The dreams and challenges in "Maineland"

In celebration of women in film and their accomplishments, the Beijing Center’s Women Leadership Series presented the ninth public program on December 10, a screening and discussion of the documentary film Maineland by Miao WANG, in partnership with the U.S. Embassy’s Next Gen Women’s program.

The film captures two affluent and cosmopolitan Chinese teenagers as they get adjusted to their new life in America and how they deal with and experience culture shock, alienation, and questions of personal identity, which also coincides with the Center’s long-time focus on cross-cultural education in a global context.

The screening was followed by a discussion, featuring Columbia Chinese alumna Xiaoyan LI and Evy Pinero, currently a graduate student at Tsinghua University. While Li shared her study abroad experience at Columbia pursuing a degree in oral history, Pinero talked about her stories studying engineering management in Beijing and how she fell for China.

The program attracted women leaders, producers, film scholars, educators, media professionals, and parents whose children are studying overseas to join the discussion. Please stay tuned for more exciting programs of the Center’s Women Leadership Series.