'My China Album' contributors share stories

This picture and its memory are important to me for several reasons. I was leading a study-abroad group from my university. None of my students had ever visited China before. 

As a professor, one aspect of studying abroad in China that I believe is critically important is for students to understand modern China and the role that the Communist Party of China has played in leading the nation.

Since we began our study abroad in Shanghai, I felt that the best place to start was to visit the Museum of the First National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party. 

We were treated not only to a special tour and a wonderful sit-down meeting drinking tea with the director of the museum, we were also provided with an in-depth discussion on the history of the CPC, its role in liberating China, and its pivotal place in lifting over 700 million people out of poverty and returning China to a central place in world affairs.

The museum's director and staff were not only gracious and patient with questions from my students, their sense of humor and willingness to be so accommodating to a group of visiting American students with their professor made for a memorable visit which my now-former students still remember well after they graduated from the university.