Neil Waring- Experience China, Huangshi, China

Experience China, 2023

“A trip into the unknown, a country that now seems so familiar and will never leave our hearts.”

Moments to remember

The lasting memory from the visit to China is undoubtedly the food. We rarely ate the same meal twice and were treated to a wide selection of freshly cooked fish, meats and vegetables. These were supplemented by noodles and various rice dishes. Sumptuous, not to mention bountiful lunches and dinners were presented beautifully every day. The food that I tried for the first time, that was most memorable for me was Lotus flower stem. Its simplicity and lightness embodies the versatility and delicacy of Chinese cooking. The style of eating was very inclusive with everyone sat around circular tables sharing the food, encouraging cohesion within the group.

Exploring a new culture

It was quite surprising to speak to Chinese volunteers who were helping us and discover their interest in western literature and culture. Harry Potter was quite popular as was Taylor Swift. In one particular case, one of the volunteers was able to recite Shakespeare's sonnets. As an English student I was amazed to be so far from home and be listening to someone enthusiastically recite "Shall I compare Thee to a summer's day", word for word. Their industrious attitude to work and study offers us an opportunity to question our own attitudes in these fields. It is not uncommon for the Chinese students/ employees to work late into the night in order to ensure success. The team of volunteers who helped us day and night were a perfect example of tireless dedication.

Challenges abroad

The main challenges of the trip were the hot mid-June temperatures often in the high thirties, and tiredness. Fortunately, nearly every building was air-conditioned but it was important to limit the amount of time in direct sunlight, cover up from the sun and drink lots of water. The long trip there was as comfortable as possible but because of the length of time travelling, the jetlag, a new sleeping/ awake schedule, and the intensity of the culture and learning programme, it did prove to be a challenge. But the warm welcome received at Hubei Normal University made this busy schedule more than manageable and quite enjoyable despite the arduous journey undertaken to get there.

Making new friends

As someone who does not make friends easily and tends to sit back from participating in a group, this experience of being around a bunch of strangers day and night for two weeks was seamless. Everyone was available to help each other, whether that was deciphering language, trying to work out currency issues or simply needing a chat. It was heart-warming to see the group get on so well together, and that extends to the Chinese volunteers who were firmly integrated with us by the end of the trip.

Advice

Do it. Grasp these opportunities now while you are a student at Ulster University because these experiences are difficult to replicate once your time here is done. The mix of cultural and learning opportunities make this a unique experience that you get to participate in with a huge amount of support from fellow students, the Go Global team, and foreign institutions.