Passport Nationality

The United States

Current City

Shanghai, China

Current School

Concordia International School of Shanghai

What was one China stereotype that you thought before moving?

I used to think that no one in China cared about others at all since there were so many people; I thought that each person looked at each other as just another person.

How wrong were you?

I guess it’s hard for me to know what Chinese people actually think because I don’t know Chinese and can’t communicate with many native Chinese people, but at my school I found that the community is really welcoming. Today I can say that I was wrong because I do have a loving community that cares for me, and I also have my family on whom I’ve learned to depend more on.

Favorite spot in your city

My favorite place to be is at school.

Coolest travel experience since living in China

I haven’t had much time to travel yet besides school trips.

Favorite school trip

My first traveling experience was going to Sanya, Hainan, which I heard is known as the “Chinese Hawaii”. This trip was for the interim program at CISS, and I got to do service and spend time with friends on the beach and in the city, which was very enjoyable.

What are the top school activities you’re involved in?

I think I’m most involved in sports. This year I played volleyball and soccer. I’ve also gotten to get involved in different honors societies and help tutor students.

Have you won any awards or worked on any awesome projects that you wouldn’t have been able to back home?

Back at home, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to get involved in honor societies for the subjects I really enjoy such as science, math, and music. Also, CISS offers many more courses than my old school does, so I feel more free to do what I enjoy and want to pursue.

Write a piece of advice you would have liked to have before moving to China.

I would tell someone that he or she is the one who determines whether the move is hard or not. It was really hard for me, but the reason is that I made it that way for myself. I was always pretty negative for about the first two months, and I found it hard to enjoy things. Later I realized that I was missing opportunities by being negative, and so I’ve changed my attitude, and it’s been a lot better since.

What is your fav Chinese dish?

I don’t think I have a specific favorite dish.

Got any fake market tips?

Make sure nothing is wrong with it before buying it. Also, the price is always higher than it should be, so don’t be afraid to say no.

What was one special opportunity or activity you got to participate in while living in China? (Did you get an award for it?)

I think the coolest activity is APAC. It’s really fun to travel with friends to different places and do what you like. I got to go to APAC for volleyball, choir, and soccer, and all of them were great.