Global friends

The cross-cultural exchanges and enduring friendships he cultivated during the event had "transformative power", he said. "Now I have friends who I hope to eventually visit in Europe, in Australia, in Asia, in Africa, in South America, because we are from all around the world, and we're all still in contact," Fowler said.

Upon his return to the United States, Fowler shared his experiences with local communities, aiming to foster a deeper understanding of Chinese culture.

"I also brought back a lot of little gifts for my professors and friends such as bookmarks with quotes from Chinese philosophers or idioms," he added.

Fowler also won a Chinese-language study scholarship from the Chinese government, which has solidified his commitment to fostering international connections and cultural appreciation. He plans to pursue further studies in Mandarin and linguistics in China after graduation.