Cathy McKenna - Huangshi, Luoyang & Beijing

" An unforgettable experience."

Memorable Moments

It is very hard to narrow down the highlights from my Experience China trip as the entire two weeks were filled with laughter and excitement. I was pleasantly surprised by the activities we did in our first week at Hubei Normal University. I really enjoyed our morning watching and learning martial arts from the HBNU students. Because I was unfamiliar with the sport, witnessing the skill and talent firsthand was a remarkable experience.

Another memorable moment that deserves recognition is our trip to the Great Wall of China. This iconic landmark is something everyone has seen from a very young age so getting to walk on this ancient piece of history is a memory I will never forget. From travelling up the mountains by cable car to hiking between the different watchtowers, the views were absolutely breathtaking.

Living the Culture

Of course it goes without saying there are many cultural differences between China and Ireland. The first to stand out is the food and customs at dinner time. In China, we all sat around a circle table and shared various dishes, this was brilliant as it allowed us to sample lots of different food we had never tried before. Another aspect unique to Chinese culture was using chopsticks something we were all unfamiliar with at the start but by the end of the two weeks we were all much more confident and skilled.

Challenges

Thankfully, I can't think of anything that served as a major challenge to me while in China. The only minor thing may have been the language barrier. This was particularly tricky when we were out around the town and in the shops. My friends and I went to get our nails done one day and the ladies in the salon had no English. However, with the convenience of Google Translate it didn't take long until we were all on the same page.

Building New Friendships

Our group was made up of friendly and outgoing individuals who were eager to get to know one another, which made it really easy to make new friends. We had great craic sharing stories from the day and playing cards in the lobby every evening. I was also pleasantly surprised by the strong friendships we built with the Chinese students. The HBNU students were delighted to meet us and get to know everyone. They were so friendly, and we thoroughly enjoyed hearing about their college life and how it differs from ours.

Exploring China’s Landmarks

After our week in Huangshi, we travelled by bullet train to Luoyang. Here, we got to visit the Longmen Grottoes and the White Horse Temple. These spectacular attractions were brilliant to see and provided us with an opportunity to learn more about Chinese culture and their religious practices. In Luoyang, we got to dress up in traditional Hanfu attire. This was really fun and stands as a highlight for us all. After Luoyang, we travelled to Beijing, which saw us travel to the Great Wall of China, Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and the Summer Palace. This was probably the aspect of the trip I was most looking forward to, and it certainly did not disappoint. Each of these attractions offered breathtaking views which have left a lasting impression.

My Trip Highlights

I loved getting to take part in Chinese cultural activities such as martial arts, dance, and calligraphy. I also loved all of the sightseeing we got to do, especially the Great Wall of China, as it has always been a bucket-list destination. Although, I have to say a highlight of the trip was making new friends—both within our group of students and mentors, and with the HBNU students.

A Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity

I can't recommend studying abroad enough. The thought of going abroad with people you have never met can sound daunting, but this GoGlobal trip was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity too brilliant to turn down. It gives you the opportunity to experience new cultures and connect with new people.