China (South and West)

Each student has a unique and individual experience on their Experiment program. The following essay is a single glimpse into a program from one student's perspective.

Lela Rosen — China (South and West) (CHSD)

I don't even know where to begin. When I think back to my trip to China this summer I am at a loss for words. When friends and family ask "How was your trip?" the one word that I use to sum it up is "Amazing". That is simply what it was; absolutely amazing.

I remember feeling quite nervous and anxious in the weeks before my trip. I didn't speak a word of Chinese, with the exception of Wonton soup, and I was terrified. "How am I going to survive?!" I asked my parents. They just stated that I would be fine.

"Yeah right!" I thought to myself. "I'm only just flying half-way around the world with people who are complete strangers at the moment to a country where I can't even speak one word of the native language. Sure, I'll be fine." However the moment I found my group in LAX, my parents' statement was confirmed. I learned that I wasn't the only one who did not speak any Chinese. In fact, almost all of us were scared about the language barrier.

After the initial awkward introductions my group bonded quickly and by the time we stepped off the plane in Beijing we were already joking about our air-sickness and the excursion that lay ahead of us. We traveled to the tourist destinations such as the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and the Terracotta Warriors during the first week and it was a great way to get oriented with China and helped build the group dynamics. However it was the little things that really made the trip spectacular. For example, there was the time when a few of my friends and I went to a small smoothie café in the city of Kunming. Nobody spoke English, including the waitresses and the people seated around us, and the menu only included Chinese characters. That's right; no pictures. So with the little Chinese we had picked up in one week, we pointed to the drinks at the table next to us and said "I want five", "Wu yao wu." Luckily, we ended up with five banana smoothies.

Kunming became my home away from home while I was there, credited to my first homestay. To be honest, I started out my homestay in Kunming scared, lonely and upset. After spending a week building relationships with my group, I was suddenly alone in a foreign country with a family that barely spoke English. However as a few days went by, I became more comfortable in my surroundings. I also became quite good at gestures and skilled with paper and pencil. My struggle in the beginning ended up helping me grow into a more independent young adult and prepared me for my next homestay situation.

In the village I became much closer with the Chinese students who traveled with us from Kunming, as well as my own group. At times the Americans became annoyed at the Chinese students and I'm assuming vice versa, but we formed very strong friendships and their presence was missed during the last week. I adored my village family, and although they didn't have much, they offered what they had with open arms. I didn't realize how well off I am in the US until I was gone for a month.

Now, over a month since I have returned I miss being in China. I miss the beauty of the countryside and the intricate architecture. I miss my friends in Kunming who showed me ropes of the city, mainly how to survive on a crowded city bus. I really miss my group. They became some of my closest friends and I felt as though we could converse about anything, from friend problems at home to bonding over our bowel movements. I even miss speaking Chinese and the funny mishaps that came out of it. Most of all, I miss the feeling of independence; relying solely on myself in many situations. I feel as though I have matured, become more responsible, and truly grateful for what I have at home; clean water, money, toilet seats. Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to experience such a beautiful culture. I do not know if I will return to China, but this trip has given me the travel bug and I want to soak in as many countries as I possibly can. Thank you again for the incredible opportunity to travel to China and helping me become an Outward Ambassador. Xièxie.