My CONFUCIUS INSTITUTE 我 的 Story 孔 december 2019 子 学 CONFUCIUS INSTITUTE UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO 院

Confucius Institute 故 事

CI STORIES_21stcp_rev.indd 1 1/6/20 3:29 PM CONTENTS INTRODUCTION

BRUCE ACKER 1 Work at Confucius Institute Brings Professional Growth, Personal Rewards LORNA BERGNER 4 Bruce Acker

JAIVI CHANDOLA 9 Associate Director, University at Buffalo Confucius Institute

HEIDI SCHALBERG 11 My Confucius Institute story is, not surprisingly, fundamentally tied to my current position as associate director of the University at Buffalo ARTHUR STACHOWSKI 14 Confucius Institute, where our work is enormously rewarding, exceptionally interesting, and occasionally quite challenging. JOHN GUERNSEY 16 We often talk about the impact of the Confucius Institute in terms numbers of participants, and those numbers are definitely impressive. Since 2009, WANLY CHEN 19 more than 100,000 students, educators, and others at UB and in the Buffalo area have benefitted from participation in Confucius Institute language classes, scholarly activity, exchange programs, and cultural events. These JATSIA KRAMER CHEN 22 programs are engaging and empowering for the individuals involved and for our community as a whole. JACK DUDEK 24 Yet for me, the impact of the Confucius Institute LIAM GAVIN DELL 26 is most profound when I hear the stories of students BRIGID O’ROURKE 28 who have been inspired by participation in Confucius Institute programs to AVERY WHITE 30 make dramatic strides in language ability, learn new CHARLES NEWMAN 32 performance techniques, or gain new insights about China or about themselves HAYDEN BAUER 34 through study abroad or engagement locally with people of Chinese ANGELINA OLIVERA 36 heritage.

No part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed without the consent of the University at Buffalo Confucius Institute and the author (s). 1

CI STORIES_21stcp_rev.indd 2-3 1/6/20 3:29 PM In that light, it has been very gratifying to read and compile the current Through my involvement at the Confucius Institute, I have learned collection of essays. Some of the essays published here are by students who an enormous amount from many people about China, university were first introduced to China in a Confucius Institute class. Others were administration, and cross-cultural communication. Although I could find written by students with previous experience learning Chinese or working my way to the office each day, I would otherwise be quite lost in this work in China who came to the Confucius Institute to improve their language without the advice and guidance of the following people: from CNU, Deans skills or participate in study abroad programs. From students in elementary Xiaotian Liu, Mei Han and Lihua Wang and past and current UB Confucius school to university students to retired engineers and teachers, their life Institute associate directors Xiaopeng (Peggy) Du, Qiaomei (Maggie) Lu, experiences and involvement with the Confucius Institute reflect the very and Huadong (Mark) Yin; from the UB Office of International Education, broad spectrum of people who benefit from our work. Their stories are Vice Provost Emeritus Stephen Dunnett, Interim Vice Provost John Wood, representative of many others who have learned, performed, competed, Senior Associate Vice Provost Joe Hindrawan, and Associate Vice Provost traveled, or otherwise been engaged in Confucius Institute programs. Oscar Budde; and most importantly, at the Confucius Institute, past and current Confucius Institute Directors Kristin Stapleton, Jiyuan Yu, and My own CI story actually starts several years before I became an employee Zhiqiang Liu. of the Confucius Institute, not long after I came to UB in 2008 as assistant director of Asian Studies. Working with then-director of Asian Studies I hope you take time to read the following essays and get a sense of the Kristin Stapleton, I helped to prepare the proposal that resulted in the students’ enthusiasm for learning Chinese language, experiencing Chinese establishment of the UB Confucius Institute. In 2009, before UB had hired culture, and traveling in China. Despite the daily barrage of negative staff for the Confucius Institute, I was asked to attend the annual Confucius press about China and U.S.-China relations and undeniable problems, it’s Institute Global Conference in Beijing, an extraordinary experience for worthwhile and important to remember that learning Chinese is rewarding, a first-time traveler to China. Prior to the conference, I spent a few very studying Chinese history and society is fascinating, and experiencing China productive and pleasant days meeting and exploring Beijing with our and Chinese culture is exciting—no matter your age. Confucius Institute partners at Capital Normal University (CNU). The partnership with CNU has been a particularly gratifying part of my involvement with the Confucius Institute. From the very beginning, CNU deans, faculty and staff have been enormously helpful in implementing Confucius Institute programs, and in particular programs for Buffalo students and educators in China and for CNU student groups performing in Buffalo. The visiting professors from CNU who have come to UB under the auspices of the Confucius Institute have been exceptionally effective and supportive. Their advice about how things work in China and about what visiting Confucius Institute teachers are experiencing when they come to live and teach in the United States has been invaluable. On top of that, they are tremendously engaging, interesting, and friendly. We never run out of things to talk about. Each time I go to China, it seems like I come back with a new favorite city. Everywhere I travel, people are earnest, helpful, and hardworking; but each city has its own history, distinctive character, and unique traditions. China is far from monolithic. And when I travel to Beijing, I have a very familiar place to stay and wonderful people from CNU to greet me. I look forward to it eagerly each time!

