Yuying "Rachel" Wang

Wang Yuying “Rachel” is from Kunming, China in the Yunnan Providence in Southwestern China. She is a third year accounting major with a minor in business administration. She would like to work for an American accounting firm in China.

In Kunming, she grew up with her brother and her parents. Rachel was born, despite the one-child policy in China, which was enacted in 1978. She said, “I was so happy to be born.” She was raised a Buddhist, but when she was young she began to hear things about Christianity and Jesus and she became intrigued. She found peace in being a practicing Christian, and it helped changed her outlook on life in a positive way.

Studying in the United States has been her dream for a long time. She said was attracted to the freedom Americans had and that, “America is very nice and very open to so many things.”
Rachel heard about Winona State from a former professor who attended the university, and helped her get into the school.

“I was so excited for America, I have dreamed about it for so long,” she said, “I remember that when I arrived at Minneapolis airport, I looked outside and saw the snow and the buildings I was so excited that my dream has come true, but at the same time I was so nervous.”

Rachel had learned English in high school, but she said that she was taught more about vocabulary and reading, but she failed to gain any communication or listening skills. “I could not understand when people speak when I arrived, but my English improved in three weeks of coming here,” she said. At first she was shy and had issues understanding and communicating with her professors. Rachel has commended the excellence of the Winona State faculty at their active involvement in helping her adjust.

Kunming, China

Yuying "Rachel" Wang

Kunming, China

Rachel has made a few American friends but is closer to her Chinese friends on campus. She said it was to difficult making friends with American’s because there were too many cultural and language barriers and many Americans stay with their own social circle. Rachel said, “I couldn’t feel like I belonged.” She noticed American students would often ignore her, but she thinks it is because these students are shy.

Rachel tries to make the first move as much as possible when communicating with Americans, but she would prefer to stay in her, “safe zone.” She said this is one of the main reasons Chinese students stay together on campus in their daily lives.

Rachel has been teased and laughed at by some American students on campus, and has felt harassed or pressured by one faculty member in particular. “I try not to treat it to seriously,” Rachel said.

After being in the United States for three years now Rachel expressed that she is upset with China about how she was taught to perceive America. “I felt everyday that I was brainwashed by my teachers, by my school, by my government about how good Communism is how bad capitalism is,” she said, “I’m lucky that I can come here and my eyes can be open to the reality.”