介绍:
Remarks of U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama at Peking University (Excerpts)
Ni hao. It is such a pleasant and an honor to be here with all of you at this great university…Thank you so much for having me.
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You see, by learning each other’s languages - and by showing such curiosity and respect for each other’s cultures - Mr. Schafer and Ms. Zhu and all of you are building bridges of understanding that lead to so much more.
And I’m here today because I know that our future depends on connections like these among your people like you across the globe.
That’s why when my husband and I travel abroad, we don't just visit palaces and parliament and meet with heads of state.
We also come to schools like this one to meet with students like you.
Because we believe that relationships between nations are not just about relationship between governments or leaders…they’re about relationships between people, particularly our young people.
So we view study abroad programs not just as an educational opportunity f or students…but also as a vital part of America’s foreign policy.
You see, through the wonders of modern technology, our world is more connected than ever before.
Ideas can cross ocean with the click of a button.
Companies can do business and complete with companies across the globe.
And we can text, email and skype with people on every continent.
So studying abroad isn’t just a fun way to spend a semester-it’s quickly becoming the key to success in our global economy.
Because getting ahead in today’s workplaces isn’t just about getting good grades or test scores in school…it’s also about having real experience with the world beyond your borders - experience with languages, cultures and societies very different from your own.
Or, as the Chinese saying goes: “It is better to travel ten thousand miles than to read ten thousand books.”
But let’s be clear, studying abroad is about so much more than improving your own future - it’s also about shaping the future of your countries and of the world we all share.
Because when it comes to the defining challenges of our time - whether it’s climate change, or economic opportunity, or the spread of nuclear weapons...these are shared challenges.
No one country can confront them alone...the only way forward is together.
That’s why it’s so important for young people like you to live and study in each other’s countries.
Because that’s how you develop that habit of cooperation - you do it by improving yourself in someone’s culture…by learning each other’s stories…and by getting past the stereotypes and misconceptions that too often divide us.
That’s how you come to understand how much we all share.
And that’s how you realize that we all have a stake in each other’s success - that cures discovered here in Beijing could save lives in America…the clean energy technologies from Silicon Valley in California could improve the environment here in China…that the architecture of an ancient temple in Xi’an could inspire the design of new buildings in Dallas or Detroit.
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China is currently the fifth most popular destination for Americans studying abroad.
And today, the highest number of exchange students in the U.S. are from China.
But still, too many students never have this chance…and some that do are hesitant to take it.
They may feel like study abroad is only for wealthy students, or students from certain kinds of universities.
Or they may think to themselves: “Well, that sounds fun, but how will it really be useful in my life?”
I understand where these young people are coming from, because I felt the same way when I was in college.
You see, I came from a working class family… and it never even occurred to me to study abroad.
My parent didn’t get to attend college, and I was focused on getting into a university and earning my degree so I could get a job and support myself.
And for a lot of young people like me who are struggling to afford a regular semester of school paying for plane tickets or living expense halfway around the world just isn’t possible.
And that’s not acceptable, because study abroad shouldn’t just for student from certain backgrounds.
Our hope is to build connections between people of all races and socioeconomic backgrounds because it is that diversity that makes our country so vibrant and strong…and our study abroad programs should reflect the true spirit of America to the world.
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So I guarantee you that in studying abroad, you’re not just changing your own life…you’re changing the lives of everyone you meet.
As the great American President John F. Kennedy once said about foreign students studying in theU.S., “I think they teach more than they learn.”
And that is just as true of young Americans who study abroad.
All of you are America’s best face, and China’s best face, to the world.
Every day, you show the world your countries’ energy, creativity, optimism and unwavering belief in the future.
And every day, you remind us of just how much we can achieve if we reach across borders…and learn to see ourselves in each other…and confront our shared challenges with shared resolve.
So I hope you will keep seeking these kinds of experiences.
And I hope you’ll keep teaching each other…and learning from each other…and building bonds of friendship that will enrich your lives and enrich our world for decades to come.
You all have so much to offer, and I cannot wait to see all that you achieve together in the years ahead.
Thank you so much. Xie Xie.
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