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CI STORIES_21stcp_rev.indd 4-5 1/6/20 3:29 PM I arrived by train in Chongqing and stayed the first couple of nights in the Why China? apartment of an American woman I had met during my time in . She lived on campus of the university where she taught English. Her apartment Lorna Bergner was quite small, but she generously invited me to sleep on the living room Student, UB Confucius Institute Evening Class sofa until I could make better arrangements for accommodations. Because she tutored students in the evenings, she said that it would be best if I could stay out in the evenings until 10 o’clock or so. No problem, as I was eager to explore the city and meet the local people. “You are so brave!” said most of my friends in China. I would respond with My third day there, Monday morning, my friend went to work. I walked a quote from Alexander Pope, “Fools rush in where angels fear to tread”. alone and undaunted off campus into the noisy, crowded streets. There I Whether it was because of my bravery or foolishness, the past 11 years I was, shoulder to shoulder with hundreds, maybe thousands, of pedestrians spent in China have given me some of the most rewarding experiences and going about their business: going to work, going to school, selling fruits memories of my life. How did it all begin? and vegetables, cooking and eating in the streetside cafes, dodging traffic. About 12 years ago, my friend Jene, an American who had been living in The din of people and traffic competed with the music blaring from store China for many years, invited me to visit her in Zhuhai, a major port city on entrances beckoning us in to buy clothing, electronics, food. Everyone the southern coast of mainland China. I decided to combine that visit with seemed to be talking at once. I could not understand any of it. I could not attending a conference in Macau, just a few minutes walk across the border read the street signs or any of the signs that might give some indication from Zhuhai. After the conference, and after spending a week with Jene, of what I would find inside the stores and restaurants. Overwhelmed by several people invited me to visit them in other cities on the mainland. Why the sheer magnitude of the unfamiliar sights and sounds, I ran back to my not—after all I had eight weeks remaining on my visa? Actually, there were a couple of good reasons why not—I did not speak one word of Chinese and I did not have a well-thought-out plan. During the first few weeks, friends who I had met at the conference in Macau and who spoke both Chinese and English took me to their homes in various cities. I was immediately won over by the kindness, courtesy and consideration of all the Chinese people I met as I travelled from one place to another. During most of my adult life I had travelled extensively in Europe and the Americas (North, South and Central), but nothing had adequately prepared me for this new ancient culture. I was fascinated with all the sights, sounds, smells and emotions constantly bombarding my senses. I wanted to immerse myself more fully into their every day life, so I arranged to spend the last five weeks of my visa in one city, Chongqing. Some of my friends, both American and Chinese, exclaimed, “Why Chongqing? It’s dirty, crowded, noisy, and smoggy, and the weather is always bad.” Again, I thought “Why not?” What better place to learn about the Chinese culture than in a city that was not well-known to international visitors, that was considered to be a city that had not yet made it into the 21st century, and yet at the same time was one of the biggest cities in the world that was rapidly transitioning to one of the most modern and economically booming cities in China? Lorna Bergner with young friends in Chongqing

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CI STORIES_21stcp_rev.indd 6-7 1/6/20 3:29 PM friend’s apartment. I took a deep breath, I prayed, “Oh God, what am I but at the same time, I felt hesitant to accept his offer. After all, I was an doing here?” I calmed down and started to make a plan. My purpose here American and I could do things for myself, by myself. I replied, “No thank was to meet the people of Chongqing and get to know their customs and you, I’ll get the book myself.” He looked crestfallen, but recovered saying, their culture. With a vague goal of meeting people who might share my “Is there anything else I can do for you.” “Yes, as a matter of fact, there is. interests in the arts, in studying the Chinese language, and perhaps even I want to learn Chinese,” I blurted out. Almost jumping up and down with walking for health, I again ventured forth. joy, the gentleman said that he had a friend who spoke good English and was a Chinese teacher by profession. We exchanged phone numbers and A few minutes down the road I he promised to call me the next day so that I could meet her. He asked, “Is arrived at a major shopping center. there anything else I can do for you?” Brave or foolish, I replied, “I need to I stood there bewildered, looking find an inexpensive place to stay for the next five weeks.” Again, this kind around for anything that might person’s face radiated joy and kindness as he said, “I know a real estate help give me direction. I needed to agent who can help you. I will call you.” I thanked him profusely. find someone who spoke English. Suddenly I saw it, a sign in big letters Then he said, “Would you like to have dinner in my home tonight?” “Xinhua Book Store”. Surely, there Suddenly, my mother’s admonitions to me boomed loudly in my head, would be students there looking for “Don’t talk to strangers, and never go home with a strange man.” I smiled books in English. My exaggerated and said, “I’m sorry, but I’m busy tonight.” His smile disappeared, but gestures indicating opening a book recovering he said, “Never mind, another time. I will call you tomorrow.” and saying repeatedly, “English, And we said goodbye. English” caused the clerk to point The next day, Tuesday, I walked in a different direction, and met another me in the direction of the escalator friendly person who spoke a little English. My phone rang. It was Mr. which took me to the English book Huang, who said, “Where are you?” “I’m here,” I said. He said, “Come section. Yes indeed, there were quickly, your Chinese teacher is eager to meet you.” I had tea with them, some students there who were and made arrangements for my Chinese classes to begin. As we said eager to help me find the Chinese goodbye, Mr. Huang asked me, “Can you have dinner with me tonight?” classic “Journey to the West”. I, Again I replied, “So sorry, I am busy.” however, knew only the English title, while they only knew the Chinese The next day, Wednesday, I walked in a different direction, gradually getting title. I did not have a smart phone, to know the city and meeting new people. My phone rang. It was Mr. therefore no ability to go online to Huang. “Where are you?” he said. “I’m here,” I replied. He said, “Come get a translation. Just then, an older quickly. The real estate agent wants to show you some apartments.” After gentleman, who had been observing looking at the apartments, Mr. Huang said as we were saying goodbye, “Can my feeble attempts to make myself you have dinner with me tonight?” Yet again, I said, “So sorry I’m busy.” understood, politely introduced The next day, Thursday, I went exploring to another section of the city, himself. Mr. Huang asked in English trying not to get lost, and meeting more interesting people. Mr. Huang did if he could help me. “Yes!” I exclaimed, and told him the title of the book. not call. He checked with the store clerk, who told him that the book was available at their main branch in the central business district. He said, “I will get it for On Friday, I went with some new friends, two Chinese ladies, to spend the you.” day in a beautiful park in South Mountain. We enjoyed the fresh air and warm sunshine and admired the cherry blossoms everywhere. It was a This was my first encounter with a local Chinese person, on my own without lovely day for a picnic lunch. In the evening we returned to our respective the help of a translator. I was impressed by his generous offer of assistance, homes. However, it was only 7 o’clock and I couldn’t go back to my friend’s

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CI STORIES_21stcp_rev.indd 8-9 1/6/20 3:29 PM apartment until 10. I wandered aimlessly around the huge shopping area, which was even more crowded than ever before with people who were out My CI Story walking, shopping, listening to music and dancing. I was tired, feeling lonely Jaivi Chandola and isolated in this sea of Chinese-speaking people, and also a little hungry. Although there was a Pizza Hut and a MacDonald’s nearby, it was not my Tutoring Student, UB Confucius Institute custom to eat in those fast food places in America and I did not want to eat there in China. Then my phone rang.

