Suzhou, China: Isabel Kisiov
The one thing I wished I would have known before going on exchange is…
How unreliable my bank was. Although I had taken every measure I could for my cards, because I was paying in China, I was completely locked out of my account for security reasons, which is quite literally the worst thing that can happen to you in China, since everything is digital and cash does not exist. Thankfully I had planned most of my exchange using wise and this only happened at the end of my trip (followed by hours on the phone), but being stranded in China with no access to money is troublesome to say the least.
My favorite part of going on exchange was…
Finding a home away from home in Shanghai. I had many positive expectations before going on exchange but the one thing that surprised me the most was how comfortable and how at home Shanghai made me feel. Across the country, Chinese people were helpful, curious and always welcoming to exchange with me. I learned so much from Chinese culture and the people, and I am forever grateful for the memories and places I got to visit.
I recommend going on exchange because...
You will live the experience of a lifetime and make lifelong friends. I created a tight-knit friend group with other exchange students I met and you bond quickly because you're all in the same situation. If you've never lived far away from home or without your parents, it also shows you how independent you are and you get to learn to enjoy travelling by yourself and your own company. Don't be scared and just go for it because you are not alone!
The Coolest place I visited while on exchange was…
ZhangJiaJie UNESCO heritage national park, aka the Avatar mountains. From the moment I saw Avatar in 2009, I knew I would visit Zhang Jia Jie at least once in my life. I have visited many surreal and beautiful places in the past, but nothing compared to the feeling I had when I saw the Hallelujah mountains. I was alone floating up to 1000 meters in the sky, surrounded by clouds, and valleys or rocks. I even unknowingly climbed 3km of stairs (literally JUST stairs, I don't know how I made it out), but it was worth every drop of sweat.
