I never really wanted to come to China. The decision of coming to Asia, particularly to China, came from seeking a challenge for myself and moving past disappointments in New York. As they say, when one door closes, another one opens. China is one of those doors and I’m thrilled to open it. One random night, at exactly 1am, I started looking up internships in Asia and decided I would come to China. I came to gain work experience and learn some basic Mandarin through an internship in the world’s fastest growing major economy, second after the United States. Extensive research, Chinese visa, three vaccinations, comprehensive travel medical insurance and 18 long hours of flying later, New York – Vancouver, Vancouver- Shanghai, and here I am finally, in the vast impressive China. I will be staying in Shanghai for the upcoming weeks working for a Chinese company and immersing myself in the culture.
Needless to say, the past few days have been a whirlwind of discovery, culture shock, severe jet lag and sinking in the culture. Some of the biggest challenges so far were finding adaptors, banks, a working Chinese phone and cell number, amongst many others. This time around, I am the exotic one. I am taller, lighter skinned, and blonder. So, people say hello, stop me for a picture or ask me to practice English with them, it’s quite funny!
Stay tuned for my upcoming Chinese adventures.
