China: Chinese Language & Culture

This program was an amazing experience which gave me the opportunity to talk to locals from different cities, the countryside, and even as far as Inner Mongolia. I got to try all the local foods in each location and while I went to some famous tourist locations, we were also able to go further than that and got to see first hand some of the more interesting and hidden sites without the commercialization. The group dynamic was very positive and the leaders were highly enthusiastic and enhanced the experience. The local tour guide was also very helpful in navigating the different locations and fixing any difficulties with travel as well as remaining very optimistic and funny. It was overall an everlasting memory that I would do again in a heartbeat.

Life-changing. Though I sound dramatic when I say this, I am definitely not exaggerating. I have met some of the best people on the trip and I have also been able to experience China from a whole new perspective. I have experienced living in a yurt and in rural villages where the pavements are illuminated from the stars. Gone was the glimmering lights of Beijing and the magnificent building that would prod into the sky in Shanghai, I was experiencing the other part of China that most people wouldn't even think about. On this trip, I have learnt that the majority of China's population lives in rural areas. They ate simple foods, slept on the hardest beds, and lived simple lives. Being a part of this experiment has allowed me to experience this rural living; being a city girl myself.
And of course, we did other touristy things as well. Such as exploring The Great Wall Of China, Forbidden City, Temple Of Heaven and many other places. On the trip, I rode a camel for the first time - it hurt. But nevertheless, absolutely worth it. I remember loving trains...well till I came on this trip. I rode a total of 3 overnight trains. Maybe even 4? I've lost count. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely adored the experience but It's safe to say that I've had my fair share of trains for a while. Being a Chinese-Malaysian, I somewhat knew what I was signing up for but I was still shocked at some of the difference. I remember in Chengde, on the very first day with my host family they served me silkworms. Now let me tell you something about myself, I absolutely loathe bugs and insects, they make my skin crawl. However, not wanting to be rude, I tried it out. Was it worth it? No. But did I step out of my comfort zone and try something new? Yes. My host family in both the urban and rural communities were amazing. They treated me as one of their own and it was sweet. I even had some 'step-siblings' to care for and play with! Now, I can go on for ages about how much I love this trip but it would require me to write a book. All jokes aside, what I most enjoyed about this trip was experiencing China from the perspective of a tourist and a local. Understanding that most of China still lives in rural communities made me realise how lucky I am to be born into a city. Being able to live amongst the locals, eat their home-cooked meals was so special to me. Would I suggest this trip? Absolutely. Not only do you discover China, but you also tend to discover parts of yourself too and learn new skills that would be vital in the future.

The Experiment is a program that many people at my school who are interested in this sort of program choose. During the entire application process, I had some one to help me who could respond quickly to emails and questions. They make the program very accessible. There wasn't any sort of language prerequisite to the program, but even people who were particularly interested in China enjoyed the program. The leaders were very flexible and offered any help we needed as well as listening to any input we had during the trip. If we as a group decided we could change something to make the trip go smoother or make people enjoy things more, they were receptive and did what they could. I did so many amazing activities like hiking mountains, riding horse, and bargaining in the markets of Shanghai. We had a leader who was from China and knew the areas well. He helped guide us through difficult situations and gave advice in how to handle things like overpriced scams. Going to China and being offered to practice my Chinese speaking and listening comprehension with native speakers had improved my Chinese Immensely. We were also given many chances to take charge and choose where we wanted to visit in cities as well as some guided tours. This has helped me gain confidence in navigating public transportation and time management. EIL has made this awesome trip available to so many through scholarships and I made so many memories thank to that.

This Northern China study abroad trip was one of the best experiences of my life. It made me realize that the best way to travel is to be immersed into the culture completely. I loved exploring different parts of China and learning their way of life. It was so different from what I was used to, which is what made it so amazing. I enjoyed communicating with locals and learning about China's extensive history from all the sites we visited. The host families I had were also so kind and welcoming and I am so glad I had the opportunity to make memories with them. I never once felt unsafe during this trip, and I owe it to EIL for giving me this wonderful opportunity. I will always cherish the memories I made with my group and others in China. I have made best friends for life and would 10/10 recommend EIL for studying abroad.

My favorite memory of my China experience is when my group in the grasslands of Inner Mongolia, China. We were playing a very intense game of Mafia that came to an abrupt end when we collectively decided to participate in one of the many bonfires that always took place during the night time. There was dancing, singing, and a lot of loud traditional Mongolian/Chinese music being played. I found the fact that there were no "real" bathrooms or showers but there was a top-notch stereo system with music that came from an exquisite Mac computer very interesting. We wanted to see if we could play some American music. Naturally because I was the only North American in that moment who was there and could somewhat speak Chinese, I was forced to communicate with the leaders of the activity. Thankfully, I stumbled upon a man who spoke enough of both English and Chinese to help me translate. It just so happened that their technology and a borrowed Beats headphones cord worked with another borrowed iPhone. So we were all really scared and nervous, being in such a different world, essentially asking to do something never done before, temporarily pausing a very long-standing tradition. As we were standing, all of a sudden we heard "YOU ALREADY KNOW WHAT IT IS!!!", and we sporadically yet simultaneously freaked out while also making our way to the bonfire. We surrounded the fire, which was located in the middle of all these strangers, and began dancing like we were getting a million bucks the next day. That, is a memory that will last my all of my days.

Dear Readers,
E.I.L. is a wonderful organization that has afforded me wonderful opportunities from which I have extracted endless lessons and experiences. Going to China was a desire of mine, and this summer I was able to entertain that desire in more ways than I could have ever imagined. I went to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, The Great Wall of China-you name it. In addition to fantastic sights, I indulged in Chinese immersion through language, food, culture, and community. I will never take for granted the trip to Asia that has forever changed my life, and I hope many people in the future will be able to say that as well.

Yours Truly,
A Content Experimentor