What inspired you to go abroad?
If someone told me that after I graduate from University, I would move to China for a marketing internship, I would have laughed in their face. But now I am the one laughing, because this turned into one of the best decisions I have made. XMandarin Chinese Language School helped me with the VISA application process, finding accommodation, and getting settled into my new life in China. I would not have gone abroad if the gap between thinking about moving abroad and moving abroad hadn't been crossed by the helpful team at XMandarin Chinese Language School.
Why did you choose your specific organization?
The XMandarin Chinese Language School has offices in three locations: Qingdao, Chengdu, and Hangzhou. I chose XMandarin in Qingdao because they offered me Chinese language courses in accompaniment with my internship as well as accommodation assistance and VISA assistance. They were also very open and communicative about future career opportunities within the company, making me feel like this internship was worthwhile.
What was your favorite part of your host city?
I loved how Qingdao is nestled between my two favorite things: the sea and the mountains. When city life started to feel like too much, I could take a bus into the mountains to refresh and reset. After work, I would often take strolls along the waterfront and enjoy the calming sounds of the ocean, but also the delicious street food.
My HSK 1 classmates and teacher — a supportive environment to start learning Chinese.
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
Coming from the U.S.A., I think everything about China was extraordinary. Thinking of one thing is very difficult, but I loved the high-speed trains. They allowed me to see other parts of China on the weekend, like Beijing or Shanghai, which from Qingdao was about eight hours round-trip. One thing about Qingdao that is especially extraordinary, however, is the evening light shows that display across the buildings at the seaside. I tried to go as often as I could because every time I was mesmerized.
How did local staff support you throughout your program?
The school supported me with accommodation and my student visa, arranged airport pickup, and helped me settle into daily life in Qingdao by assisting with a SIM card, bank account, and essentials like where to shop for groceries around my neighborhood. With additional branches in Hangzhou and Chengdu, I can also see myself completing a second internship at their other locations.
What's one thing you wish you had done differently during your time abroad?
I wish I had pushed myself to see new places every weekend. Some weekends I would do the same things, like go for a run in Zhongshan Park and then enjoy a coffee or meal along the water, or go to the mall with my friends. While I am happy I did all these things, I wish some weekends I had taken some alone time up in the mountains or taken a train to a neighboring city.
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
On my walk to work in the morning, I would stop at a fruit stand to buy green grapes. After the first couple of days, the woman recognized me, and she would save me a bundle of grapes. Once I got to work, I would order a coffee to be delivered to my desk and start working on video edits, revamping the website, or making connections with the students and teachers. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, I would have language classes for two hours before lunch, and often I would get lunch around the office with the language teachers, students from my class, or the other intern. After lunch, I would continue working on creating events for posters or contacting potential partners, and after work, I would either meet up with friends for dinner or go for a run/walk along the waterfront.
Discovering Qingdao’s cultural side with XMandarin at the international circus and lantern festival.
What did you enjoy doing during your free time abroad?
During my free time, I often read books in cafes, go hiking in the nearby mountains, or explore the city. I tried to always go to a new restaurant as often as possible, but sometimes my cravings for my regular spots were too strong when the weather wasn't the best. I loved watching movies at the mall or grabbing milk tea and walking around any of the indoor shopping centers.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
As an intern at XMandarin Chinese Language School in Qingdao, I lived in the shared accommodation, which is a 15-minute walk from the XMandarin Chinese Language School. I really enjoyed being able to meet all of the different students and expats moving to China. I made some great friends, but had my own room and alone time when I needed it.
What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?
As an intern for XMandarin Language School, you can come to China on an X2 student VISA. It was very easy to apply for, I received confirmation that my VISA application was received in 24 hours and my VISA was approved 48 hours after that. However, the VISA is a one-entry VISA. Meaning, once you enter China, that VISA is valid until you leave the country, and leaving the country before your internship concludes would not be wise, considering the internship is on-site. Traveling within China while on the internship is okay, especially during the weekends and Chinese holidays. I have taken a couple of long weekends to explore mainland China while interning at Xmandarin Qingdao.
Would you recommend your program/provider to others? Why?
I would highly recommend this program to other individuals. It is a unique experience that gives you in-person Chinese language courses, a great internship that expands your portfolio and helps you make connections in and outside of China, and it allows you to choose from three beautiful cities in China to live. If I weren't an intern at XMandarin, I probably would not have visited China for a long time, because all of the VISA applications seem so daunting, but the company definitely made language learning and moving to China much more manageable.
Learning how to order noodles after class at one of the many restaurants around XMandarin Chinese Language School.
What do you feel is the biggest benefit of traveling abroad?
Traveling abroad helps you open up your mind. So if you are trying to be less open-minded, maybe traveling abroad isn't for you. For everyone else, traveling abroad helps you step outside of your comfort zone and test yourself not only with learning a new language but also a new culture and way of living.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
The thing about traveling abroad is you don't really know how much you have learned until you go back home. Now that I am back, I find myself missing parts of China that I never knew were possible to miss. My time in China has made me look into jobs either in China or ones that would take me to China frequently.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
To me, the term meaningful travel means going abroad for more than just one week or even one month. It is more than just a barrage of Instagram stories proving that you have been somewhere. Meaningful travel is actually relocating to a destination to experience what that place has to offer outside of the social media filters and online recommendations. Meaningful travel is the people and connections you make over the postable images you take.
