Beijing adventures that shaped who I am

I arrived in Beijing with a backpack and a phrasebook, and GAC helped me weave together experiences I never thought possible: interning at a social enterprise by morning, practicing Mandarin with elderly chess players in the park by afternoon, and exploring hidden temples with fellow gap-year students by weekend. The program's flexibility allowed me to volunteer at a rural school for a month, where the children's laughter became my favorite language lesson. What began as a year 'off' became a year 'on'—fully present, alive, and connected to a country that constantly surprised me. I returned home not with a plan, but with perspective, resilience, and stories that still light up my eyes.