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Student Reflections
Read reflections from Mandarin Moments staff who went on our April Study Tour to China!
我们的春假在中国学旅行去很多城市。每个都有新的文化。从去中国的学校到长城，每个地方都不一样。但最让我难忘的还是杭州的阿里巴巴总部。
阿里巴巴总部是我最想要去的地方在这旅游。我已经听过了，也想象看起来像什么样。但真的阿里巴巴很不一样。只能在总部里面，才可以知道总部那么好看。阿里巴巴总部不但很高，而且有很大区域范围。
在里面，我们有一个导游。他帮我们看阿里巴巴总部的强调。它代表阿里巴巴的历史。也给我们讲阿里巴巴的29生物代表阿里巴巴29的企业。
我们拍了很多照片,但并不代表长城的美丽。大灯，高楼，就把这天在杭州变成我最喜欢的目的地。在最后，他们送我们盲盒。真是很难忘。
所有东西我看见在中国,阿里巴巴总部是最难忘。这不但是我最喜欢的目的地，而且是最念念不忘的部分在这旅行。
Our spring break China trip went to many cities. Each of them had a new culture. From the Chinese schools to the Great Wall, every place was different. But what stood out to me the most was the Alibaba headquarters in Hangzhou.
Alibaba headquarters was the place I was most excited to go to on this trip. I had heard of it before, but I also wanted to see what it was like. But the real Alibaba was very different. Only being inside the headquarters can you truly witness its beauty. Alibaba was not built very tall, moreover it covers a vast area of land.
Inside, we met a tour guide. He helped us see the emphasis of Alibaba headquarters. It represents Alibaba’s history. They also told us about Alibaba’s “29 Bio,” as it represents the twenty-nine companies in Alibaba.
We took many pictures here, but none of them encapsulated the innovation of the Alibaba headquarters. The great lights, the tall buildings, making the Alibaba headquarters such an unforgettable experience.
Out of all the places we went to China the Alibaba headquarters was the most unforgettable. This not only was my favorite part of the trip. It was also the most memorable part of the trip.
随着天空从金色的夕阳淡入到一片靛蓝的云幕，就像有人拨动开关，打开了另一个世界。踏板车呼啸而过，而人们试图过马路，仿佛置身于一场电子游戏之间。我跟着我朋友向前走，我们敬畏地凝视着各种各样的熟悉和陌生的食物，还有那些从没见过的摊位招牌。空气中弥漫着相互竞争的味道——锅炒饭、鸡排、臭豆腐、鸡蛋仔、裹着焦糖的水果串等。虽然这里既混乱又繁忙，但这正是夜市之所以充满活力的原因。
我跟着我朋友去一辆卖珍珠奶茶的餐车。我听到我朋友们在笑某个笑话，但我只听进去一半，我的思绪将聚焦于那些在我们周遭如水流般穿梭的人群——就像一群鱼儿，在狭窄的巷道间蜿蜒穿行。当我们等待饮料做好时，我们捕捉到当地人投来的目光和低语——察觉到我们的衣着、发型、面部特征的差异——暗自揣测着我们来自哪里。我们回以微笑，也回应到无意中听到的对话，用我们的说汉语的能力来让他们感到惊喜。
我觉得这个经验的最好的是可以学学到新的东西。是像去任何地方，你会学到那里的文化和谁会方式。但是来到中国有带给了我更多：一个机会用一项我在修炼在我大半生里，在教室外与现实里。
The Hainan University South Gate Night Market wakes up as the sky fades from a golden sunset to a sky of indigo clouds, like flipping a switch to reveal a whole new world. Scooters speed past, while people try to cross the street as though it were a video game. I walk beside my friends as we all stare in awe of the different signs of stalls selling foods we are familiar with and ones that we’ve never even heard of. The air is thick with competing smells—wok fried rice, chicken cutlet, stinky tofu, bubble waffles, fruit skewers glazed in sweet syrup. It’s chaotic and busy, but that's what makes the night market feel alive.
My friends and I go to a food truck selling boba tea. I hear my friends laugh about some joke that I’m only halfway paying attention to, my mind going to focus on people that move around us in currents, like schools of fish weaving through narrow lanes. As we wait in line for our drinks to finish, we catch glances and whispers of locals noticing the differences—our clothes, our hair, our facial features——wondering where we're from. We smile back and even respond to some of the overheard conversations, surprising them with our ability to speak Mandarin.
I think that was the great thing about this experience, being able to learn. Like going to any other country, you learn the culture and lifestyle of the place. But coming to China gave me something more: a chance to use a skill I’ve been cultivating for more than half my life, outside the classroom and inside real life.
