The Model United Nations trip to China was one of the most unique experiences I have ever had. Being completely submerged into a culture quite different than ours was a great learning opportunity. I have been thinking about doing something that requires traveling to foreign countries and working with the local population, and this trip has been a positive influence on my career decision.

            In Beijing, we had a chance to tour the city and do sight-seeing for two days. I enjoyed seeing how Beijing manages to balance both their heritage and their progression into the modern age. The Great Wall will always be a special memory for me. Not only is it a physically demanding action to climb the wall, but it is also mentally demanding. Getting up the Wall is an act of perseverance, which is a lesson applicable to everyday life.

            Visiting the Northwestern Polytechnical University in Xi’an was the most rewarding part of the trip. We had the ability to go out and experience the culture for ourselves, opposed to just running around the city on tours. We also got to meet the students in the English program and those on the Model United Nations team at the university. It was a pleasure to visit with the students and see how much we had in common, even though there is quite a distance between us.

            Overall, my experiences in Beijing and Xi’an were memorable, and I am thankful for this very rare opportunity of traveling abroad.