My China Begins in Wuhan
Leaving home is always difficult especially when you’re going to a foreign country for a long time without speaking the language. Making that decision wasn’t easy. My journey started with two broken buses in a row, which in Russia it is considered as a bad sign. But it didn’t stop me. After nearly 50 hours on the road, I finally arrived.
First, I want to express my deepest gratitude to the kind Chinese people who helped me at every step of my trip. From the moment I stepped off the plane and until I entered my dormitory, their warmth and support never wavered. I was so touched by the volunteers’ smiling faces even if their English wasn’t perfect, they still tried their best to talk to me and make sure I was okay. It felt like a breath of fresh air after leaving my home country. Another surprise was discovering that we each get our own room in the dormitory unlike my usual experiences sharing space on such trips. The place wasn’t the cleanest or freshest, but my neighbors and I worked together to make it cozy and comfortable.
Second, the summer school’s program and schedule were incredibly well-organized. I was genuinely impressed by how balanced everything was: study time, sightseeing, relaxation, and even sports. The morning lectures aren’t overly difficult, and they’re designed to be engaging for everyone even if you’ve never heard of AI before. Every morning, I leave class thinking, “Wow, the future is so close now!” A special thanks to the professors, who are always ready to answer our questions.
Evening activities include fascinating lectures on Chinese culture, which really help me understand how China works. The language lessons where we learn practical things like ordering food are incredibly useful since dining here can be a real challenge! I also love the DIY classes, where I remembered my inner child through painting and paper-cutting. Sometimes we go on city tours, and it’s amazing to visit modern companies great for future internship opportunities for example!
This entire month has been like a hurricane of new experiences, and I’m constantly drawing inspiration from this unforgettable journey. It’s hard to put all my emotions into words or capture everything happening here, but I hope this gives you a representation of how special this place is. I highly recommend visiting if you ever get the chance!
