Hopkins-Nanjing Center Blog

Start planning now, and you could win up to $30,000 [1] to make a lasting, positive impact with your cross-cultural experience and education at the Hopkins–Nanjing Center! 2013 Hassenfeld Social Enterprise Fund Presentation This fall, Hopkins–Nanjing Center (HNC) students will have the opportunity to design and implement a business plan for the common good in China. Students will compete in small teams for funding, which the HNC will award at the end of the first semester. Both M.A.I.S. students and Certificate students may participate. The most competitive plans will: 1)       Be well researched, structured, and written, with specific budget and effort projections; 2)       Identify a clear need that you, as HNC students, are uniquely suited to address; 3)       Create impactful partnerships among Chinese and non-Chinese students at the HNC; 4)       Detail a defensi...

This week HNC held its annual summer reception at the SAIS campus in Washington, D.C.  SAIS Dean Vali Nasr gave remarks and HNC American Co-Director Jason Patent provided an update on the Center for HNC alumni, students, faculty, staff, and friends.  It was a fun-filled evening of dumplings and reconnecting with former classmates.  HNC alumni mingle over dumplings and drinks HNC alumni from 2009 and 2010   SAIS Dean Vali Nasr HNC American Co-Director Jason Patent Current HNC/SAIS Five-Semester Option students   HNC alumni from different years share their experiences

HNC has well over 2,000 alumni working in a variety of fields all over the world.   As an example of the diversity of career paths followed by our graduates, we asked MAIS '13 alumna Judith Ordaz to tell us more about the Mexican restaurant she recently opened in Nanjing.  We encourage all incoming students to go visit her restaurant!  Judith Ordaz Valentina's on Guangzhou road #16. 瓦伦缇娜 广州路 16 号 Below are some of Judith's tips on opening a restaurant in China: "Many foreigners who have spent time in China will tend to experience longing for familiar foods and environments.   When this happens it is not uncommon to hear conversations about what an excellent idea and profitable business opening a restaurant would be.   After all, you have identified the market demand and you are ready to fill it.   After going through the same process, I decided to go ahead and open my very own Mexican restaurant in the city of Nanjing.   T...

HNC MAIS student Natalie Sammarco sent us an update from India, where she is spending part of the summer between her first and second year: "Many of my friends from HNC have opted to get internships for the summer in either the US or China and even elsewhere (Europe, other Asian countries too). Since I have worked out in the ‘real’ world before, I know that time is precious and summer vacations are becoming more and more scarce. Given this, I chose to engage in personal interests this summer and then go home to see my family (I have a big one!). That’s why I’m currently pursuing a yoga certification program in India for the month of July, after which I will swing by to see a couple HNC friends before heading back to the US for a much needed respite :-) <<<Aside: I did a little preparation beforehand, knowing that I was coming to India this summer. In my economics class this spring, I chose to do my policy brief (a 16 page analysis of environmentalism and globalizatio...

Where do incoming students go once they land in China?  As you start booking your tickets to Nanjing this fall, you should consider the following travel options: Getting from the Nanjing Airport to the Center Nanjing Lukou International Airport is about 40 km outside of Nanjing city. 1) Taxi:    A metered taxi from the airport to the Center takes 45 minutes and costs about RMB 150, including one freeway toll (RMB 20). 2) Shuttle bus:   The airport shuttle bus into the city takes about one hour and costs RMB 25.   This bus, which is located outside the domestic arrivals exit, does not have a specific name or number.   Unfortunately, the shuttle bus terminals in Nanjing are a substantial distance from the Center and require that you take a taxi or a combination of a subway ride and a 10-minute walk to get to your destination.   The taxi service is your best choice for your initial trip to the Center. Getting from Shanghai to the Ce...

Admissions Coordinator Sallie You recently returned from a trip to Nanjing for the 2013 commencement ceremony .  Fortunately she had time to visit some of the sites of Nanjing while there, including the Chaotian Palace: "I had the pleasure of visiting the HNC campus this June and one of the ‘touristy’ things I got to do in Nanjing was to visit the Chaotian Palace. The palace was built in the Ming Dynasty and holds the Nanjing Municipal Museum. The palace has a unique gold colored tile that was SO pretty! The Chaotian Palace is a short cab ride away from the HNC campus – so be sure to visit if you are in the area (make sure you visit one of the pagodas in the garden – you get a great view of the city)!  Here are some pictures of the Chaotian palace!"