The Chinese are careful to be good hosts and leave lasting impressions on guests. They highly value relationships with friends and family.

It’s refreshing to live in a country where Marvel doesn’t dominate, and the new Star Wars installments are greeted with a collective shrug.

I hope to take some of the traditions back home when I return to the United States, both to remind me of my time here and to celebrate the friendships I have made in China.

After enduring the challenges of studying Chinese for several years, I am sure that embarking on this journey was the right choice.

Anyone living in China will agree with me: Changes are faster here than anywhere else.

The vast difference between China and the rest of the world makes living and working in the country an enriching and rewarding experience seldom found elsewhere.

Parts of my heart belong to both countries. I want to see both places continue to develop and overcome their respective challenges.

My Chinese family enabled me to better understand Chinese society, and more importantly, helped me feel right at home.