Hi, my name is Miriam and I been in Zhuhai now for exactly one week. However it feels a bit like I’ve been here for months now, because so much has happened already!
Initially I was quite afraid of coming to Zhuhai. The things that scared me the most was coming to a brand new city, living alone in an apartment on the other side of the world and worst of all not knowing anyone. I will never forget the thoughts going through my head when I got off the airplane. What am I doing here? Where am I? Can I really stay here for half a year, what was I thinking?
A short time later, when I was picked up by somebody from the InternChina team, all my fears went away immediately and since then I am having such a great time.
From the first day on I was made welcome and feel as if I am part of a big team, in every single situation. Even after one day there were so many people I could call, talk to about my first impressions of the fascinating Chinese world, and most importantly get to know the city and Chinese lifestyle with people in the same situation as me!
Every day feels like a new adventure. Starting with the days at work where you get the chance to learn so many things, to an unscheduled golf lesson with some Chinese people, frogs and fish heads in your bowl, photo sessions at the beach with some Chinese girls who are thinking you are looking like an animation character, trips to get to know the surrounding areas of Zhuhai, the feelings of success when somebody understood your Chinese and watching a Chinese craftsmen at work when trying to fix your bathroom door with a piece of plastic they had cut from a water bottle.
So, now I have been here for one week and I have already been able to answer the questions I was asking myself at the airport. What am I doing here? I’m having a very great time; I’m learning things I could not learn anywhere else in the world. Where am I? I am at one of the most amazing places I’ve ever seen. Can I really stay here for half a year, what was I thinking? Maybe I was thinking that the time will pass by so fast and that this will be a great opportunity and one of the best times of my life. And so far I think I’m right!