【编者按】Choo Shermane是英国利兹大学法学院的马来西亚籍本科生。她参加了2025年中国政法大学中欧法学院中国法国际学生夏令营。在本文中，Choo Shermane将分享她在夏令营的经历。原文为英文，译文为AI翻译，仅供参考。

As the ancient Chinese philosopher Laozi once said, “千里之行，始于足下” — a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. For me, joining the CUPL-CESL Summer School was the important first step in a meaningful journey of cross-cultural legal learning. This experience helped shape my understanding of law across different systems, deepened my appreciation for cultural diversity, and allowed me to build valuable connections with people all over the world.

中国古代哲学家老子曾说：“千里之行，始于足下。” 对我而言，参加中国政法大学中欧法学院夏令营，便是开启这段富有意义的跨文化法律学习之旅中至关重要的第一步。这段经历不仅让我对不同法律体系有了更深入的理解，加深了我对文化多样性的认同，还让我与来自世界各地的人们建立了宝贵的联系。

Coming from a Chinese heritage background, I thought I had a good understanding of my own culture. However, through this summer school, I came to realise that there was so much more to learn. The lectures and museum visits gave me a fresh perspective, allowing me to connect with Chinese history on a deeper level. Seeing the changes from the Xia Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty, and from the Republican Era to the Socialist Era, I began to understand that each legal and political shift carried not just structural changes, but also emotional and human stories.

我虽有着华人血统，本以为自己对中华文化已有较深的了解。但通过这次夏令营，我才意识到仍有许多知识值得探索。课堂讲座与博物馆参观为我提供了全新的视角，让我能更深入地接触中国历史。从夏朝到清朝，从民国时期到社会主义时代，见证这些历史变迁的过程中，我逐渐明白，每一次法律与政治层面的变革，不仅伴随着制度结构的调整，更承载着无数鲜活的人文故事与情感共鸣。

One of the most powerful moments for me was visiting the museum. The experience made me feel as if I wasn’t looking at a static object behind glass, but having a silent conversation with the past. I was especially moved by the story of Yue Fei, a national hero from the Southern Song Dynasty. His strong sense of duty and moral values left a deep impression on me. I was touched by the story of how his mother tattooed the words “尽忠报国” – meaning “serve the country with loyalty” – on his back. This simple yet powerful act demonstrated the importance of honour, integrity, and patriotism in Chinese culture, and reminded me how deeply personal values can shape one’s commitment to society.

对我而言，此次夏令营中最触动人心的时刻之一，便是博物馆参观的经历。置身其中，我仿佛并非在隔着玻璃观赏静态的文物，而是在与历史进行一场无声的对话。南宋英雄岳飞的故事尤其令我动容。他强烈的责任感与高尚的道德情操给我留下了深刻印象。岳飞母亲在他背上刺下 “尽忠报国” 四字（意为 “以忠诚之心报效国家”）的故事，更让我深受触动。这个看似简单却意义深远的举动，彰显了中华文化中 “荣誉”“诚信” 与 “爱国” 的核心价值，也让我意识到，个人价值观对个人践行社会责任的影响竟如此深远。

In our classes, I also learned about the ideas of Confucius and Han Fei, who represent two very different approaches to how a society should be governed. It was eye-opening to see how Li (ritual and social norms) and Fa (law) were interconnected in early Chinese governance. It helped me appreciate how China historically maintained stability, and how the balanced approach helped the country achieve long-lasting peace and development.

在课堂学习中，我还了解到孔子与韩非子的思想 —— 他们代表了两种截然不同的治国理念。我惊讶地发现，在古代中国的治理体系中，“礼”（礼仪与社会规范）与 “法”（法律）二者紧密相连。这一认知让我理解了中国历史上如何维系社会稳定，也明白了这种 “礼法结合” 的平衡理念，是如何助力国家实现长治久安与持续发展的。

A particular highlight of the programme was visiting one of China’s largest international law firms. During the visit, I gained meaningful insights into how legal practitioners handle cross-border transactions and navigate the complexities of advising multi-jurisdictions’ clients. The lawyers explained how effective communication across jurisdictions is essential in resolving conflicts and safeguarding clients’ interests. This greatly enhanced my commercial awareness and gave me a clearer view of the practical side of transactional legal work.

此次夏令营的一大亮点，是参观中国规模最大的国际律师事务所之一。在参观过程中，我深入了解到法律从业者如何处理跨境交易，以及如何应对为不同法域客户提供法律咨询时面临的复杂问题。律师们解释道，在不同法域间开展有效沟通，是解决法律纠纷、维护客户利益的关键。这段经历极大地提升了我的商业洞察力，也让我对交易类法律实务工作有了更清晰的认识。

Beyond academics, I made new friends from different countries and cultural backgrounds. We often had open and thoughtful discussions about the differences and similarities between Chinese and European laws. I felt encouraged knowing many of us shared similar goals and dreams in the legal field. These exchanges helped me learn more about cultures, legal systems, and ways of thinking, making me feel more connected to the wider legal community.

除了学术学习，我还结识了来自不同国家、拥有不同文化背景的新朋友。我们经常围绕中国法律与欧洲法律的异同展开坦诚而深入的讨论。当发现我们许多人在法律领域有着相似的目标与梦想时，我备受鼓舞。这些交流不仅让我对不同文化、法律体系及思维方式有了更多了解，也让我更强烈地感受到自己与更广阔的法律界紧密相连。

In conclusion, the CUPL-CESL Summer School was a defining experience – one that not only deepened my legal and cultural knowledge thatbut also shaped me into a more open-minded and globally conscious future lawyer. This journey, though only a single step, has laid the foundation for a thousand more in my pursuit of intercultural legal understanding and collaboration.

总而言之，中国政法大学中欧法学院夏令营是一次极具意义的经历 —— 它不仅深化了我的法律知识与文化认知，更让我成长为一名思想更开放、具备全球视野的未来法律人。这段旅程虽只是“千里之行” 中的一小步，却为我未来探索跨文化法律理解与合作奠定了坚实的基础。