Student Testimonials for Baucus Institute
Elaine Lechlinski
To Those Interested in Studying Abroad, 
Earlier this year(2025), I received an email about a trip to China through the Max
Baucus Institute. A few months later (June-July), I went to go visit Beijing, Hangzhou,
and Shanghai with nineteen students from other Montana colleges. Even though the flight
was long, the trip was rewarding-so, come along and “experience” the journey with
me.
First stop was Beijing for three and a half days; during this time, I was mostly site
seeing. My two favorite sites were the Great Wall (only climbed to the second tower)
and the multiple gardens. I appreciated the gardens because they showed how China
cares about nature, and keeping nature “alive” with preserving flowers, trees, and
their historical buildings (amazing that they are still standing today). On the last
day, the group and I went on a bullet train to Hangzhou (where the trip mostly happened).
It was nice to have Chinese student ambassoradors because they would help out (in
any way possible), and they wanted to be friends with us. I can say that I changed
in my way of thinking when I met the student ambassadors, since I wanted to go visit
only for the culture; but I learned that it is the people who make the culture, not
just the sites and what China can produce to the world.
My favorite part about Hangzhou was learning about environmental impacts, and what
China can do (already done) to achieve Zero Carbon Emission by 2060. That was on the
learning side, for the social side-the last Saturday, I did a Family Day with five
other group members; there were six groups for six different families. I particularly
enjoyed Family Day because I got to make dumplings, the family’s house was very welcoming
and inviting, and they treated us like their own children.
After Hangzhou, we took a bus to Shanghai; unfortunately, we only stayed for half
a day before going back to Beijing airport. Personally, I did not get to see enough
of Shanghai to say what was my favorite part, but I did learn that Shanghai is the
origin of place where the white rabbit candy is made. I know for sure that I want
to go back and explore Shanghai more in the future.
Disclaimer: I do not want to deter anyone from not applying for this fellowship, but
the trip was not all “sunshine and rainbows.” For example, there were multiple lectures
for an hour and a half, and you wanted a break from school; then please, take that
into consideration. Secondly, remember to have a back up plan for paying and/or make
sure that all necessary apps 
(VPNs, WeChat, and AliPay) work both in the United States and China. My phone trouble
was with AliPay since it would not work in China, so I had to sign up for WeChat pay
instead. Also, please keep in mind, that services can be faulty and payments will
not always go through (I ended up having to use my card two times). Thirdly, the heat
and the people were overwhelming since every site had crowds of people, and China
has a humid climate (I do not understand how ladies can be dressed in long sleeves
and pants). Last but not least, please know your limit. For example, I was not feeling
well in Shanghai; therefore, I did not go on the boat ride nor on the tower tour.
Was I disappointed? Yes, I was really disappointed but I wanted to come back home
safely and soundly, while not feeling sick on the airplane (unfortuanately, I was
sick on the way back).
Since I do not want to end on negative notes, I want to say that I would love to do
the trip over again. Not as a student, but as a group leader. Not only that, but I
plan on applying for the first trip next year (political science impact) because there
is a new agenda for the first one.
Thank
You, Elaine