I was offered this opportunity during my second year of university and within about 6 weeks of having heard about it, I was setting off with 2 other girls from my course. This opportunity offered me a unique experience, different to what would have been on offer had I just been travelling. Studying and living there for 3 months allowed me to settle and live for a short time, make friends, get acquainted with the area I was living in and to feel like a student of Beijing, with the added huge… Show more I was offered this opportunity during my second year of university and within about 6 weeks of having heard about it, I was setting off with 2 other girls from my course. This opportunity offered me a unique experience, different to what would have been on offer had I just been travelling. Studying and living there for 3 months allowed me to settle and live for a short time, make friends, get acquainted with the area I was living in and to feel like a student of Beijing, with the added huge bonus of being able to travel around and visit other cities and areas. Embarking on this life changing experience made me far more independent and daring as a person, boosted my social and communication skills, enabled me to problem solve (often!) and opened my mind to a culture so different to our own that filled me with so much inspiration. This has left me with a life long connection to the most beautiful culture and place that still makes me long for more. Show less