Mr. Huang asked, “Are you busy?” I said, “No, not really.” He said I started to learn Mandarin in kindergarten and I loved learning Mandarin, excitedly, “Please come for dinner.” I said, “Okay”. We met at the Xinhua so my parents found the Confucius Institute (CI). I have been learning Book Store entrance and I followed him to his apartment nearby. I very Mandarin at the CI for about four years. I have so much fun and learn so cautiously stood in the doorway as he entered his large apartment and began much! pointing to the many paintings and calligraphy scrolls that hung on the walls. No one else was there, no delicious aromas came from the kitchen. I When I first started, I learned how to use Mandarin to say numbers, colors, was beginning to doubt the wisdom of accepting his invitation. He showed food, clothes, and so much more! Then I learned how to write characters me a book, pointed to a photograph of the artist featured in the book. He and radicals. I also watched Little Fox videos, which are short video stories was the artist. I stepped further inside his apartment to get a better view of in Mandarin, to help me learn children’s songs, Chinese vocabulary, and his beautiful paintings. My original impression was confirmed. No one else characters too. I studied in the summer and during the spring and winter was there. What was going to happen next? breaks. I went on to Level 2! Now I learned parts of the house, body parts, food items, family, school and so on. I could also converse in Mandarin. 你 Mr. Huang said, “Now, let’s have dinner.” He led me down the hall to a neighbor’s apartment. We were warmly greeted by a mother, her fifteen- year-old daughter, 10-year-old son and several other family members and friends. A bountiful feast of Chinese food had been prepared for their foreign guest. The young girl, Tina, sat beside me the whole evening, both of us immediately forging a bond that went beyond words. She called me granny. Later that evening, when I said that it was time for me to return to my friend’s apartment, her mother handed me a key and said, “We don’t know anything about you or why you are here in China, but we think you are a good person. We want you to stay with us for the remainder of your visit.” During the next several weeks, which was during Spring Festival and the whole family was on holiday, I was taken to their hometown in Province and included in every family gathering and visits with friends. Are you not surprised that, by the end of those few weeks, my heart was completely won over and I knew that as soon as possible I wanted to return to Chongqing. Still without a definite plan as to how I would achieve that dream, within three months I went back to China. I hope in the future I can share with you a few stories about my life in Chongqing during the following 11 years.

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CI STORIES_21stcp_rev.indd 10-11 1/6/20 3:29 PM 好, 我叫Jaivi! 你叫什么名字? 我是美国人， 你呢? (Hello, I am Jaivi! What is your name? I am American. How about you?) Then, when I was 8, I reached My Confucius Institute Story Level 3! My Mandarin was really improving. Schalberg Christmas came and my teacher (Guo laoshi) gave me a present: a calligraphy set! Inside the golden case with intricately embroidered patterns Student, UB Confucius Institute Evening Class were: one carved black stick (墨), a shiny white bowl with blue patterns to keep the water in, a white and blue calligraphy brush holder, a gray stone plate with a lid to mix the ink in (砚), and four calligraphy brushes (笔) with I will always remember my time spent at the University at Buffalo Confucius handles the color of polished rosewood. Guo laoshi taught me how to mix Institute. The programs and events I participated in have had and continue the ink by grinding the ink (墨) onto the inkstone (砚) and pouring a little to have a meaningful impact that cannot be found elsewhere. I will forever water on. Next, she gave me a packet with some crinkly yellow rice paper be a different person because of this community of people I have found. My (纸), a mat with spiral patterns on it, an accordion-folded paper with lots of knowledge of China and its language has increased, but I have also enjoyed characters on it, and a felt pad (毛毡). She helped me write some characters learning about Chinese customs and culture. I wish I started sooner. on the paper which we put on top of the felt pad so that the ink would not In September of 2016, I was 12 years old and starting off 7th grade. Like bleed on the table. any kid, I was trying to find my place and who I was. I wasn’t athletic, and I could have said 谢谢 (thanks) forever! But what’s the point of doing all I’ve always had difficulty finding activities I enjoyed. I tried Girl Scouts, 4H, this at the CI? Without the CI, I would never have had such an amazing and club after club but I felt I didn’t fit in anywhere. My pool of friends was and supportive teacher, or this learning community. I would never have small due to my introverted love of staying in my room and reading. I started borrowed books from the towering bookshelves at the CI. Being part of taking Spanish in school, yet it was too early in the year to know if I really this community has led me to sing at the annual CI Day/ Moon Festival enjoyed it. I just wanted to find some extracurricular activity that I enjoyed. celebration and participate in lots of Chinese festivals. I have gone to the Lantern Festival and learned about many different traditions. I made a lucky knot, played 古筝 (guzheng, a Chinese zither), listened to Chinese music, and puzzled over riddles. But the Moon Festival was the best. I wore a special red dress (the Chinese color of happiness) and wore gold shoes (the Chinese color of wealth). I tried different foods, and listened to instruments and saw dances. I also spun a handkerchief on one finger. I could do it pretty well! Then, I had to go up front. The music came on, and I started to sing. I made everyone laugh with my movements, and at the end, there was lots of applause! It was a very special experience, and I would never have experienced it without the CI’s help. Some people think Chinese is hard, but it’s really not, if you try. Learning with the CI is very fun, too! I am very glad that I go to the CI and get to experience many Chinese traditions and festivals. I’m glad that the CI taught me Chinese, because this summer, I am going to China! I’m excited to visit 长城 (the Great Wall) because I made a model of it! I want to use my Chinese to talk with the people there too.

谢谢你, thank you, CI! Heidi Schalberg, in light blue hoodie, center, with classmates and teachers at the Confucius Institute

