Beyond the classroom

Last month, as part of our class activities, I took them to the Caribbean Experience 2025 event, organized by the Caucus of Caribbean Embassies and the Commercial Office of Haiti, celebrating the region's cuisine and culture.

Participants were given a mock boarding pass for a flight of the imagination, with the departure gate marked "Paradise", capturing the vibrant, welcoming spirit of the Caribbean.

One student, Han Wenyu, described the event as "setting sail on a journey "of discovery. That journey also brought opportunities to connect with fellow students from diverse backgrounds, including Tanzania and Thailand.

"This class, built on theoretical knowledge, has brought change to my everyday life," Han said.

He Siyang, a student who will begin her studies at UCD this fall, said the class and program had made her "more open-minded, confident, and appreciative" of the diversity around her.

"I've been able to pursue dreams I never had the chance to explore before — communicating with people from all over the world, broadening my horizons, and gaining insight into different ways of life," she said.

As the international reggae band One Drop, featuring Johnson Lufungulo and Hopkins Sichilenge from Zambia, and Parat Alim from China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, performed for our students, the whole room sang along to Bob Marley's soaring lyrics.

In that moment, we could feel a sense of unity as Marley sang, "One love. One heart."

Written by Victoria Cann, PhD in communication studies, an assistant teaching professor for a dual degree program between the University of Colorado, Denver and International College Beijing, based at China Agricultural University. She is currently pursuing a doctorate in education at the University of North Georgia. Her research interests include China-Caribbean relations, intercultural communication, and race and identity studies.