Marija, one of our cultural exchange participants, writes to us from Beijing—also known as the “northern capital” of China. Here’s a glimpse into her everyday life and cultural adventures:
The host family I’m staying with is absolutely wonderful. They treat me with kindness and respect, and I don’t feel like a guest at all—I feel like part of the family. I get along great with the kids, who are well-mannered, curious, and always ready for both play and learning.
The parents are very involved and take the children to all kinds of activities—swimming, drawing, painting, taekwondo—you name it. They also place a big emphasis on learning English, so the kids attend private language lessons three to four times a week.
In her free time, Marija has been diving deep into everything China has to offer:
I spend my free time visiting landmarks, studying the language, and learning about the local culture. What’s impressed me the most so far is how kind and open people are—they’ll come up to me in the street just to chat or take a photo, even though we don’t know each other! That friendliness adds something really special to my stay.
I’ve also been blown away by the diversity of Chinese cuisine. There really is something for everyone, and even the traditional dishes are full of surprises and variety.
And her message for future participants?
This is a fantastic opportunity to experience a new culture and language—and to meet new people along the way!
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