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CI STORIES_21stcp_rev.indd 12-13 1/6/20 3:29 PM I will never forget my mother proposing the idea of taking Mandarin. We The best part of the Confucius Institute is the impact it had on me at school were sitting at the dinner table when my mother discussed that she had been and at home. I had something to talk about with other kids and my teachers searching on the internet that day for something that I could participate realized that I was a student who loved learning. Years later kids still come in. Call it fate, luck, God, whatever you’d like, but what she found changed up to me in class and ask me to say something in Mandarin. I stood out as my life, and I will always be thankful. She discovered Mandarin Classes at the kid who was studying Chinese in college. My family members are proud the University at Buffalo every Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. Even though the of how far I have come along and have encouraged me to try my best at semester already began, only one class had passed and the director whom everything I do. "Thank you" and "You’re welcome" in Mandarin continue my mother talked to said I could easily catch up. I was always interested in to be used in my household to this day. Chinese culture and I figured that the Confucius Institute was a great place It was also entertaining to find out different facts in class about Chinese to start. culture, like how you should never write someone’s name in red. No matter I was glad that the class was for beginners because the only words I knew what, my professor would never write a student’s name in red. I enjoyed were “hello”, “thank you”, and “grandpa”. But my professor, Wen Guo, was learning about how there were places bigger than where I lived. Everyone kind, smart, and great at catering to the needs of her students. If I needed knows that the earth is large, but you don’t truly know how large it is until help, she would be willing to tutor me on the side or meet with me before you learn about another country and the people who live there. class to catch me up with the material. My professor had mastered two Even though my HSK and years of practice will probably only end up on a difficult languages and knew every word from Coca-Cola to tiramisu. resume, I have no regrets. On my first day of class, we listened to a song in However, my professor was not the only person I learned from at Confucius Chinese where someone sang about how their Mandarin wasn’t very good, Institute. There was an array of people and it was enjoyable to learn about but they were trying. I think everyone should at least try to learn a different the backgrounds and journeys of my classmates. I had never been to China, language and visit that country. You don't have to be fluent, just try your but it was fascinating to learn their opinion of the country. It taught me best. I am nowhere near perfect at speaking Mandarin, but after 3 years of that anyone can learn a language, no matter what age or stage of life. The class, I learned that I don't have to be. If I go to China and show an effort in classroom was small, yet cozy, and though I was worried about speaking in their language, they will try and help me find my way. This may come as a class, I felt comfortable. shock, but I do plan to go to China someday. I will never forget the first sentence I memorized in Chinese. It was“Hěn gāoxìng jiàn dào nǐ”, which means “Happy to meet you.” I remember waking up one day and I couldn’t stop repeating this sentence to myself. However, at the time, I had no idea what this phrase meant. Even though I have learned so much through the years, I have made myself never forget “Happy to meet you” because, at such a young age, I found out what my brain could do. I have continued to take classes for the next three years, enjoying every moment. In my second year of taking Mandarin, I decided to take the HSK exam. I doubted my abilities but studied and took my HSK in December of 2017. After receiving news in January that I had passed the HSK, I felt accomplished and I had proof. Maybe I didn’t receive any sports trophies as a child, but I have this, and I am proud of it.

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CI STORIES_21stcp_rev.indd 14-15 1/6/20 3:29 PM structures, The Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, and Forbidden City, are My CI Story breathtaking (in the case of The Great Wall I mean more than visually). The local cuisine, Beijing Duck and Hot Pot were very tasty, however great meals Arthur Stachowski are more dependent on whom they are shared with than the food served. Student, UB Confucius Institute Evening Class The meals were excellent. One evening at a company-sponsored dinner, seated around the table were people from China, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Hungary, and the United States; that is something I would have never experienced had I not visited China. Exposure to Chinese language, culture and people came to me later in life. Shopping, the art of the haggle (negotiated pricing): my instructions were Having retained employment with an international company having Chinese “Do not pay attention to the marked price.” My guide did the negotiations ownership, at 58 years of age my education of all things Chinese began. and he thoroughly enjoyed the process. Walking the streets, pedestrians Shanghai, China 2010: my first steps on Chinese soil or in any other foreign (complete strangers) would want to practice their English and take pictures country (Canada excluded). My traveling companion, Tony Wang, was with me. Tony was correct, the feeling of isolation did not last but was waiting on the other side of the wall at the arrival terminal of the Shanghai replaced with a feeling of inadequacy, since all of my hosts could speak at airport. I had never been through immigration or customs screening before, least some English and I could speak but a friendly face was on the other side of that wall and there was no zero Chinese. turning back now. Not liking the feeling of being Tony and I ate lunch at the airport, as we had spare time before boarding unprepared, enter the Confucius the subway to the train station. We were headed to Nanjing to visit suppliers. Institute. With the same spirit with Tony attempted to explain that the people I was going to meet are going which I was welcomed to China, the to look different (they will have a different physical appearance), they will Confucius Institute received me. The speak a different language, the foods I would be served will be different and administrators and instructors have I may feel isolated at times, but the feeling will pass. demonstrated excellent knowledge In the fall of 2010, my job took of the subject matter and are eager me to the company’s location in to share that knowledge with my China. I knew the product, the classmates and me. My classmates problems, manufacturing, and are a diverse group including high how to read part drawings, but I school students, college professors, was not prepared for this first trip lawyers, business owners, preschool to China. I lacked knowledge of teachers, architects, and retired the country’s history and culture individuals. You not only learn Art Stachowski, right, enjoys a meal in Beijing and language; I did not know from the instructor but from your how to say (in Mandarin): hello, classmates as well, as they share their life experiences. Never a good student, goodbye, please, thank you, or ask my involvement with the Confucius Institute has made me want to be a where the bathroom was. better student. While the primary purpose of my I am now retired, and the advice given to retirees (or would be retirees) is: trip to China was business, my stay active (travel, study a language), associate with people of all ages (if you hosts insisted this visit include an only associate with old people, you will get old), establish a routine where you are scheduled to be a certain place at a certain time, and set goals of orientation to China. The physical Art Stachowski enjoys a moment in class, Beijing, summer 2018 things to accomplish. My association with the Confucius Institute fills this prescription, to quote a Chinese proverb; Xué wú zhǐ jìng (学无止境).

