Computing student Egle Sciglinskaite returns from a great experience in China, thanks to the De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) Confucius Institute (CI) and #DMUglobal.
Reflecting on her time learning Mandarin in Beijing, Egle, who has just completed her first year at DMU said: “Because it was so different, I was attracted to look everywhere. I had to see everything.
“I found it really breathtaking. Everything was twice the size!”
She continued to sum up her experience: “It will help with both my future career and studies. I improved my language skills and I am thinking of continuing to learn Mandarin.
“It will be good if I want to work in China or in a company in the UK and they need Chinese speakers.
“I also think it is good to show adaptability and independence because I went on the trip by myself.”
#DMUglobal is the university’s celebrated programme offering students the opportunity to benefit from a valuable international experience during their studies.
Egle stayed at the University of Science and Technology Beijing (USTB), one of China’s most prestigious universities – and one with which DMU enjoys a successful international partnership.
Spending her mornings attending Mandarin and culture classes at USTB, she also had plenty of opportunity to take in every day Chinese life.
She said: “In the evenings, I often watched the local people dancing in groups in a square and I joined one of these dances and learnt the waltz.”
On her days off, Egle was able to explore some of the famous sights in and around China’s capital, including the Summer Palace and the Great Wall of China.
She described the challenges of navigating her way around the city: “In the first week, I got so lost and found it hard to get around.
“Beijing is like a maze, but I had a really good Chinese buddy. Finding someone to help and a good map were important.”
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Discussing the things she found different about life in Beijing, she said: “Everyone eats out all the time and there are so many good restaurants to choose from.
“The shopping centres are bigger, with six or seven floors and I saw the longest elevator I have ever seen.”
Egle added: “The experience helped me a lot, particularly to comprehend what my life would be like if I lived in China. I want to see Shanghai and Hong Kong too now.
“I am already thinking of going away next year, with #DMUglobal again if possible.
“I think other students should try any of the #DMUglobal opportunities depending on their interests.
“It makes you think differently and you comprehend how different people live.”
USTB worked closely with DMU’s CI to offer this opportunity, through a special China scholarship advertised with #DMUglobal. The CI is the university’s centre celebrating Chinese culture and language on campus.
Posted on Monday 3 August 2015