Week 5 – Goodbye Beiwei

By:

Tuyet Tran

Published:

Countries

Demographics

,

Majors

Regions

5 weeks flew by so quickly. I am glad to say that this trip has played a huge impact on me. I learned how to assimilate to a very foreign culture. I have explored an interesting social entrepreneurship research question. I have traveled so much that my shoes are run down. I have learned so much more in a class – during class – rather than outside homework. I have ridden the bullet train for the first time in my life. I have climbed 3 mountains – let alone one. I have seen beautiful city skylines that I thought I’d only see in famous movies. I have gotten too many Seven Fruit smoothies and dumplings. I have invested quite a lot of money at the Pearl Market. I have become a subway expert – something that I thought I’d never ride. I have made lifelong friends and family. I have experienced both the ups and downs of moving to a new area. I have overcame the living conditions that scared me. This tripped allowed me to step out of my comfort zone and do things I never thought I even had the chance of doing. For this, I would like to thank everyone who has played a part in making this trip of a lifetime possible. I am forever grateful that I had the chance to experience this adventure with really wonderful people. In just a few more days, I will be on a plane heading back to the States with all this knowledge that I have gained in this short span of 5 whole weeks. It has been a blast!

Tuyet Tran

Hi! My name is Tuyet Nhi Tran. I am studying biochemistry, history, and business foundations at the University of Texas at Austin. College has been full of amazing opportunities and surprises for me. As a first generation college student, I had no idea what college had in store for me. It was very exciting and intriguing. One of the greatest opportunities presented to me was the opportunity to study abroad. The Beijing Maymester program immediately captured my attention. This summer, I will be participating in the Beijing Maymester program where I will be learning about the history of social entrepreneurship in China and the U.S. However, not only will I get the opportunity to learn inside the classroom abroad, but I will also get the chance to interact with students at the Dandelion school – a school with many migrant children. The Dandelion school is a pure representation one of China’s largest social issue. The program itself is the perfect opportunity for me as it combines my interest in history, business entrepreneurship, and helping others. This study abroad program will help me shape my global views and allow me to gain personal experience that will benefit me in the future as I pursue a career in medicine. I am looking forward to immersing myself in a foreign culture, trying new things that I would have never imagined, and to hopefully make even the slightest positive difference during my term abroad!