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CI STORIES_21stcp_rev.indd 16-17 1/6/20 3:29 PM Before I knew it, it was How The Confucius Institute Impacts A July 5th and I was on my way to Beijing. After a Non-Traditional Student missed flight connection, John Guernsey five plane rides and 36 hours, I was in Beijing: Tutoring Student, Binghamton University Confucius Institute excited, nervous and tired. After a shuttle ride to Capital Normal University, Age is not a factor in language learning. I am an average man and education it was time for my first was always difficult for me. I am well-spoken and present myself well, China adventure. Several however, I read poorly and struggle with spelling. With these challenges, of my classmates and I why would I choose to learn Chinese in my mid-forties? Simply because I went to buy dinner. After a can. lot of pointing and broken Chinese, I had my first Recently I had the privilege to travel with the Confucius Institute to Beijing delicious Chinese meal. for a two-week cultural and language study program. What an incredible Monday started with the mid-life experience I was about to embark on. I had studied on my own opening ceremony, then for three years with minimal success when I decided it was time to see if off for a placement test. I my Chinese studies were a reasonable venture. After speaking with the only answered two or three John Guernsey in Beijing, Summer 2019 Confucius Institute at Binghamton University, I attended Chinese 103, The questions and knew this Heritage Learner Class. Mind you, I am a 49-year-old white male with no Asian heritage. The students accepted me as a peer in the classroom and my would be an adventure. Obviously, language began to improve. I was invited to Project Pengyou (Project Friend) I was placed in level one, but I felt and made more Chinese friends. I still have a language partner from this that fit. My classmates again saw meeting and I am proud to call her my friend. After completion of Chinese no age barrier and I participated 103, I had improved a great deal, but I was not ready to move to the next along with them. Every day was class level. Managing a career, family, and completing my obligations at another challenge in the class with home once again slowed my progress. a reward of a sightseeing trip in In April I received an e-mail saying I qualified to join the Confucius Institute the afternoon. Buying breakfast, at the University at Buffalo for a two-week trip to Beijing in July. I instantly lunch and dinner quickly gave me said I cannot go, but my daughters said, “What would you tell us to do?” I confidence in my ability to survive. replied, “I would say figure it out. You don't want to miss an opportunity.” We visited Tiananmen Square, I wrote a letter to the University at Buffalo Confucius Institute and was The Forbidden City, The Summer accepted to attend. I got my passport, visa, and air travel booked and with a Palace, The Temple of Heaven, renewed excitement I began to study Chinese any way I could. No Chinese bought subway tickets, rode friend was safe. At the Chinese restaurant, I practiced ordering and paying subways and trains. I was in China! in Mandarin. At work, my Chinese friends gave me English words and I It is still surreal when I reflect. We would give them the Chinese equivalent for that word. At home, I watched watched the Chinese people living YouTube, Chinese Videos and Vlogs. life no different than us. Yes, the

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CI STORIES_21stcp_rev.indd 18-19 1/6/20 3:29 PM culture is very diverse and different, but you see people just trying to have a happy, productive life. I witnessed kids playing soccer and basketball, The Road to China parents and grandparents spending time with children, drivers driving, Wanly Chen cooks cooking, and teachers teaching. I saw young people heading to school and work, bought tea from teenagers and clay pottery from old men. UB Alum; Subsequent Bachelor’s Student in Teaching Chinese as The Confucius Institute had given me an opportunity to see China a Foreign Language, Capital Normal University unfiltered. They gave me classes to improve my language skills, arranged tours for cultural exposure and gave me free time to observe and interact at a very real level. I would love to tell all about how being on the Great Wall changed me in a profound way, but the reality is the profound influence was A college elective changed my life. a culmination of all my experiences. As unbelievable as that may sound, it is surprisingly true. After years and Two hundred miles an hour on a train is awesome, but so is climbing a trail years of avoiding learning Chinese, I was finally obligated to take Chinese at Xiangshan Mountain to see Beijing light up at night, seeing Shanghai through UB’s language requirement, five days a week at 8:30 a.m. Between glowing and full of vibrant life, then walking through a garden that is almost my parents and me, it was clear who was more overjoyed. 600 years old. I was lucky, however, that my first Chinese class was with Professor . This trip gave me exposure few people get to have. I was not a tourist Professor Tian’s witty humor gave me a warm welcome to the Chinese fumbling to communicate and struggling to enjoy, nor was I a businessman language. From the first few days, I knew the class would run differently bouncing between meetings and hotels tired and frustrated with a clear than most classes I have taken. For starters, there was no PowerPoint. It goal. I was there as a guest with the sole purpose of experiencing China at wasn’t a professor and lecture combination, but rather a teacher holding its fullest. I intend to return to China to widen my exposure. I still study the a discussion with his students. Professor Tian talked to us as he would language with varying success, but truly enjoy my language journey. in natural conversation and my favorite lessons were when he taught us

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CI STORIES_21stcp_rev.indd 20-21 1/6/20 3:29 PM through storytelling, sneaking in grammar points and new vocabulary to As classmates, Bruce and I bonded over our struggles with learning the make it easier for us to remember. To this day, I still remember his story of language: why do we have to say this with a r (儿) ending; when, where and jiao zi (饺子), the story of a dumpling pronunciation gone wrong (and ergo, why do we add le (了); what are the differences between de (的), de (得), and the importance of tones). de (地)? Our frustrations were never-ending, but our efforts were not in vain. As time passed, Bruce and I would return from class and see the institute Professor Tian also encouraged us to befriend one another and use each differently. We found we were able to read and pronounce characters that other as personal language buddies. This, along with the shared agony of were once foreign to us, and we slowly began to understand bits and pieces the heavy workload, created a special connection between us students as we of conversations that were once strange to our ears. continued with our studies. It was also by chance that I would be in the same class as the Confucius Institute’s associate director, Bruce Acker. My internship with the institute was timed well with the beginning of my Chinese language courses. The institute held events and lectures throughout the academic year for the Buffalo and UB community, of which I attended many. It was difficult to celebrate holidays like Mid-Autumn Festival and with my family in New York City, but I was fortunate enough to celebrate them with the institute instead. With the time I spent at the institute, I was increasingly intrigued by the frequently heard term “HSK exam.” I knew it was a scholarship opportunity to go to China, but I did not take interest in it until my final year at Buffalo. It wasn’t too late, but my timeframe was narrow: in less than a year, I had to pass the HSK exam with qualifying marks to apply to colleges in China. It was a demanding year, but with the assistance of those from the Confucius Institute, I was awarded a four-year scholarship in the Chinese Language Bachelor program at Capital Normal University in Beijing, China. And here I am, nearly two years later, writing this very essay in Beijing. In my time here, I celebrated old holidays in new surroundings, bravely tasted some of China’s infamous dishes and adopted new methods of payment (WeChat and AliPay). Studying in China not only gave me an opportunity to continue learning Chinese, but a chance to ru xiang sui su (入乡随俗), live as the locals do. As I reflect on this opportunity, I know I could not have done it alone. I’m grateful to call the Chinese community in Buffalo “home” and I am especially thankful for Professor, Professor Tian, and Mark Yin and Bruce from the Confucius Institute. Without their guidance and encouragement, this opportunity would have only been a dream. I, of course, also have to thank UB as well. Because without their year-long language requirement, none of this would have come to be.

