It is a privilege to study here; I feel truly honored and humbled by my first several weeks in China. I have been so hospitably received that I feel that \u5bf9\u5916\u7ecf\u8d38\u5927\u5b66 (University of International Business and Economics) has already become my home. These past weeks in China I have experienced new things every minute of every day. I have tried new food each day; most notably there was something in a soup I was told to eat and not ask any questions about. When our host for lunch was asked if he liked what we tried, he laughed and said he definitely did not. Additionally, I have tried delicious traditional beef noodles from Gansu, hotpot, Chinese style Italian spaghetti with tomato sauce, and \u6c38\u548c\u5927\u738b (Yong He King)\u2014a Chinese fast food chain for breakfast. At Yong He King I tried Taiwanese soymilk, which is excellent\u2014this is surprising for me because I do not like milk. I have been awed by the grandeur of the Forbidden City\u2014the abode of the Son of Heaven and his court for many hundreds of years. I have seen the Olympic Park and reveled in feats of modern Chinese architecture. I have made many new friends here, and learned so much more about China in the weeks I have been here than the year before, in preparation for my arrival here.
\nThe first night here was overwhelming. On that first night I wondered if I was ready for this experience. I wondered whether I could make it through four months. I was plagued with self-doubt that I had never before experienced. For over a year, I had been ecstatic at the thought of coming to study China and there was not a single moment when I questioned my convictions. Over time, I had a realization. There was no way for me to be ready. Nothing could have prepared me to fly across the world, visiting a different country for the first time, to become \u5916\u56fd\u4eba (a foreign person), and to settle in to live here\u2014and in rural Yunnan for two weeks in February\u2014for four months. The only thing that matters is attitude and perspective. On the second day here I woke up remembering the vertiginous excitement I have had for over a year in relation to the prospect of experiencing the historical and cultural wonders of China. On that day I realized that everyone I have met here\u2014Chinese roommates, tutors, and other students in the Beijing Center\u2014have made the greatest effort to be friendly, welcoming, and kind to me. In that moment I was ashamed that I had ever doubted my convictions to come here even for a moment. I recognize now that I know I can already call my roommate \u6211\u7684\u670b\u53cb (My friend). I know that he will cheerfully help me through absolutely any challenges (as he has already done so).<\/p>\n
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![\"ForbiddenCityWall\"](\"http:\/\/blogs.luc.edu\/goglobal\/files\/2015\/01\/ForbiddenCityWall.jpg\")
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