China Is a Whole New World Unlike Anything I’ve Seen Before – Cultural Exchange Experience

Srđan, one of our cultural exchange participants, writes to us from China to share his thoughts on what has been a truly eye-opening adventure. Here’s what he had to say:

I kept asking myself—could I live in a country completely different from the ones I know in Europe and America? After just 15 minutes, I told myself: If you want to complete your puzzle of the world, you’ve got to try!

I knew this program would be a great opportunity to connect a few pieces of that big global puzzle I’ve been building.

And now, after not even a full month in Shenzhen, I can say those 15 minutes of hesitation were way too long.

China is truly a different world—unlike anything I’ve ever seen or experienced before. It takes a bit of time to adjust to the cultural differences. At times, daily life can feel a bit complicated people speak a language and write in a script that only they understand, and English isn’t widely spoken.

The food is different, too—and yes, they do eat with sound effects I didn’t even know the human body was capable of until I got here! That said, the food is surprisingly delicious, and things definitely become more fun once you get the hang of using chopsticks (unlike me, who struggled for the first few days).

You might be thinking all of this sounds tough—but it’s really not, and trust me, you won’t regret it! Like anything in life, it just takes a bit of time. What helps the most? A great host family—and mine has been amazing from the very start. I’ve felt like one of them since day one. The kids even call me “brother,” which warmed my heart immediately.

Although I haven’t even been here a full month, we’ve already shared so many beautiful memories together. Some highlights: hiking and rafting in the Guangxi region and visiting cities like Guangzhou and Hangzhou.

China is a country filled with natural beauty and fascinating places to explore. But even more than that, it’s the home of my new friends—people I hope to meet again someday.

Piece by piece, until it all comes together.