Isabella: Youth Blossoms on a Foreign Land

“Shocked and scared as I was, I decided to take the chance and study in China. Everyone is supposed to try something new when they are young, aren’t they?” Isabella Betancur, a 20-year-old Italian girl who is a sophomore majoring in Chemical Engineering at Tianjin University told the reporter when asked why she chose to study in China.

“Actually, my Dad and uncle made the choice for me when we were discussing where I should go for college,” Isabella recalled. Her dad used to work in Asia and had a passion for China. “He told me that China is developing very fast and it will offer me great opportunities in the future. So he advised me to study in China. Plus, my uncle is working in China now, so, I took their advice.” Isabella and her family did some research about Chinese colleges and chose Tianjin University because its chemical engineering discipline ranks high even on a world stage.

Isabella together with her Uncle and his son

Studying abroad alone can be very challenging, especially in a country that is very different from her own, but Isabella embraces the challenges and considers them the impetus for better growth and self-improvement. “Who knows what will happen. We have to make the best of our current life and study,” Isabella said. She studies very hard, “I have to. All my classmates are so talented. I have to work hard to keep up with them.” She plans to study cosmetology for her postgraduate study.

There are three things that have made a deep impression on Isabella since she came to China one and a half years ago.

“First, Chinese people are very kind. They are always ready to help. Sometimes, even with the language barriers, you know they are eager to help. I like Chinese people.” Isabella beamed. She is keen to make more Chinese friends.

“As I get to know more about China, I’m amazed at its vastness and diversity. It is so big and different. Things change a lot from one place to another, different dialects, different food, and different climates. It is all very fascinating.” Isabella became keenly aware of the differences among various regions of China whenever she traveled from Tianjin, a northern city in China to her Uncle’s home in Shen Zhen, a city in the south of China.

“Another thing that impresses me a lot is the rich and diverse Chinese culture. As far as I know, Chinese people have never lost their culture. I can see how it influences Chinese people’s lives. I like the traditional arts very much, for instance, Tai chi.” Isabella said.

In her spare time, Isabella loves doing sports, singing, dancing, drawing and chatting with friends. “My life here is colorful. Studying in China will be an unforgettable experience of my life.”

By Eva Yin

Editor: Doris Harrington