Summer of '19!

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.