Writing this last blog reminds me of all the wonderful experiences our Plus3 group had in China. I would like to share my highlights from each city. I was nervous to be in another country not knowing the native language, but Beijing changed my feelings quickly. Visiting the Great Wall of China was by far my favorite part of the trip. I loved learned about the ancient history behind it and the amazing views of mountains was well worth the long hike. Also, in Beijing, we toured the Forbidden City. The classic Chinese architecture was incredible. Finally, visiting the Olympic village was so much fun. I watch all of the Olympic games and was excited to be where the world’s best athletes once competed. Moving on to Xi’an, my favorite part was shopping. We spent two nights in the market finding gifts and souvenirs to remember our time in China. Lastly, Shanghai was my favorite city we visited. The river tour was amazing, and I loved the food, but the best part was walking the streets of the city. I got to experience what local people see every day and how they live in such a massive, but beautiful city.
Even though the sightseeing was great, this trip exposed us to grow professionally as well. Although I didn’t observe any ethical issues in a finance profession, we learned how important it is to be fair and honest with investors and customers. Trust is a vital component to Chinese companies. Chris from AmCham educated me the most for my personal professional development. Since he works for a PNC international office, his global finance experiences that he shared really opened up my eyes to how companies and countries must communicate and share financial situations regularly. This trip helped me realize that I must continue my global education throughout my professional career. Visiting other countries will allow me to understand colleges that I may work with who are not from the United States. For example, I learned about the differences in the social environment of professional life in China. We heard from a speaker that Chinese people treat their colleges and bosses like family. They may go on vacation together and they take pride in using their network to help anyone in need. This is different than the U.S. social environment where most people only see their work friends in the office. Finally, I learned how important it is to be aware of global industries. China’s economy is booming and may eventually surpass the U.S. economy. Being exposed to this before I enter my career helps me understand how we can work with other countries and learn from them across the globe.
I would like to end my last blog thanking the people that made this amazing trip possible. First, our program coordinators from the Asia Institute, Dora, Nancy, Liliana, and Jane, where amazing to us. They showed us around their home country, planned our meals, and coordinated our travel experiences. I am grateful for their hard work and dedication as they made our trip seamless. They even worked off hours and took us to restaurants to help us order. The trip would not have been the same without them and it was fun making new friends from a different country, which is a new experience for me. I hope to keep in touch with them and possibly see them in the states some day! Dr. Li and Chris were our dads on this trip 🙂 Not only did they keep us safe, but Dr. Li acted like another tour guide. His knowledge about China helped me learn so much. I am grateful that they both took time out of their busy schedules to expose us to such an interesting culture. I am very happy I had an opportunity to become closer to two Pitt staff members and know they will always help us if we ever need anything on Pitt’s campus.
This trip helped me grow socially and professionally. I will forever be thankful for this opportunity. My first study abroad experience was defiantly one to remember. If I had to describe China in three words I would say it is vast, smart phones are necessary, and everyone drinks bottled water.
Goodnight from York, Pennsylvania!
Ttylxox,
Ali <3
