Connect with Former Fellows

Hello hello, 大家好! My name is Gabby, I’m in Trumbull college (MOORAH) majoring in Political Science with a Chinese Language Certificate! In the summer of 2025 I studied abroad in Mainland China with CET Beijing and had the best summer yet! As a Chinese adoptee that has been discovering her Chinese heritage and identity at Yale, this journey was incredibly important for furthering my self-identity and fulfilling a longstanding dream of returning to China. I was fortunate enough to travel to Chengdu, Shanghai, Nanchang, and even my hometown Suichuan County in Jiangxi. During my time in China, I learned more about Chinese culture, my adoption, and myself. I made amazing relationships during late night walks in Chengdu and in the Qipao store as I talked with another adoptee about our shared experiences. I ate amazing food and developed friendships with locals I’ll never forget. I had the best time in China and I’m excited to return in the future! Please reach out with any questions, I’m always happy to talk :)

Hey everyone! I'm a sophomore in Timothy Dwight College majoring in Environmental Studies and East Asian Languages & Literatures. I studied abroad with CET Beijing the summer of 2025 and had the most incredible time not only learning about Chinese culture but bonding with our Chinese language partners. Some of my favorite memories include the weekly Chinese tables, wandering Beijing's hutongs, and CET's travel seminar to Chengdu. If you have any questions (or want to know the best flavor of tea at Chagee) don't hesitate to reach out!

Hi, I'm Bryant! I studied advanced Chinese in Beijing during summer 2024, and my two months were nothing short of transformative. Not only was I put on the fast track to fluency, but I also rethought so many pre-existing notions I had about Chinese society and culture, got to reconnect with family and friends all over the country, and had a blast exploring the corners and alleys of Beijing with my friends. Please reach out if you have any questions about studying abroad!

Hello! My name is Ryen. I am a Global Affairs major pursuing an Advanced Chinese Language certificate in Branford College. I studied abroad in China with CET Beijing during the summer of 2025, and I loved everything about my experience! From the weekend excursions to famous landmarks like the Great Wall and the Forbidden City to the traveling seminar in Chengdu, there was always someplace new to explore. I also feel so much more comfortable in my language skills now that I have had eight weeks of experience speaking only Chinese with native speakers and navigated the streets of Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu with my friends. If you want to learn about being in China as a Black person, what tea to drink during what season, or how to eat Peking duck, please feel free to reach out!

朋友们好!! My name is Angela and I spent my first-year summer abroad through CET Beijing. Now that I'm back in the States, I can happily say that my study abroad experience has left me with many friends, lessons, and memories that I will cherish forever. I'm very grateful for the time I spent in China because through late night conversations with my local roommate, spontaneous weekend trips, activities hosted by my program, and lunches with my Chinese class, I felt really immersed in Chinese culture and society. By the end of my two months in China, I did not want to leave because it felt like I'd only seen a tiny fraction of such a beautiful country. If you have questions about the Light Fellowship/CET Beijing or if you just want to hear some funny stories (I fear I spent my summer experiencing lore-worthy moments on the daily), feel free to contact me! :)

Hi! My name is Alicia Gan, Berkeley class of 2026 :) I traveled to mainland China with CET Beijing, and had an incredible summer full of language learning, weekend excursions (some with CET, some independently— including Shanghai, Chengdu, and Suzhou), bike rides, hot pot, and family time (my parents are first generation immigrants from China). If you have any questions about CET Beijing, navigating China as a Chinese-American, or just want shopping recs, feel free to contact me!

Hey everyone! My name is Kalina, and I’m a sophomore in JE planning on studying Cognitive Science and Film! The summer of 2025, I traveled with CET Beijing to mainland China through the Light Fellowship. During eight weeks in China, I had the opportunity to visit cities such as Chengdu, Shanghai, and Xian, make friends with the locals, and eat lots of incredible good. If you’re thinking about applying for the Light Fellowship, traveling to China or even just traveling abroad, feel free to reach out!