Wanly Chen, left, at the Temple of Heaven

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CI STORIES_21stcp_rev.indd 22-23 1/6/20 3:29 PM to communicate with my patients in their native language if I can. I feel Experiences from the Summer 2019 incredibly determined to study hard and practice my language skills more so that I can improve. Going to formal Chinese classes every day, in which Confucius Institute Program at Capital there was an equally strong emphasis on writing and speaking, I realized just how much I enjoy character writing (even if I’m still really slow at writing it) Normal University, Beijing and how much I’d like to improve on that end, as well. Jatsia Kramer Chen This was my first trip traveling on my own, and while it was nerve-wracking at first, I quickly became more confident and excited by the experience. University at Buffalo Sophomore; Student, Confucius Institute I made really great friends on the trip, and we were able to bond as we Evening Class sweated like crazy hiking in Fragrant Hills and the Great Wall. We were able to plan our own trips to places like the Beijing 2008 Olympic Bird’s Nest Stadium and Fragrant Hills. Along with that, our group was able to visit all kinds of places together, as well as experience family-style dining at restaurants, where we enjoyed authentic Chinese cuisine, together. The experience still feels so surreal—to be able to say that I’ve been to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City in Beijing and went to the Bund and Oriental Pearl Tower in Shanghai is insane! And the more I explored these cities, the more I realized how much I’d like to return to not only practice my language skills, but also to explore other cities in China, along with the history embedded in them. And at every site we visited, I met locals and other travelers alike. It made me realize just how incredible it is to be able to connect with people across the world and learn about their culture the way I did on this trip.

Whenever someone has asked me how my trip to China was, I always reply with, “Amazing.” But honestly, I feel as though that word doesn’t encompass the feelings and the experience I was able to have visiting Beijing and Shanghai. On an academic level, it was an invaluable experience being able to not only attend Capital Normal University in Beijing, but also to interact with locals daily, forcing me to utilize the Mandarin that I was learning and truly test my recall in conversation. My conversational skills improved significantly, allowing me to expand my vocabulary and become a little more confident in my speaking ability. I was even able to bargain for souvenirs! Visiting China has only fueled my motivation to improve my Mandarin so that I can use it on a professional level. Working in the healthcare field, I’m likely to encounter people from all over, and I’d like to be able

Jatsia Kramer Chen in Beijing, Summer 2019

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CI STORIES_21stcp_rev.indd 24-25 1/6/20 3:29 PM front of audiences for four years in a row during Lunar New Year, and the A Reflection on Four Crucial Years speech contests allowed me to compete against other students and be ranked for my abilities and effort put into my speeches. Jack Dudek The last year at St. Joe’s learning Chinese was definitely the most important Alum, St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute; Student, Michigan State because of my college application process. I never thought of my learning University the language as something incredibly special because I was so used to it, but whenever I told somebody from a university I wanted to attend that I was a highly-ranked Chinese student for my age, their eyes would light up. For me, the Chinese language has opened so many doors to my future that People would tell me that it was too hard for them or that it must take me I don’t know where I would be without it. I was first introduced to the hours to learn, but for me, it’s just something that I really like doing. It has Confucius Institute in my freshman year of high school when I signed up for made me a more curious person about the world and the different people the Chinese language 1 class. living in it, it has given me a class that I enjoy coming to every day, and it During that entire year, I was the only student in my class, meaning that has built great relationships between me and my classmates and teachers. I had time to learn at my own pace and ask a lot of questions about the I greatly appreciate the Confucius Institute’s way of reaching out to its language and country. At the time, I didn’t know the long-term significance students and teachers to give the students more opportunities outside the that this seemingly small choice would have. classroom. Without Dr. and Mrs. ’s help, I would have never been In my sophomore year, I finally had a few classmates, albeit a small number able to perform in the Spring Festival Gala and the Chinese Bridge Speech of them. There were four of us in total in that Chinese 2 classroom, but contest. the small number again proved to be an advantage because it meant more My involvement with Chinese in high school has been more extensive than personal learning from the teacher, Dr. Wu. We even went out to a hotpot any other class, and it’s something that I will always value as something restaurant and sang karaoke together as a class. more than just knowledge to be used in school. It was during this year that I started seriously considering using Chinese even after high school and college. I still didn’t know what I wanted to study at university, but I had an aptitude for learning Chinese, unlike any other language I had previously tried to learn. A lot of the speech and reading came naturally to me, and I enjoyed being able to see how much I was able to learn over time. The Confucius Institute at UB invited me to participate in things such as the Spring Festival Gala and the Chinese Bridge Speech contest, which allowed me to see how many more students there were like me in the Buffalo area who were also interested in the Jack Dudek performs at Chinese New Year on the Chinese language and culture. mainstage theater, UB Center for the Arts I had a lot of fun performing in Jack Dudek receives the Award for Excellence in Chinese Language Learning at the Confucius Institute in 2017

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CI STORIES_21stcp_rev.indd 26-27 1/6/20 3:29 PM My CI Story by Liam Gavin Dell 11th grade student, City Honors School

The Confucius Institute at the In addition to funding Chinese language programs in local schools, the University of Buffalo has had a Confucius Institute also benefits individual students through competitions very positive impact on my life and the community through the annual Chinese New Year celebration. in recent years. Through both Earlier this year, my Chinese teacher offered the opportunity to send a their funding of local schools and couple of selected students to compete in a local Chinese speech writing and their numerous opportunities reciting competition through the Confucius Institute. I had the privilege of for involvement in competitions being one of these students. In addition to having to write and practice my and celebrations, the Confucius speech, I also decided to learn a Chinese song on piano as an additional Institute has enhanced the performance for the competition. This preparation was very time consuming community around it. My school, and in some cases difficult, however it certainly paid off in both improving my teachers, my peers, and my Chinese ability and being awarded the third place position. especially me are all very grateful As one of the winners, I was then given the opportunity to be officially for the generosity and commitment recognized at the annual Chinese New Year celebration. I was honored and of the Confucius Institute. humbled to introduce myself to an impressive audience alongside other A couple of years ago, the school hard-working students. At this same ceremony, I appeared on stage again that I attend, City Honors, when our Chinese class performed the song 让我们荡起双桨. Our class also became a “Confucius Classroom” Liam Dell at the Chinese Bridge Speech Contest, performed the previous year with another classic Chinese song. Learning and received funds from the February 2019 the song gave my classmates and me an increased appreciation for Chinese Confucius Institute to support and music and culture and improved our language abilities. While I was not on enhance our Chinese program. stage, our Chinese class watched the rest of the ceremony, and we were awed We celebrated this event with a fantastic assembly that placed a focus by the wide range of fantastic performances, most of them from members on Chinese culture, with numerous performances and demonstrations, of the community. I am incredibly happy to have been able to attend this including dragon dancing, martial arts, and classical music. My own middle fantastic celebration, and it is clear that the large audience felt the same. school Chinese class took part in the assembly through our singing of 我和 Since I made the decision to study Chinese at City Honors School, my 你. Since then, that money has been used to fashion an incredible learning life has continuously been enhanced by the generosity and opportunities experience for the students taking the classes, as well as fund special events provided by the Confucius Institute at the University of Buffalo. Through during which performers visit our school and display their talents. their funding of local schools, organizing of Chinese learning competitions, The Chinese education that my peers and I are receiving at City Honors and fantastic celebrations, they have enabled me to take initiative in my own School is preparing us to take important high school examinations, study of a fabulous language and culture, increasing my skills and receiving especially the IB exam, which has the possibility of counting towards college recognition for my accomplishments. I feel inspired and confident in future credit. In addition, our high school language education would launch us into examinations and learning of Chinese, in large part due to the contributions college with inspiration to continue learning Chinese well into our lives. of the Confucius Institute.

