Nina, one of our cultural exchange participants, writes to us from Qingdao—a coastal city just a few hours from Beijing. Here’s what she had to say about her journey so far:
I’m currently living in Qingdao, a seaside city a few hours away from Beijing. So why Qingdao, and why a cultural exchange? I wanted to experience something completely new, dive into a different culture, and challenge myself to grow as a person. A lot of people had recommended this program to me—and I was also looking for a way to take a break from Belgrade. I decided to stay for three months.
When I first arrived, I felt both excited and nervous, but I had a general idea of what to expect. Now, after more than a month here, I can honestly say—I’m loving it. At first, communication with the host family wasn’t easy, but over time, that all smoothed out. The kids didn’t talk to me right away; I was just some strange new person in their home. A laowai, as they say here—a foreigner. But now? They adore me. They’ve even started saying they don’t know what they’ll do when I leave. They want to come visit me in Belgrade this winter!
Nina also shared a fun twist in her adventure:
One of the craziest things happened here—I met a girl from Belgrade who lives just two buildings away from me! In a country as massive as China, that kind of coincidence feels like a small miracle. Qingdao itself is nearly the size of all of Serbia, and while I originally thought I might’ve preferred a bigger city like Beijing or Shanghai, I’ve come to realize Qingdao was actually the perfect choice for me.
And her message to others?
I would absolutely recommend this cultural exchange program to anyone. You’ll discover so much about yourself—your limits, your patience, your resilience, and your ability to adapt. After this experience, I honestly feel like I could go anywhere in the world, and nothing would feel unfamiliar.
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