BXAI

LEE Moongyung – Bai Xian Alumna, 2015 cohort; master’s degree in public administration, Tsinghua University.  Moongyung reflects back on how her Korean upbringing, combined with her AFLSP experience, have paved the way for a flourishing career in sustainable development.

Moongyung’s heart for the unheard and vulnerable was nurtured by her parents from a young age.  “During school holidays, my parents often brought my brother and me along with them to volunteer abroad, where we would take part in projects such as rebuilding houses in areas affected by severe climate change,” she reminisces.  “Seeing the poverty in these communities made me realize the privilege I enjoyed and how easy it is to take that for granted.  I wanted to bring positive change so I decided to pursue higher education in China.”

During her time in Beijing with the AFLSP, Moongyung not only enjoyed being immersed in Chinese culture and society, but also cherished the unique opportunities afforded her, such as the chance to contribute to a startup established by fellow Tsinghua students and compete in a startup pitch competition.  What she did not expect, however, was how her struggle with air pollution would prompt her to consider the relationship between economic prosperity and environmental protection, and its impact on human lives.  After graduation, her curiosity and interest in the topic led her to her current role at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, where she works as part of the energy efficiency and climate change team tasked to promote green finance and pursue sustainable economic growth in underdeveloped countries.  The job allows her to combine both her passions: sustainable development, and being a voice for the marginalized.  “My mission is to represent the underrepresented,” she says.  “I hope my contributions, small as they are, help make a difference in the lives of those who are often forgotten by society.”

In addition to her full-time work, Moongyung has also been actively involved in various social impact startups, including one that provides affordable medical care technology in China, another seeking to establish microfinance initiatives in South Asia, and most recently, a blockchain tech-based startup looking to increase the efficiency of e-government in South Asia.

Jimmy GAO – Bai Xian Alumnus, 2017 cohort; MBA, Hitotsubashi ICS.  Originally from Anhui province, China, Jimmy’s passion for exploring different cultures steered him to the AFLSP, which ultimately led him to his current job and a creative cross-cultural project.

Fascinated by Japanese culture from a young age, Jimmy was thrilled to be selected as a Bai Xian Scholar to study in Japan.  While pursuing his MBA at Hitotsubashi ICS alongside students from all around the world, Jimmy learned about the multifaceted differences between various countries and regions while forming lasting friendships with his peers.  His experience also inspired him to promote mutual understanding between Japan and his home country after graduation.

Today, Jimmy is an overseas marketing manager of a Japanese fashion retailer, and believes that his AFLSP experience has prepared him well for this role.  “I see differences as opportunities,” he says.  “My goal was to be a bridge to connect China and Japan, and my current job allows me to do that and more.”  Jimmy admits, however, that it has not been all plain sailing, adding that being a foreigner in Japan has its challenges.  “It takes some time to understand Japan’s unique work culture.  In terms of fitting in, I’ve found that learning Japanese and being respectful of the Japanese culture help immensely.”

As a Bai Xian Alumnus, Jimmy remains an active member of the Bai Xian community.  At the 2019 Summer Program, he volunteered to moderate the very popular career panel, interacting with scholars, alumni, and speakers, and reconnecting with old friends.  During the year, he enjoys organizing BXAI Alumni Association events in Tokyo to connect alumni with current students.  “I have gained so much from the AFLSP so I always want to find ways to give back,” he says.  “I love sharing with the scholars, meeting different people, and making new friends.”

Jimmy is also a part of Ethnic Neighborhoods, a social project that highlights immigrant communities and stories through creative video content to foster cross-cultural understanding.  The team won the Alumni Initiative Award in 2019.  “Living in Japan and contributing to this project have allowed me to see the divisions that still exist in our world today, and further awakened me to the importance of mutual understanding between cultures,” he says.

Kazuki MIYAZAKI – Bai Xian Scholar, 2018 cohort; master’s degree in international relations and politics, Yenching Academy of Peking University (YCA). Kazuki’s passion for sustainable peacebuilding in Asia led him to the AFLSP, which has empowered him to take concrete steps towards effecting positive, long-term change in the region.

