Antiguos alumnos:
Beatriz Zambrano
15 th of July of 2011, everything changed. I took a plane to China, because why not? It seemed like a logical option to travel 13,000 kilometers at the age of thirteen. And I would never be the same person
again.
After having arrived, I remember looking at the scenery and being extremely confused. I was not doubting myself, I knew it was the right choice. But still, the contrast shook me. There were people riding on motorcycles with pigs, but simultaneously the biggest skyscrapers I had ever seen in my life.
How could a city be innovative and traditional at the same time? How could it smell like barbeques at 18.00 p.m.?
I loved it and I still do. Are you confused yet?
Well, after spending 3 years in Zhuhai, I had the incredible opportunity of, for instance, living in two different Chinese households and travelling all around China with them, enrolling in an international school where we went to take care of Marine Turtles for a week because again, why not? But not only that, I transferred to a Chinese local boarding school where I was the only Westerner. I had to get used to students touching my nose as they believed it was high, touching my eyelashes because they seemed long and my hair as it was golden. I had to get used to stares and pictures being taken of me.
When I stepped out of my comfort zone and went there, I had a good feeling but I would have never guessed that I would model for magazines, go to the radio or participate in a governmental advertising
campaign.
And so, enchanted and amused, I stayed 2 more years. At the age of sixteen, after having been in a Chinese local boarding school for a year and a half taking all my courses and examinations in Chinese,
achieving HSK6 level (similar to Proficiency in Cambridge), I decided to start living by myself. I enjoyed the opportunities China offered me, but I wanted more freedom. Living on my own was harder than I
expected. Simple actions such as eating all of the sudden took so much time and effort: going to the store, carrying the groceries, putting them in the fridge, cutting the ingredients, cooking and
afterwards… cleaning!! – That does teach you the value of the little things in life. Was I growing up?
Wow…
I am not saying any of it was easy, there were many very tough moments and I made mistakes, but it was worth it. I could observe myself developing and growing daily.