Milica began her journey to China in September 2016, and she’s now one of the longest-standing participants in the program. Based in Taizhou, in Zhejiang province, she initially planned to stay for six months—but after falling in love with the experience, she decided to extend her stay for another six.
Here’s what she had to say about her time in China:
This month marks six months since I arrived in China, and honestly, nothing’s been the same since. The arrival itself was stressful, not because something bad happened, but because I was flying halfway across the world to a place where I didn’t know a single person or what kind of reception I’d get.
In the moment you land, it hits you: your life just changed. Back home, you blend in. Here, you’re suddenly a walking attraction—tall, pale, and apparently, marriage material! Offers came flying in—some serious, some hilarious—from curious grandmas, aunties, and just random passersby.
Her host family welcomed her warmly, and she says adjusting to life with them was surprisingly easy.
The cultural differences weren’t that dramatic. We actually value a lot of the same things. The only big shock for me was how overbooked kids are. I realized that in China, kids often have more responsibilities than the adults—school, homework, extracurriculars, you name it.
As for the language barrier, Milica’s been making real progress.
My Chinese has improved a lot—especially my pronunciation. I’m trying to speak as much as I can. I started off in a group class with three other girls, but they dropped out, so I got lucky and now have one-on-one lessons with a teacher.
And her plans?
Once this year ends, I’d love to find a way to stay another one. Life here just feels easier. People see us Europeans as something special, and they’re genuinely kind and welcoming.
Milica’s adventure is far from over, but one thing is clear—China has left a permanent mark on her life.
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