My experience
I wanted to immerse myself in a new place, experience a different culture and take some inspiration from it for how to live my own life. I wanted to go to China specifically to see what the Chinese education system is like and to improve my Chinese, of course!
How has the experience changed you?
Being in another country definitely helped me develop personally because it forced me to be more independent, gave me time to think and reflect on life and the changes I wanted to implement. It also helped broaden my horizons and made me more open-minded as I experienced different cultures and met people from all walks of life.
Favourite memory
I just loved the feeling of adventure in general, being able to explore a whole new world. I especially loved going to Wide and Narrow Alleys (KuanZhaiXiangzi) where I could appreciate the historic architecture from the Qing dynasty and eat my way through the various small food stalls that offered a unique taste of China. I also took up the opportunity to dress up in the Chinese traditional opera outfits which was super fun and gave me a new-found appreciation for Chinese culture and art.
Top tips
Do your due diligence and research in advance how you would like to spend your spare time, so you don't have to waste time during your trip to plan! Every sec is precious when you're in a foreign place especially when the places to explore are endless and your only constraint is time.