It’s been about 3 days since I arrived back home from Beijing, and the jetlag is still hitting hard. I’ve been spending the past few days sleeping, unpacking, and trying to process the blur that was the last eight weeks.
One thing I found that I really enjoyed about this program was the independence. I have never been away from home for this long and this was something I was anxious about in the beginning of this process. However, I enjoyed being able to go out and explore different parts of Beijing and immerse myself in a culture I initially knew very little about. Over time I became very comfortable communicating with locals in Beijing, taking the subway on my own, and just going out and exploring different parts of the city.
Another thing that initially intimidated me was the fact that I did not have any close friends with me going into this program. Fortunately, I was able to make some amazing friends and met some really wonderful people on this trip. I am so grateful for the new friends I made who helped make this trip an unforgettable experience.
Overall this was an amazing experience and I am so glad I made the decision to study abroad this summer. I’m pretty sure I will miss the delicious shouzhuabing I had for breakfast every morning the most! But for now, I am ready to spend the rest of my summer relaxing in home sweet home!