On August 29th, 2013, the nine of us NSLI-Y students paid a visit to Michelle Obama’s home - the White House -
during the Pre-Departure Orientation. Today, we actually met her at Beijing University, where she gave a speech
discussing the importance of studying abroad.
On Monday, our Resident Director came to our class to tell us we were invited to an event with Michelle Obama on
Saturday. We thought he was joking. The whole week up until today was filled with nervous anticipation. Yesterday,
we learned that two of us would have the opportunity to be apart of a smaller group of students discussing study
abroad and education in China with the First Lady. The day before the event, we all got ready (mentally and
appearance-wise) in the dorms.
We arrived at Beijing University’s Stanford Center around nine in the morning. The Stanford Center, by the way,
is an amazing building. The above ground building looks like a traditional Chinese house, with a offices surrounding
a courtyard. It is a single floor building... At least above ground. Underground, it is a massive, widespread building.
The room we were in, which you can see in my pictures below, was beautifully built and planned. I didn’t get to see
much of the underground area, but it was as well lit and refreshing-looking as any above-ground building.
As we waited for the speech to begin, we talked with the people around us. It seems as though we were the only
young, foreign high school students in the audience. The majority of other foreigners were either with the embassy,
or university students. We were placed in the third row... With only one row between where we were sitting and
where Michelle Obama was sitting. Before the speech, we took the chance to look at the names on the reserved
chairs, which included the president of Beijing University and the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The First Lady’s speech was a well written and well delivered address to support study abroad and citizen
diplomats. Listening to her speak made me realize that, well, to put it simply, she’s human. Sometimes, it’s
easy to forget that the people we see on TV, or hear about in the news, started out like us, and, for the most part,
are still like us “normal people.” You can read her speech here: http://language.chinadaily.com.cn/portal.php?mod=view&aid=204057
After the speeches were finished, the First Lady came down from the stage to greet the audience. As the lucky
students in the third row, we were one of the first groups of people she greeted. A very lucky one of us got the
chance to take a picture with her, and a total of five out of the nine of us got the chance to shake hands with her.
She was kind and down to earth as she greeted us.
I suppose, of all the people going in and out of China, we never expected to meet the First Lady. And, I suppose
I never expected to realize just how normal she was, as silly as that may sound. Today’s experience opened my
eyes to just how important study abroad is, and how representing our country doesn’t have to start when one
goes abroad, but can also start with a click of a button on the internet.
You can read more about Michelle Obama's visit here: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/03/21/michelle-beijing-china-visit/6685835/
during the Pre-Departure Orientation. Today, we actually met her at Beijing University, where she gave a speech
discussing the importance of studying abroad.
On Monday, our Resident Director came to our class to tell us we were invited to an event with Michelle Obama on
Saturday. We thought he was joking. The whole week up until today was filled with nervous anticipation. Yesterday,
we learned that two of us would have the opportunity to be apart of a smaller group of students discussing study
abroad and education in China with the First Lady. The day before the event, we all got ready (mentally and
appearance-wise) in the dorms.
We arrived at Beijing University’s Stanford Center around nine in the morning. The Stanford Center, by the way,
is an amazing building. The above ground building looks like a traditional Chinese house, with a offices surrounding
a courtyard. It is a single floor building... At least above ground. Underground, it is a massive, widespread building.
The room we were in, which you can see in my pictures below, was beautifully built and planned. I didn’t get to see
much of the underground area, but it was as well lit and refreshing-looking as any above-ground building.
As we waited for the speech to begin, we talked with the people around us. It seems as though we were the only
young, foreign high school students in the audience. The majority of other foreigners were either with the embassy,
or university students. We were placed in the third row... With only one row between where we were sitting and
where Michelle Obama was sitting. Before the speech, we took the chance to look at the names on the reserved
chairs, which included the president of Beijing University and the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The First Lady’s speech was a well written and well delivered address to support study abroad and citizen
diplomats. Listening to her speak made me realize that, well, to put it simply, she’s human. Sometimes, it’s
easy to forget that the people we see on TV, or hear about in the news, started out like us, and, for the most part,
are still like us “normal people.” You can read her speech here: http://language.chinadaily.com.cn/portal.php?mod=view&aid=204057
After the speeches were finished, the First Lady came down from the stage to greet the audience. As the lucky
students in the third row, we were one of the first groups of people she greeted. A very lucky one of us got the
chance to take a picture with her, and a total of five out of the nine of us got the chance to shake hands with her.
She was kind and down to earth as she greeted us.
I suppose, of all the people going in and out of China, we never expected to meet the First Lady. And, I suppose
I never expected to realize just how normal she was, as silly as that may sound. Today’s experience opened my
eyes to just how important study abroad is, and how representing our country doesn’t have to start when one
goes abroad, but can also start with a click of a button on the internet.
You can read more about Michelle Obama's visit here: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/03/21/michelle-beijing-china-visit/6685835/
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