Why did you decide to study abroad with GlobaLinks China?
Francisco: I decided to study abroad with Globalinks – China because I wanted to go to the most exotic place I could think of. I wanted my first trip to this side of the world to be as memorable as possible. Also, China is expected to become the world’s biggest economy over the next two decades and I would like to get a head start on learning the language and preparing myself for the professional world.
Coming from a small island like Puerto Rico, I wanted to go as far as I could think of and live in a place whose culture is drastically different from ours. Growing up I learned about China’s Great Wall, Forbidden City and its many other famous places, so as soon as I saw this opportunity to go abroad, I knew I had to come to the place I thought I would only see in books.
Tell us about an experience you had that you could not have had at home.
Francisco: An experience I could not have had at home was when I stayed in a Buddhist temple named Guang Jue Temple living with the monks for a few days. Two of my friends and I traveled by bus to Lin’an in the Zhejiang Province, where we took a taxi to a very poor rural town named Zaoxi in the Tian Mu Shan mountain region.
When we arrived, we were fed and shown to our rooms, which had only a bed, a fan, and a desk. All the meals consisted of rice and other vegetables that they grow in their garden.
We saw women washing clothes in the river when we took a walk and men building homes. It was the most relaxing time I spent in China and a learning experience to see the monks' rituals each day.
Tell us about any interesting cultural tidbits you noticed about your country.
Francisco: I learned many interesting cultural tidbits when living in China. Drivers in China do not stop for pedestrians and the roads and most sidewalks are filled with cars and speeding mopeds. I ate scorpions, seahorses, pig brain and other things that were delicious and I recommend them.
Young adults love to sing at KTV, which we know as karaoke. Unlike North America, it is very common for men in China to carry handbags. Elderly people in China can be seen in parks and sidewalks performing Tai Chi as a group or alone.
Young adults are very interested in knowing more about your life and details like how much money you make and how much you weigh. People wear white instead of black for mourning the deceased. When you visit someone’s home, take off your shoes and the host will give you house shoes to wear inside his or her home.
If you could do-over one thing, what would it be?
Francisco: If I could do-over one thing, I would have made my internship abroad last longer. Even though I spent eleven weeks living in China, I had a great time and I absolutely loved the country. I met many other interns from different countries and made many new friends.
It was very hard for me to leave China and come back home because I felt like it became my new home and I wanted to extend my stay. I used to think that eleven weeks was more than enough before I went abroad, but I was wrong because I did not anticipate how much I would end up loving Shanghai, my host company, my coworkers, and all my new friends.
Describe your most meaningful souvenir and why you love it.
Francisco: The most meaningful souvenir I have from my time abroad is my pair of chopsticks that I brought home. I love it because I get to use them whenever my family cooks rice and I don’t want to forget how to eat with chopsticks.
It was a little frustrating when I first arrived in China to learn how to eat with them, but now it just reminds me of all the good times I had this summer living in Shanghai. Every time I get to use the chopsticks I remember all the great meals I tried that I would never had the chance to eat back home.