China Is So Much More Than I Ever Imagined

After four months in Beijing, Danka shares her experience with us—and what a journey it’s been.

Four months ago, all Chinese people looked the same to me, their language sounded like ‘ching, chang, chong’, and Chinese food meant nothing more than rice and sweet-and-sour chicken. Not anymore. China is something else entirely. The people, the language, the food—everything is different.

Her adventure began with a 24-hour journey that ended in bustling Beijing, where she was welcomed by a host family, traffic jams, and a haze of smog. Her first morning in China wasn’t filled with the smells of roast meat, sarma, or Russian salad—it was chicken feet, tofu, dumplings, and a variety of mysterious local dishes. And yet, she embraced the moment and slowly began to absorb the world around her.

Not long after settling in with her host family, Danka started to explore the city:

Every morning, I had free time, and I was determined to make the most of it. Beijing’s winter was cold, dry, and sharp, but it didn’t stop me. What first seemed like an impossible maze of fifteen metro lines quickly became part of my everyday life, just like hour-and-a-half-long commutes to tourist hotspots.

Soon after, her Mandarin lessons began. Alongside Paloma from Mexico, Rosa from Texas, and Malik from Canada, she dove into the language.

Week by week, my ‘ni hao’ turned into full-on haggling with street vendors. Chopsticks replaced forks and knives, noodles took over pasta, and I stopped being the youngest sister and became jiejie—big sister—to Ruby.

Ruby, the little girl she spent most of her time with, became the heart of her China experience.

Officially, I was supposed to help her with English. In theory, we were ‘teacher and student.’ But we became sisters and best friends. For a seven-year-old, she was incredibly smart—and such a huge part of my daily life. Her questions, ideas, and little comments often brought tears to my eyes. She’s truly special.

Danka spent Chinese New Year with her host family, deepening her connection with them and learning about the most important celebration of the year.

They always treated me as one of their own, and that made everything feel so natural.

During her four months, she managed to visit countless sights—not just around Beijing, but also beyond. From Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City to Beihai Park, Wangfujing, the Summer Palace, the Temple of Heaven, Fragrance Hill, the Art District, and, of course, the Great Wall of China—she took it all in.

When it was finally time to leave, the goodbye was emotional:

Ruby hugged me tightly, handed me a small letter, and said through tears, ‘Bye.’ I headed to the airport—traffic jam, smog in the air, and my heart in chaos.

China is so much more than I ever imagined.

Now back home, Danka carries with her the memories of an unforgettable journey.