After researching Gender and Racial norms in China, I realized that there were actually a bunch of similarities between Chinese culture and American culture. That being said, I thought that researching the One Child policy that was enacted many years ago was very shocking as I didn’t know that this law existed before. Although the … Continue reading Pre-Trip Blog #4 →

During this week’s session, we spent time thinking about how our personal brands as it relates to the trip. This made me start to think about the fact that this trip is a “business trip simulation”, and that made me imagine myself a few years from now having to potentially travel internationally for business. I … Continue reading Pre-Trip Blog #3 →

After hearing about the different corporate visits that are lined up, I am particularly excited for Disney’s visit. I am a bit of a Disney fan, and I have heard a lot about how Disney changes its content a lot from region to region. I am very unfamiliar with what franchises are popular in China, … Continue reading Pre-Trip Blog #2 →

I was asked in class to think about what I am hoping to get out of this experience. As this is the first time I am really thinking about the China trip, I have realized that I am hoping to embrace Chinese culture as much as possible. Admittedly, I am not a particularly well-traveled person … Continue reading Pre-Trip Blog #1 →

Real talk, if you wanted to fit everything there is to do in Beijing in less than five days, you are going to have to move faster than the city itself. Since we will be spending most of the day at site visits, this blog is mostly for any night owls. So, let’s get down … Continue reading A guide to Beijing at night →

Three years ago, my mom and I became naturalized U.S. citizens, and since then, I have witnessed how citizenship opens doors for some people and closes the door on others. At Charles de Gaulle airport, I witnessed a young couple being interrogated for simply holding foreign passports. How long are you planning to stay? Do … Continue reading The irony of a Chinese visa →

In preparation for the trip, I have been on the phone a lot with my mom. We talked about how I can find time to be with my grandparents and family while I am there. I told her the list of cities that we will be visiting. To which, she pointed out that Zhangjiakou was … Continue reading Zhangjiakou →

This week we were asked to identify “ways of being.” I see myself being prepared. Having spent the first five years of my life living in Beijing and traveling back constantly, I am familiar with the culture and language. My identity will allow me to support others throughout the trip but also leaves room to … Continue reading How to be… →

Last summer I was a finance analyst intern at Shell. Heading into the internship, I felt hesitant about the oil and gas industry, but I knew I was given a unique opportunity to grow. Very quickly I learned the importance of speaking up and asking questions. At Shell, you are assigned a buddy—someone recently hired, … Continue reading Professional brand →

Most of my trips this past year have been solo trips. But, to have considered myself alone would have been a huge insult the incredible people I have met around the world. After fifteen different cities and countless new friends, I realized that having an open mind makes international experiences that much more rewarding. One … Continue reading One story at a time →