SDSU JMS students find lasting bonds in China

This past spring break, SDSU’s School of Journalism and Media Studies collaborated with the Communication University of Zhejiang (CUZ) in Hangzhou, China, to host a group of SDSU students for an intensive, faculty-led program. What started as a busy international trip quickly evolved into an experience defined by connections, cultural exchanges, and a deeper understanding of the world. 

Even weeks after the trip’s conclusion, third-year student Zoe Zarling stays in contact with one of the students she met while in China.

“The girl that was my buddy. It was really nice. I mean, she has still been texting me the whole time that I've been home,” Zarling said. “She got me a whole bunch of presents while we were there, and she took such good care of me.”

San Diego to Hangzhou

The journey began long before the group arrived in China. Students first boarded a charter bus from San Diego to LAX, marking the start of a long day of travel that took them across time zones and into a completely new environment. After a connecting international flight, they landed in Shanghai, jet-lagged but quickly immersed in the city's energy.

Upon their arrival, the students explored the pathways of Yuyuan Garden, experienced the vibrant crowds and neon lights of Nanjing Road, and watched the illuminated skyline along the Bund, a historic waterfront promenade. After a well-deserved night’s rest, the group set off the next morning for Hangzhou, home to the Communication University of Zhejiang, where they would be accommodated for the remainder of their stay in China.

A local tour guide accompanied the group throughout their trip. The guide provided historical context, translated conversations, and helped students navigate everything from transportation to cultural nuances. Over time, her guidance evolved into a sense of community, adding comfort in an otherwise unfamiliar place.

Each day was filled from morning to night, with early wake-up calls and packed schedules in order to maximize their time abroad. The students participated in campus visits, explored cultural sites, and took part in city outings. They toured CUZ's 4K esports lab and media facilities, enjoyed the luscious landscapes of West Lake, wandered through the charming canals of Wuzhen Water Town, and walked along the glowing lantern paths of Xixi National Wetland Park.  

The cultural experience encouraged students to step outside their routines and embrace something entirely new. 

Temple Northup, the Director of the School of Journalism and Media Studies, explained that the program builds on the success of a similar trip offered in 2025 and is designed to be both accessible and immersive for students.

“It went really well last year… and so I decided this would be a great trip that we can try to take every year,” Northup said.

Associate Professor Mei Zhong, who has been leading SDSU student programs in China for years and specializes in intercultural communication, said the trip was long in the making.

“This is a program for many years in the making,” Zhong said. “I first contacted them about 12, 13 years ago… we’ve been cultivating this relationship for all these years.”

What set this experience apart for students wasn’t just the itinerary; it was the people. The relationships formed along the way with guides, fellow students, and locals made it feel more personal than a typical study abroad program.

Students were paired with and supported by CUZ students throughout the trip, creating meaningful connections that extended far beyond the classroom or scheduled activities.

“I think that also really made it feel a lot more homey,” Zarling said. “If you're just going on a trip, you don't usually get to interact with that many people that truly live there… and I think that was a really special part of this trip.”

Northup added that one of the goals of the program is to push students beyond the classroom and into real-world, cross-cultural experiences.

“The more life experiences you have… especially with different people and cultures, the better you are as communicators,” Northup said.

Three cultures, one experience

Zhong emphasized that the program offered a rare opportunity for students to engage across multiple cultures at once. The connections made were further enriched by the participation of students from a French media school, fostering a three-way cultural exchange among American, Chinese, and French students.

“I feel that students got to experience that, not only with college students in China, but also from France. That's a rare opportunity,” Zhong said.

That sense of community became especially clear during one of the program’s final group activities, which included a sharing session, according to Northup.

“There was that moment… where they’re just playing music, and you have Chinese students, French students, and U.S. students—it’s like literally three continents just hanging out and having fun together,” Northup said. 

He said moments like that capture one of the program’s biggest takeaways.

“It just shows, you know, part of the goal is opening up. Especially for people who haven't traveled before, like this realization that people are actually way more alike and they are different,” Northup said.

Beyond cultural exchange, the trip also exposed students to differences in global media and technology.

“The apps that they use are very different than ours,” Zarling said. “They have WeChat and AliPay and all those other ones that we used that were so important to daily life that we don’t use here.”

For Zarling, this newfound perspective is broadening her view of her future and potential career paths in a global industry. Zarling explained that the experience expanded her understanding of future career opportunities and global collaboration.

“I think it made me realize just how big the world is,” Zarling said. “There are so many options… and so many people that you can work with around the world.”

Zhong said that kind of realization is exactly what programs like this are designed to spark.

“I think at the very least it’s eye-opening,” Zhong said. “This is perhaps very different from what you imagined China to be.”

She added that for some students, the experience goes even further.

“Some students told me that this experience is encouraging, that they now feel confident to travel the world,” Zhong said.

Northup said he hopes to continue expanding the program in the coming years, with plans to extend future trips and explore additional destinations. 

For students like Zarling, the program also offered a flexible alternative to a traditional semester abroad. As a transfer student who only has two years on campus, committing to a full semester abroad didn’t feel realistic.

“I didn’t want to have a whole semester abroad… but I did still want that well-rounded school experience in another country,” Zarling said. “This trip was perfect, because it was only, like, 2 weeks… and I could still get that feeling without having to be gone the full semester.”

Zarling added that the trip has inspired her to continue exploring the world after college. She encourages other students who might be hesitant about studying abroad to take the opportunity and go for it. 

“I would tell them to definitely go,” Zarling said. “That was an experience I’ll remember for the rest of my life… I’m so glad I did it.”