Our student Marisa shares her experience about her semester abroad in China.
Hey guys, my name is Marisa Schmitt, a student from the bachelor in Business Psychology I would like to share below my experience during my semester abroad in China.
I chose China because I wanted to push myself beyond what I knew, both intellectually and personally. China has always represented depth to me, with a rich history, a unique culture, and a way of life that appeared completely different from my own. I had considered visiting before, but the opportunity to live there for several months was too good to pass up. I wanted to go beyond being a tourist and fully immerse myself in daily life, to understand it from the inside.
Once I arrived, it became clear that studying at Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) would offer experiences unlike anything I had done before.
One of my first days on campus really showed me how different things would be. It was raining, and I was trying to find my way around a huge, unfamiliar campus. I quickly realised that English would not help me much here. I tried using a translation app to ask for directions, but even that was not as easy as I expected. The person I asked understood me, but couldn't figure out how to reply on my phone, and I struggled to explain what I needed. What should have been a simple conversation turned into a small adventure. Looking back, it makes me smile, but at the time, it was a clear reminder that I was far outside my comfort zone.
This was a new feeling for me. Even though I had lived in international environments before, I could always count on at least one familiar language. In Beijing, that safety net was gone. Suddenly, tools like Google Translate were not just helpful; they became essential for daily life.
Living in China meant adapting to an entirely new rhythm. One thing that stood out to me was how much technology was part of everyday life. For example, ordering food usually meant scanning a QR code at the table, choosing from a digital menu, paying right away with Alipay, and then just leaving when finished. At first, it felt strange not to talk to a server, but I adapted quickly and found the process surprisingly easy.
Some of my expectations were challenged in ways I did not see coming. Before arriving, I thought of China as a place with a very intense, work-focused culture. While that is true in some ways, I also saw how much people value spending time together, with family, friends, and in shared spaces. There was a real sense of community that I did not expect, and it made a big impression on me.
Of course, not everything was easy at first. Getting used to the food was a real challenge. What used to be an occasional craving became my daily reality, and it took some time to adjust. More than that, the first couple of weeks were full of constant changes, learning the language, figuring out new systems, and getting used to a completely different environment. It was only after about three or four weeks that I started to feel truly comfortable.
But the adjustment period was also a turning point. As I found my rhythm, learned basic Chinese, and became more independent, what seemed overwhelming became routine, and I started to feel at home.
Beyond daily routines, what made the experience even richer were all the things I got to explore, local markets, temples, trips to other cities, and seeing places like the Great Wall. These moments were far more than travel highlights; they helped me understand the country and its history in a much deeper way than I ever could have as a short-term visitor.
At the same time, my time at the university added another important layer to my experience. Compared to my home university, campus life at BFSU felt much more dynamic, with a strong sense of community, lots of events, and joint experiences among students. Being part of that environment gave me a new perspective on both social and academic life.
One of my core memories from this time was Christmas. It was my first time spending the holiday away from my family, so it felt very different. Since Christmas is not widely celebrated in China, I wanted to bring people together and share a traditional meal. Spending that evening with others, celebrating something familiar, made the experience really meaningful. What could have been a difficult moment turned into something special, and it is a memory I will always keep from my time there.
Another thing that made this experience truly special was the people I met along the way. They made my time in China so much richer, and I am really grateful for the friendships I built. Even though we are now in different parts of the world, these connections mean a lot to me, and I will always value the role they played in shaping my experience.
Looking back, this semester was both one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences I've had. It pushed me to adapt quickly and handle uncertainty, while showing me how capable I am in new environments.
What surprised me most about living in China was not only how different everything felt at first, but also how quickly those differences became part of my everyday life.
By the end, leaving was much harder than I expected. What had once been unfamiliar had now become a new home, and saying goodbye to the place and the people was the hardest part. A semester all of a sudden felt far too short.
If someone asked me today if I would do it all over again, my answer would be yes, without any hesitation.
Because, beyond everything I learned about China, this experience changed how I see unfamiliar environments. Now, I see them not as obstacles, but as opportunities to grow and learn.
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