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CI STORIES_21stcp_rev.indd 28-29 1/6/20 3:29 PM because it was honestly one of my greatest academic accomplishments and My CI Story made me feel a lot more confident in my Mandarin skills. Brigid O’Rourke The best part of the entire competition was being invited to go on stage and be recognized for my accomplishments during UB’s Chinese New Year 10th grade student, City Honors School celebration. It was so cool to be a part of such a huge celebration, and being able to see in person all of the different dances and cultural performances that I had never seen before in real life. In addition to going on stage, there 您好! My name is Brigid O’Rourke and I am a tenth grader at City Honors was also a brief ceremony for everyone that came in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place School. In February 2019, I competed in a Mandarin speech contest for for the speech competition. I was given a $50 gift card to Barnes and Noble UB’s Confucius Institute, and came in first place for my Level 1 speech. for coming in first place. When I first heard about this speech competition from my Chinese teacher, After the speech competition, I started having a lot more confidence in my I thought it would be a really cool opportunity, a great way to strengthen my Chinese class. I was no longer afraid of raising my hand to answer a question Mandarin skills, and it would look good to colleges. or helping my classmates out. I am so grateful to have participated in the To prepare for the speech competition I had to write and memorize my UB Confucius Institutes speech competition; it has affected me in many speech, as well as going over how to pronounce each character and tone. To positive ways. My Mandarin has improved so much since the competition do so I would go over one new sentence every day and progressively increase and I cannot wait until I have another opportunity to participate with the the amount of sentences I was memorizing. I would also practice with my UB Confucius Institute. Chinese teacher the accuracy of my pronunciation of each character during homeroom. During winter break I would practice my speech over the phone with my Chinese teacher for an hour. My mom would test me too by having me recite my speech while she looked on, and if I forgot something or messed up the sentence structure, I would make sure to go over that part of my speech more thoroughly. During the school day, in between classes I would do the same thing but with my friends, which made it more fun. When it came time to present my speech in front of the judges I was very nervous but confident because of how much I had been practicing. When I got on stage I remember my voice was shaky, and I couldn’t stop swaying side to side because I was so nervous. It was very intimidating, being in front of a panel of judges who all speak Chinese better than I could ever dream of speaking, and when they asked me questions after my speech I could hardly focus on what they were saying because of my nerves, so I had to ask them to repeat the question each time. I remembered all of my speech and was able to answer, or at least respond, to most of the judges’ questions. When I received a text message from my Chinese teacher notifying me that I had won the competition, I was overcome with pride and disbelief. All I could think about was going home and telling my parents that I won, Brigid O’Rourke with fellow awardees from City Honors School. l-r: Avery White, teacher Shue Zheng, Brigid O’Rourke, Julia Penchaszadeh Robert, Eliot Solomon

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CI STORIES_21stcp_rev.indd 30-31 1/6/20 3:29 PM Then I had to spend some time memorizing my speech, which was quite My CI Story difficult, but as time went on and I practiced consistently, it became much easier. I would meet with my Chinese teacher, who was extremely patient Avery White with me, almost every day before school for about a month in order to work 10th grade student, City Honors School on my pronunciation and clarity when reading. I also made sure to review my speech after school or whenever else I had the time. During a week of regents exam testing, I did not have school, but my teacher My name is Avery White and I am in tenth grade at City Honors School. and I set up a time to meet so that we could continue to perfect my speech. I have been taking Mandarin Chinese classes since the fall of 2014, when And during the following week, we had two snow days, making it hard to I was in fifth grade. When I stepped into the Chinese classroom for the drive around, so we spoke on the phone for around an hour on both days. first time, I was instantly intrigued, and I have really loved learning and This time was very useful and helped me to gain confidence in my ability to practicing Mandarin ever since. recite my speech and to answer any questions that the judges were going to ask me in Chinese. On the day of the contest, I was very nervous, and I remember barely being able to sleep the night before. When I woke up that morning, I felt as if there were butterflies in my stomach, and when I learned that I was going to be the first one to recite my speech, the feeling became even more intense. When I walked onto the stage, I thought that my heart was going to pound right out of my chest. In my head I was telling myself to pronounce each word correctly, and I tried my very best to do so. But I knew that I had to trust all of my practice and that I would be fine. As I finished answering the judges' questions, a sense of relief came over me, and I was pleased with the way that I had performed. I received second place and was then invited to take part in the Chinese New Year celebration at UB the next week. It was exciting to be able to go on the stage with the other participants and be recognized. I was also very amazed and enjoyed watching all of the different dances and acts that were performing that day. I couldn’t imagine executing a long routine like the ones I saw. Over the past few months, I have continued to look forward to Avery White receives award at the Confucius Institute for her accomplishments in the 2019 going to, and work hard in Chinese class every day. Chinese Bridge Speech Contest Finally, I would like to thank the Confucius Institute at UB for all of the work that they have done in order to provide not only me, but all of the This past February I had the chance to attend and compete in the other students learning Mandarin in Buffalo, with these new opportunities UBCI’s 2019 Chinese Bridge Speech Contest. In order to prepare for the to practice Chinese. This experience, in particular, allowed me to expand competition, I first had to write a brief article, or story, in Chinese about my horizons of the Chinese language and the culture as well. Throughout my life and how I use the language. I wrote about my family’s Christmas the next couple of years, I hope to be able to partake in other events and this past year, and the activities that we did each day, including ice skating, competitions held by UBCI because I have greatly appreciated the way that playing tennis, and eating lunch. they have helped me to grow as a student. 谢谢!

