professors who were going on the trip. They convinced me that studying in China would be an unforgettable experience. I quickly submitted all of my paperwork and attended the first orientation at CSUSB (California State University, San Bernardino). The title of the course I took was “Doing Business in China.” I expected the class to be wholly focused on just that. During the orientation, this was the first time I heard that we would be partnering with the Center for Sustainability. I had never heard of the Center and I was very curious to see what they had to offer.

Our group had a second orientation as soon as we landed in Shanghai. We met Pablo, Carlos, and Andy who would act as our liaisons during the trip. It wasn’t until this second orientation that I realized what we would be studying for the duration of our trip: sustainability. I have always been interested in environmental sustainability, but I never studied it or even defined it until this trip. I always thought I was just recycling or conserving water or repurposing items when in fact, I was working toward sustaining our earth all along. Once I made this connection, all of the topics, field trips, and guest speakers held my attention from start to finish.

Sustainability is an issue that is fairly ignored in the business world. Business people are generally focused on numbers. We have been taught to cut costs and always pay attention to the bottom line. During this trip, we learned that humans have only been on this earth for a fraction of its lifetime. In this small snippet of time, we have managed to do years and years of irreversible damage. Sustainability addresses this problem. By changing our attitudes and actions, we are able to heal our earth or at least stop hurting it. Plus, as business people, we are able to create sustainable organizations that still make impressive profits.

Another unique aspect of the trip was understanding the concept of being labeled as “foreigners.” Something Pablo said during the first week stuck with me. While we were sitting at dinner one night, he told us that in any other country he would be defined by his race or country of origin just as we would be defined by our respective ethnicities. In China, however, we are all clustered together into one group: foreigners. Once we got to China, I immediately felt out of place. It wasn’t a bad feeling, I just felt different from everyone else. The idea of being a “foreigner” was so strange to me since I had grown up as an American for my whole life. I was used to feeling at home wherever I went. This label may carry a negative connotation for some, but in my experience, foreigner just meant someone who is different, not a threat, just different. I began to take the stares and picture taking as a representation of the opening of the Chinese nation and their curiosity and willingness to experience life (and business) with those outside their borders.

At the moment I am the Managing Director of the Center for Sustainability Shanghai. So far I have been involved in the study abroad industry for about 3 years. In my previous job I was the business development manager for a company that specializes in providing high quality summer school for business and law schools. While working with them I also attended Tongji University on the United Nations Environment Program and Tongji University Master in Environment for Sustainable Development. After finalizing the master, together with some other professionals I founded the Center for Sustainability Shanghai with the motive of providing high impact summer schools and internship programs in China and ensuring the highest academic standards for international students and universities focusing on Sustainability.

I started my study abroad experience when I moved from Venezuela to the US to pursue my bachelors in economics when I was 17 years old. During my 5 years of University, I had the privilege to assist with a couple of study abroad opportunities in China and Turkey. In 2006 I came to China for the first time with a group of my University classmates. During this trip I was very impressed with the country and all it has to offer. One of our trips was the typical ferry down the Huangpu River in Shanghai. I remember very clearly the amazement I felt when cruising down the rive--I was able to see on one side, the magnificent statement modernization and prosperity of the Pudong New Financial area and on the other, the Romantic architecture of the 1930's on the Bund. That day I decided that one day I would make Shanghai my home.