Chinese culture attracts more US students

The sisters attended the Mandarin Immersion Magnet School in Houston, Texas, where half of their classes were taught in Mandarin.

At DKU, they joined the women's varsity basketball team, where international and Chinese students make up a nearly equal mix. "Our Chinese teammates have become some of our best friends on campus," they said. "Basketball has been the bridge that brought us together, helping us learn from each other while building genuine friendships."

After graduation, the Salazar sisters hope to continue their studies in China, ideally at Tsinghua, Peking or Fudan University. They also said their parents moved with them to Kunshan. "Coming here with parents who don't speak Mandarin has also given us a crash course in adulthood," the siblings said. "We've had to handle tasks like apartment hunting or buying a car — in our third language."

Birkley Grunewald, a second-year student, said the decision to study in China was driven by a desire to learn from the country's development. China and the US together account for a significant share of global GDP, Grunewald said. "The reason I decided to come to China was to learn from this incredible country, gaining knowledge, insight and connections to do something impactful in the world."

Grunewald's family was initially confused by the decision. The absurdity of moving across continents shocked them, Grunewald said.

"They thought I had accidentally applied to the wrong Duke University." But after learning more about his motivations, Grunewald said, they became supportive. His mother even texted: "This school was MADE for you. And you were MADE for it."