After learning about “negative peace” (the absence of violence) in a peace studies class, Kazuki developed an interest in building sustainable peace in Asia, something that requires both negative peace and positive peace (tackling and preventing the root causes of conflict).  It comes as no surprise then, that BXAI’s mission – to build bridges across cultures – greatly resonated with him at the time, compelling him to pursue a master’s degree in China studies in Beijing.  “China is a very important player in Asia, and thus, a critical component of sustainable peacebuilding for the continent,” says Kazuki.

During his first year at YCA, Kazuki not only immersed himself in Chinese culture and enjoyed opportunities to meet influential leaders from different fields, he also took the initiative to conduct extensive research on Sino-Japanese relations.  In examining the correlation between tourism and public opinion, he discovered that visiting another country generally helps people develop a more positive, balanced view of that country.  This seemed most clearly demonstrated amongst the Chinese: as the number of Chinese tourists visiting Japan increased over recent years, the Chinese people’s perception of Japan also dramatically improved.  On the contrary, he found that the number of Japanese visiting China had remained stagnant, and that overall, Japanese people still held a relatively negative view of China.

Now in his second year of study, Kazuki is acting on his research findings by working to attract more Japanese tourists to China.  “I started ‘The Middle Kingdom Adventure,’ a project that aims to promote China as a travel destination for Japanese through online content featuring my trips to various Chinese provinces and UNESCO World Heritage sites,” he says.  “My hope is that more Japanese will discover China’s diversity and charm as I have.”  Though the project is currently on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kazuki has turned challenge into opportunity by posting about his personal experiences in China to counteract the many insensitive and unkind comments surfacing online about the outbreak.  “During these difficult times, we should not judge others based on our own biases, but instead stand together and support one another.  As Bai Xian Scholars, we should think about how we can be our best and take actual action to create a better society,” says Kazuki.

Yerin CHU – Bai Xian Scholar, 2018 cohort; master’s degree in philosophy and religion, Yenching Academy of Peking University.  Born in Korea and raised in numerous Asian cities, Yerin has had many opportunities to explore her interest in East Asian development.  She credits the AFLSP for showing her the value of being a part of an open, cross-cultural community.

Reflecting back on her first year as a Bai Xian Scholar, Yerin recalls an experience of contrasts.

Just prior to the summer of 2019, she visited cities near the China-Russia and North Korea-Russia borders, where she learned about agriculture, construction, and maritime and rail trade in the area while examining the potential of the region as a large-scale agricultural and logistics hub.  One of her deepest impressions from the trip was being in Hunchun, a Chinese city that borders North Korea and Russia, and witnessing the blend of Chinese, Russian, and North Korean people and cultures.  Her fascination, however, was often mixed with a gnawing sense of unease and nervousness.  “Because I was interviewing government officials and trying to visit a clothing factory that hires North Korean female laborers, I was always worried that a police officer would show up and question what I was doing there,” she says.  “I had never felt this before, and realized that being brought up and educated in cities like Seoul, Manila, Hong Kong, and Boston had given me a one-sided view of the world, and that I had taken my freedoms for granted.”

The trip, though enlightening, left her physically and mentally drained.  So when she flew to Osaka to attend the 2019 Summer Program shortly after, where she was met by smiling, high-spirited peers excited for the adventure ahead, she breathed a sigh of relief.  “I found friends and I found my voice again, which I realized had been stifled,” she reflects.  “I felt safe to release my curiosity and to ask questions.  This newfound awareness and appreciation of what I have was one of my biggest takeaways from the AFLSP.”

After the Summer Program, Yerin enjoyed the chance to moderate a career panel during an Alumni Association event in Beijing, adding, “It was a privilege to engage with the BX community in that capacity and to hear from experts in different fields of study and professions.”  On her AFLSP journey so far, Yerin says, “I really treasure all my experiences – from intellectual expansion to personal development, I have definitely grown in more ways than one.”