This time, we’re bringing you a quick story from one of our male participants in the Pohod na Istok cultural exchange program. Admir joined the program in March this year, starting his adventure in Shanghai and continuing it in the vibrant city of Shenzhen. Here’s what he had to share:
First of all, Shenzhen is absolutely beautiful—lush with greenery and palm trees, surrounded by mountains and the sea. And it feels so nice to finally breathe some cleaner air after Shanghai.
Admir has formed a great bond with his host family right from the start:
The family is wonderful. They’ve made a huge effort to make me feel welcome and right at home. They greeted me with a bouquet of flowers, and we spent the first three days together exploring Shenzhen. During the Dragon Boat Festival, they showed me all the traditional customs and told me ancient Chinese legends.
He’s looking after a five-year-old boy and really enjoys working with him—even when the little guy teases him a bit. Admir sees it as the perfect opportunity to build his teaching skills. Since he already knows a bit of Chinese, spending time with the boy has also helped him practice his language skills:
There’s no better way to learn Mandarin than through the simple vocabulary kids use.
Admir also found an unexpected friend in the father:
The dad surprised me with how much he knows about Yugoslav history—and even our football!
Thanks to meetups organized by the agency in Shenzhen, Admir has also made friends with other participants in the area, spending free time together and building connections.
His journey still has at least three more months to go, but something tells us he’s only just getting started. You can change your life in the same way—experience the magic of the East, make new friends, and build meaningful connections. Sign up for our program and start your own adventure.
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