I’ve studied Chinese language and culture for over 9 years. I’m about to graduate college, which I funded without any economic support from family, at the University of Iowa with degrees in both Mechanical Engineering and Chinese. Pursuing both degrees at the same time while also working full time to support myself has been ambitious and strenuous. Meanwhile, I also have started a club where native mandarin speakers and language learners get together to practice their Chinese and improve their fluency. In this time, I have not had the time or money to study abroad. Very soon I will begin a job in engineering, making it difficult to take big trips. I would like to take the short opportunity between graduation and career life to take a long trip to China and fully immerse myself in the language and culture. This way I could achieve fluency and gain a deeper knowledge of culture that is otherwise impossible to do in the United States. Contributions would go primarily towards airfare, which would be around $1800 USD. I have made many connections to international students and professors in University, so my lodging would mostly be free. Most of the other costs would go towards a visa, food, intra-China travel (i.e. trains), and other travel expenses (i.e. SIM card). The goal doesn’t represent the full cost of the trip as I intend to fund most of it myself. Any amount is appreciated.