The Mid-Autumn Festival holds a special place in the hearts of the Chinese people, symbolizing family reunions and complete happiness under the fullest moon of the year. This year, as China celebrates a three-day holiday, many university students find themselves at a crossroads between returning home and pursuing their studies or travels abroad.
For those studying within China, the holiday offers a cherished opportunity to reunite with parents and partake in traditional celebrations. However, for Chinese students overseas, particularly in the United States, the festival brings a wave of longing and concern. With approximately 290,000 Chinese students in the U.S. as of January 2024, representing about one-third of the international student population, the absence of familial gatherings is palpable.
Parents of these overseas students often turn to prayer as a means of expressing their hopes for their children's wellbeing, especially amidst the complexities of living in foreign environments. The inability to celebrate together in person, despite the connectivity offered by social media and instant messaging apps like WeChat, underscores the emotional distance that technology cannot bridge.
The declining number of Chinese students in the United States reflects broader trends influenced by the quality of educational programs, institutional reputations, and shifting government policies that impact cross-border mobility for education and employment. From 2019/2020 to 2022/2023, inbound Chinese student numbers to the U.S. have decreased significantly from 372,532 to 289,526, even amidst a gradual rebound post-pandemic.
This decrease not only affects the cultural and economic landscapes of American universities but also has profound implications for the aspirations of young global citizens seeking quality education and diverse experiences abroad.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
