Arriving in Nanjing

Marco Monroy
Master of Arts in International Studies

Marco Monroy is a first-year Master of Arts in International Studies student at the Hopkins-Nanjing Center. Originally from Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, Marco attended the University of California, San Diego as an undergraduate. His specialization is International Politics and Chinese Studies.

What is your academic and professional background?

I graduated from the University of California, San Diego with a BA in International Studies and a minor in Economics. After graduation, I worked in digital marketing for a couple of years before becoming a full-time freelance writer. I found my niche in writing content about learning foreign languages for schools like Berlitz and SpanishPod101. This helped me lean into my passion for learning languages, which is one of the reasons why I wanted to get to China as soon as possible.

At the Hopkins-Nanjing Center, I have the opportunity to learn about both countries’ approaches toward foreign policy. To me, this is why a degree from the HNC is something invaluable for anyone thinking of pursuing a career in diplomacy or foreign affairs.

You were one of the first new international students to arrive in China since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Can you tell me what it was like, first arriving in China, and then arriving in Nanjing?

Moving in on campus was a great experience. I’ll never forget when I finally entered my dorm room. I had finally made it! After multiple flights, countless PCR tests, and many days of quarantine, I had finally reached my destination. I’ll always be grateful for how welcome all the HNC students, both international and Chinese, made me feel. Even when I didn’t know many people, somebody always invited me to have lunch at their table in the cafeteria. I immediately made dozens of friends and was genuinely blown away by how friendly everybody was.

What do you hope to achieve at the Hopkins-Nanjing Center?

My biggest goal is to attain true fluency in Chinese. Doing well in a Chinese language class is one thing, but being able to keep up with the news, read academic papers, and understand the historical context of current events is something else. I’ve found that students and professors at the HNC are extremely patient and helpful when it comes to language, so I already feel like I’ve made huge progress since arriving two months ago.

What are your long-term goals after you graduate from the Hopkins-Nanjing Center?

I hope to join the foreign service in Mexico after graduation. Mexico’s most important relationships are with China and the United States. Managing our relationships with both countries will be a key issue for Mexican international affairs in the future. At the Hopkins-Nanjing Center, I have the opportunity to learn about both countries’ approaches toward foreign policy. To me, this is why a degree from the HNC is something invaluable for anyone thinking of pursuing a career in diplomacy or foreign affairs.

What is your favorite moment at the HNC so far?

My favorite moment at the HNC so far was being the mixologist at the Halloween party on campus. The party was organized by the banwei, who oversee social activities on campus. I had just moved in only a couple of days prior, so this was a great way for me to meet most of my fellow HNC students in Nanjing. I was genuinely surprised by how many students came to the party and everyone was extremely welcoming.

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