Life in Exotic China – Cultural Exchange in Shenzhen

Konstantina is spending the next few months in China as a cultural exchange participant. Curious about what her days look like and what’s captured her heart? Read on to find out:

I’m halfway through my stay in Shenzhen, and honestly, it still feels like I just arrived a few days ago. Time flies when you’re in a brand-new environment and every day brings something new to surprise you.

Shenzhen is a young city—built in the last 40 years or so. It’s filled with young professionals who’ve come from all over China in search of work. Naturally, they bring their families with them, so the city is full of energy, laughter, and kids running around everywhere.

Because it’s such a new city, Shenzhen doesn’t have many historical landmarks. But it makes up for it with plenty of theme parks that offer visitors a taste of traditional Chinese culture—even in this modern urban setting.

You’ll go through some culture shock when you arrive in China—but honestly, that’s the whole point of traveling like this. These are the kinds of experiences you simply can’t get from books or videos—you have to live them.

One of the first things you’ll notice. Chinese people will stare at you—openly and shamelessly. But don’t take it the wrong way. There’s no bad intention; they just find us exotic and are genuinely curious. You’ll also see little kids strolling around in pajamas (completely normal here), and dancing grannies doing synchronized routines in public squares—just part of daily life in China.

And then there’s the food…

If you’re brave enough, you might get offered things like chicken feet, boiled lettuce, or pig trotters. But don’t worry—there are always plenty of more familiar and delicious dishes to choose from. You’ll get to master chopsticks, sip straight from a fresh coconut, and taste the sweetest mango you’ve ever had in your life.

But for me, the most valuable part of this whole experience has been meeting new people from all over the world. Through my Mandarin course, I’ve connected with people from the UK, the US, Italy, and more. New people keep joining our group all the time, and I’m so excited for the friendships I haven’t even made yet.