Two layovers and one long 16-hour flight later, I arrived to China for the first time. A wall of warm air hit me as I walked out of the Guangzhou airport. I was finally in China, and I was very excited. The next couple of days were packed with activities to help us get over our jet lag before we traveled to Zhuhai. The next day as we walked around the city of Guangzhou, we were met by tall buildings, busy streets, and a constant traffic of cars and bikes. Nested within the big city was Zhixin school, which we visited and where we learned about the WinWin education company on campus. I was fascinated by the history and strong relationship that they have with Duke University.
Something that surprised me and what would continue to surprise me for days to come was the extreme generosity and kind acceptance of the schools as they welcomed us Duke students to their schools. There were hallways and rooms with walls lined neatly with photos of students from past DukeEngage Zhuhai programs. It was impressive. I felt grateful and honored to be a part of the tenth year of the program.
One of the highlights of our time in Guangzhou was the Chinese buddies we were paired with as we did activities and toured different campuses. Within the gated entrances of the schools, the campuses were beautiful. Each buddy had prepared a mini speech for different spots on campus, and I was surprised by their high level of English and knowledge of their school. One of my buddies told me that they had each been preparing their speeches for two weeks straight just for us! Another highlight was the evening boat ride along the Pearl River. We were assigned buddies there also. The synchronized lights on the buildings were fascinating to watch, and we could see the famous Canton Tower in the distance. I am grateful to WinWin education and Zhixin school staff for the wonderful experience in Guangzhou.
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