Scholarship recipient Madeleine Harvey travels to China, gaining firsthand cultural and language experiences.
At the end of last year, Year 11 student Madeleine Harvey was awarded the Jay Acton Kiwi-Dragon Cultural Exchange Scholarship, recognising her achievement and commitment to Chinese language studies. The scholarship provides students with the opportunity to experience China firsthand.
During the Term 1 holiday break, Madeleine travelled to China alongside 12 other students from across Auckland, selected for this unique opportunity. The group visited four cities: Guangzhou, Shanghai, Suzhou and Beijing, each offering different perspectives on China’s history, culture and modern development.
Reflecting on her experience, Madeleine highlighted the impact of connecting with people: “I had many interactions with kind people in China which taught me more about the culture. If you said hello to somebody on the street, they would often wave and say hi back with a smile. It was fun seeing people shocked and impressed that we could speak Chinese, and we got to have some really nice conversations.”
The itinerary included visits to major landmarks such as the Forbidden City, the Great Wall of China, the Temple of Heaven, and Universal Studios Beijing. The group also visited the China Southern Airlines Training Base, gaining insight into the country’s aviation industry.
Students took part in a range of cultural activities, including traditional embroidery and round fan painting, and experienced modern innovations such as high-speed rail and self-driving technology. These experiences supported their classroom learning and deepened their understanding of Chinese culture.
Highlights of the trip included seeing the Shanghai skyline at night, exploring Tianzifang, visiting the gardens of Suzhou, and trying Peking duck in Beijing. Madeleine expressed her appreciation for the opportunity: “I’m so thankful to the CNSST Foundation for this once in a lifetime opportunity where I got to experience the rich history, culture, and technology that China has to offer.”
Madeleine’s experience reflects the value of language learning in creating real-world connections and broadening perspectives.
