Untitled Document

DASNR
International
Study Abroad
Student of the Week

Study Abroad Destination:
China

The People's Republic of China, also known as China, is a state located mostly in East Asia, with a smaller proportion of its area located in Central Asia. The PRC has a coastline of 14,500 kilometers (9,010 mi), [1] and borders (clockwise from south to northeast) Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, India, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, [2] Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Mongolia, North Korea and located on the west of East China Sea. The PRC is a socialist republic, with its capital in Beijing.

At over 3.7 million square miles (over 9.5 million km²), the PRC is the third or fourth largest country by area. China's landscape is varied with largely desert on the north and humid and mountainous on the east and largely dry on the western part of the country. It is also the world's most populous nation, with over 1.3 billion citizens and borders the most countries in the world with 14 independent countries.

The present day location of PRC was the birthplace of the Chinese civilization that dates back to at least 1700 BC. The PRC was officially founded as a state in October 1, 1949, during the closing stages of the Chinese Civil War by its first President Mao Zedong along with the Constitution of the People's Republic of China.

The PRC is the world's fourth largest economy and second largest at purchasing power parity (which in both areas are predicted to become the largest by 2020) and represents China as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and APEC. China is the third largest exporter and importer in the world. Due to its large and stable population, its rapidly growing economy (+9.4% annually) and military spending (~ $84.4 billion) and other capabilities, [3] the PRC is often considered by analysts and commentators as an emerging superpower (see also Chinese Century and Asian century). China also is one of the world’s largest consumers, taking up approximately one third of the worlds concrete, and almost half of the world’s steel.

Source: Wikipedia Online

Taryn Fast
December 2006

From International Ag Programs....

Taryn Fast is a senior at Oklahoma State University who participated in the CASNR China Study Abroad program in Spring 2006. Although Taryn is not majoring in an agricultural field (her major is public relations with a minor in speech communication), she chose an agricultural study abroad program because of the itinerary it offered in China and the convenient time frame in the month of May after finals ended at OSU. In the photo above, Taryn Fast, Jessa Feagins, and Cates Harris make the OSU symbol while traveling in China.

Taryn is originally from Enid, Oklahoma but her family later moved to Wichita, Kansas. She is very close to her family, and in fact her mother, Taci, and sister, Tayler, also went on the China study abroad program. Sharing that international experience was very unique.

Taryn's interest in international work was so strong after her study abroad program that she applied for a job in the international ag programs office. She works in the College of Agriculture 10 hours per week on a variety of international projects including marketing for study abroad courses, programs providing training for beef cattle producers from Chihuahua, receiving University delegations from Thailand and preparing receptions for international students.

Her advice to other students considering a study abroad program is to "go for it, make new friends and learn all that you can about another country."

Taryn's Ag Study Abroad Course to China was led by Dr. Shida Henneberry, Department of Agricultural Economics, room 424 Ag Hall. Telephone 744-6178.

OSU Students (left to right, Elyse Bales, Shannon Murray,
Taryn Fast, Jessa Feagins, and Kerone)
visiting a temple in China

Taryn and Tayler Fast

Brett Clark and Taryn Fast on the Great Wall of China.

Taryn, Taci and Tayler Fast sporting OSU colors on the Great Wall of China.

Left to Right, Taryn Fast, Taci Fast, Tayler Fast,
Jessa Feagins and Cates Harris (in front) celebrating in China

Taryn Fast holding a random dog in China.