Study Abroad in Kraków
by Yanyi Jiang
My decision to apply to the summer program in Krakow can be largely attributed to my love of the poetic Polish language.
I have always considered learning foreign languages as milestones in my life journey. A native Chinese, I have studied English and French. The sense of achievement that I felt when I successfully melted myself into both the American and the French society is beyond joy. Mastering a foreign tongue is one of the most pleasurable challenges that I constantly pursue in my life.
Among all the languages I could have chosen to study, Polish stands out because of the country's singular beauty and historical depth. In January 2014,1 visited Warsaw and Wroclaw. I was immediately mesmerized by the unique atmosphere in the colorful architecture and the smiling people, all immersed in the winter festivities. As a visual artist, I sensed a strong spiritual connection with these two cities. I was convicted that Poland could be my next sanctum of artistic inspirations, and Polish would be my next language to conquer.
After taking three Polish language classes at the University of Rochester and being exposed to various aspects of the Polish history, I am even more sure of the decision I made, hence the excitement I felt when I discovered the Summer Program offered in Krakow. I am eager to be back in Poland again, this time to practice the language with local people, and to systematically learn the culture, and especially the art, of the Polish nation.
Yanyi Jiang, University of Rochester Class of 2015, is an international student from China, and a recipient of a Skalny Scholarship for the summer study on location program in Kraków.
