GRIP, Internships Abroad Dumpling Dinner

Etonkids Educational Group - Beijing, China

Twenty hours of plane rides and bad in-flight entertainment can really take a lot out of a person. Needless to say, when I arrived in Beijing after my wearisome flight, I was wiped out already. On top of it all, this was my first time traveling alone. Navigating my way through the airports alone ended up being a more fulfilling and enriching experience than my mind had originally anticipated. I now felt confident and eager to explore my new home of two months. Then my first real hurdle reared its ugly head in front of me: taking a taxi for the first time in Beijing. After some masterful use of Google Translate and some creative hand gestures, my taxi driver and I came to an understanding. A short while later I was standing in front of my apartment complex, suitcase in hand.

I wasn’t sure what to expect at this point. I was still alone and full of nerves as I walked up the winding staircases to my apartment number. After three knocks and a few moments later, I was greeted by a friendly face and the welcoming little barks of my landlord’s small puppy. My nerves rushed away, and I felt excited once again to be entering into my new home. After some pleasant conversation and Mandarin practice, I was shown to my room where I promptly slept like a rock for the next twelve hours.

I woke up the next day starving, eager to go and explore my new neighborhood for some local restaurants to frequent. I left my room and got ready for my day when I was greeted by my landlords in the living room, making dumplings for a late breakfast. They were eager to continue our conversation from the previous night and invited me to sit down at the table with them, offering to teach me how to make some homemade dumplings. Admittedly it took more than a few attempts to get the hang of, but sooner than later I was confidently handcrafting my first dumplings. I now felt even more welcome not only in this new home but in this new country as well. With a belly full of homemade dumplings, I looked ahead to my time in China, ready to face any challenge head-on, knowing that I would learn something new with each one.