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CI STORIES_21stcp_rev.indd 32-33 1/6/20 3:29 PM My Time in Chinese After dinner we decided to go to sing to our hearts content. We had fun Charles Newman performing some of our favorite American and Chinese songs for our audience full of laughing, joyful faces. 12th grade Student, Nichols School After we decided it was curtains on the evening, we headed home. Allan, my host student, and I had to walk back to his house which was about an hour walk. I was tired but excited to I have taken Chinese for the entire time I have attended Nichols. Over the walk through this new city and years I have accumulated an extraordinary amount of stories, whether it really start to comprehend this be in class or on a class trip. One factor many of my anecdotes share is that new urban hub I was in. The they involve food. My first time trying walk was delightful. hot pot was certainly one of them. In 8th Besides food, one of my favorite grade, we took a field trip to a karaoke Chinese class memories was hot pot restaurant on Sheridan Drive in learning a song by a Chinese Amherst, NY. The whole class went and pop singer and choreographing was able to experience hot pot. We sat at a a dance to perform in front Lazy Suzan-style table with boiling oil in of the student body to help the middle. We ate the variety of different foods that were brought to us that we cooked in the oil. I enjoyed the food and sang some songs in Chinese that I mostly mumbled through. It was nice to be submerged in the culture celebrate Chinese New Year. This of hot pot before experiencing the most pushed me outside my comfort authentic hot pot you can get, in China of zone, but it was certainly worth course. The hot pot meal we had on the it. Chinese class has always been exchange trip to Wuhan is still one of my a constant in my life, and I have favorite meals and stories of all time. This gotten the opportunity to try new meal involved hot pot and karaoke too, but exciting things, such as touring the in a very different chain of events. Royal Ontario Museum Chinese Charles Newman (back left) in Wuhan After the school day had ended and schools with Chinese and American friends culture section. It was a fantastic around China had finally reached the weekend after a long, grueling week combination of both cultural of school, we had a chance to go out and experience the city. Many of my immersion and fun with my fellow Nichols friends attended the dinner with the kids whose families were classmates. We also consumed a gracious enough to host us in their homes. There were about eleven of us delicious meal at a large Chinese buffet-style restaurant in Toronto’s China packed into a hot pot booth. The dinner involved great food, an electric Town. One of my more recent stories about Chinese class is learning to play atmosphere, and joyful company. Chinese chess. It was interesting to see how American chess and Chinese chess differ in many ways but also have the same basic concept.

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CI STORIES_21stcp_rev.indd 34-35 1/6/20 3:29 PM My Chinese Learning Experience Hayden Bauer 12th grade Student, Nichols School

Hayden Bauer (left) enjoys a meal in China I started learning Chinese at the Nichols Middle School in 5th grade. Chuck Our trip to China over this past summer was perhaps the best experience and I have been riding this wave since day one. We used to go to Chinatown I’ve had so far while learning Chinese. We got to visit many major cities every year to experience real Chinese culture. One year we bought a turtle at and attractions in China. Being able to go to school in China with all the the mall in Chinatown and tried to bring him home, but he died on the way students was amazing, because they all spoke Chinese, which forced us to back, sadly. R.I.P King Charles 2014. It was very useful to go to the mall also speak Chinese or try to understand them. If we couldn’t, it would have and eat at Chinese restaurants to better envelop ourselves in the real-world been much harder to communicate with them. culture. Going out with our students into actual Chinese life was also some of the We would sing songs in middle school as well, like Welcome to Beijing. most useful times when it comes to learning Chinese. Staying in hotels Freshman year we spent three months learning a song and dance that our by ourselves and having to interact with everyday people on our own entire class performed in front of the school. It was very entertaining. was extremely beneficial. It would have been hard to live if you couldn’t understand basic human interactions. I have loved learning Chinese up to this point and look forward to continuing learning more.

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CI STORIES_21stcp_rev.indd 36-37 1/6/20 3:29 PM Learning Chinese Angelina Olivera 9th grade student, Lewiston Porter High School

The Confucius Institute has had a very positive impact on my life. It has inspired me to keep moving forward, and to go above and beyond with my dreams. I have been learning Mandarin since third grade. That’s when my love for the language first started to bloom. I remember the first time I looked at the characters and heard a native speak in Chinese. From then on, I knew that I wanted to continue learning about China’s history, culture, and language. It wasn’t until sixth grade that I heard of the Confucius Institute. I absolutely adored the idea of it. Sixth grade was also the year that my Chinese speaking skills made a Jurassic improvement. Chinese was, and still is, my most valued class. The next year, my Angelina Olivera with her father (l), teacher Song Shuping, and Lewiston-Porter Superintendant Paul Casseri (r)） teacher gave me the opportunity to perform in the Chinese New I got to perform two songs; one by myself, and the other with my teacher. I Year performance for also performed a dance with a group. Little did I know that my teacher had our school. Every single chosen me to go to the University at Buffalo’s Chinese New Year celebration year, for as long as I as well! I was ecstatic to find out that I’d be receiving an award from the could remember, I’ve Confucius Institute! I couldn’t believe that I had been chosen, along with a always looked forward high school student, to receive it! Two students from the entire district, and I to seeing that show. I was one of them. At the ceremony, I made several new friends. had always hoped that, So, in all, not only has the Confucius Institute given me an award, but it has someday, I would be up shown me that achieving new things can lead to greater success in life. As of on that stage. I would be now, I plan on attending college at the University at Buffalo to major in both performing. And with business and Mandarin. I wouldn’t have been able to get where I am now this opportunity, my without the Confucius Institute. dream was set to become Angelina Olivera with Confucius a reality. Institute guest teacher Song Shuping

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CI STORIES_21stcp_rev.indd 38-39 1/6/20 3:29 PM The Confucius Institute at the University at Buffalo 布法罗大学孔子学院

UB Confucius Institute 520 Lee Entrance 113 UB Commons Buffalo, NY 14228

(716) 645-9090 [email protected] confuciusinstitute.buffalo.edu

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