“还有二十分钟！还有二十分钟！”导游的声音把我从睡梦中惊醒。“请准备好护照和随身物品，”她说。我透过窗帘缝隙向外张望，希望能瞥见长城的踪影，然而巍峨的群山与翻腾的云海却挡住了我的视线。今天是“2026年春季中国旅行探索之旅”的最后一整天，我不禁感到一种苦乐参半的滋味。一方面，我开始思念家乡；但另一方面，我又在想：如果能在这里多停留片刻，我还能去探索些什么呢？
正当我再次昏昏欲睡之际，有人轻拍了一下我的肩膀。我睡眼惺忪地摸索出护照，把它塞进了那个已经塞得满满当当的腰包里。随后，我们一行人依次走下了大巴。当第二批人马抵达时，我们像沙丁鱼罐头般紧紧挤作一团，围在一块指示牌旁合影留念。
“快！快！”我们的导游催促道，“我们的行程安排得很紧。”她领着我们上了大巴，我在车上挨着一位陌生人坐下。她看起来和我一样兴奋。我们上车有多快，下车就有多快；转眼间，我们已开始沿着近乎垂直的陡坡向上攀登。我气喘吁吁地大口喘着粗气；这一次，当我抬头仰望群山时，刺眼的阳光直射入我的双眼。又通过了一处护照检查点，我们离目的地已近在咫尺！长长的队伍随即分散开来，人们依次搭乘缆车，一路直达长城脚下。终于，我们排到了队伍的最前头。我深吸一口气，鼓起勇气迈进了缆车车厢。车门随即自动滑上锁闭，缆索牵引着我们加速向上，向着那宏伟壮丽的奇迹飞驰而去。穿过熙熙攘攘、喧嚣沸腾的游客人群，我望见了一道巍峨雄伟的石墙。“就是它了！”我心想，“这就是长城——尽显其壮丽之美的长城。”
置身于长城之上，亲眼目睹其无与伦比的宏伟气势，让我深切意识到它究竟有多么令人叹为观止，同时也让我倍感荣幸，能有机会亲身体验这一奇迹——试想，要建造这样一座绵延 13,170 英里的浩大工程，该耗费多少人力与岁月啊！在整个旅程中，我真切地体会到，在大洋彼岸，生活竟是如此地截然不同。我收获了宝贵的经历与回忆，足以让我受用终生。然而，此行带给我最珍贵的收获，莫过于能够全身心地沉浸在孕育了我第二语言的文化氛围之中，并能将我的双语能力付诸实践，与当地人进行面对面的交流。
"Twenty minutes away! Twenty minutes away!” I startle awake to the sound of our tour guide’s voice. “Prepare your passport and personal things.” She says. I peek beyond the curtain to stare out the window, hoping to see the Great Wall, but towering mountains and billowing clouds obstruct my view. It’s the last full day of the 2026 Spring China Trip Exploration Program, and I can’t help but feel bittersweet. On one hand, I feel homesick, but on the other, I wonder what else I could’ve explored with just a little more time here.
I find myself snoozing off again just when someone taps me on the shoulder. Drowzily, I check for my passport and stuff it into my overflowing fanny pack. One by one, we all step off the bus. When the second group arrives, we all huddle like packed sardines around a sign for a group picture.
“Hurry! Hurry” Our tour guide says, “We’ve got a tight schedule.” She leads us to the bus, where I sit next to a stranger. She seems just as excited as I am. Just as quickly as we got on, we were off the bus and hiking up at an almost vertical angle. I huff and puff for my breath and when I look up at the mountains this time, the sun glares in my eyes. After passing yet another passport check, we are almost there! A long line scatters into cable cars that ride all the way up to the Wall. Finally, we are at the front of the line. I suck in a breath, and bravely step into the car. The doors immediately slide shut, and the cables accelerate us toward greatness. Through the mass and fury of tourists, I see a mighty stoned wall. “This is it!” I think to myself. “This is The Great Wall in all its beauty”.
Being on the Great Wall, and seeing the absolute grandeur of it, made me realize how truly impressive it is and how lucky I am to experience it—the millions of people and time it must’ve taken to build something that stretches 13,170 miles. Throughout the entire trip, I’ve learned just how different life can be across the ocean. I’ve earned experiences and memories that will last a lifetime. But the most important thing I’ve gained from this trip is being able to fully immerse myself in the culture where my second language is from, and being able to apply my bilinguality to conversations with locals.
巴士停在了海南的沙滩上，咸咸的海水扑鼻而来。我走到沙滩上铺开的冲浪板旁。“四人一组！”教练喊道。我立刻和朋友们聚拢在一起。我们一共七个人，尴尬地站在那里，那些对自己冲浪技术不太自信的人开始争抢着跟技术好的冲浪者。我们一致同意，两个技术好的冲浪者分开，这样两组都能各有一个。
之后，每组都分配了一位教练，大家开始向那片既诱人又令人畏惧的大海走去。我踏入海中，却不由得缩了缩身子，冰冷的海水瞬间袭遍全身。我开始涉水，海水越来越深，没过多久，就到了脚踩不到底的地方，我不得不开始踩水。我跟着教练的指示，向更深的水域游去。我转身看向朋友们，脸上开始浮现出兴奋的笑容，就在这时，一个意想不到的巨浪迎面拍打过来。我呛了一口咸咸的海水，呛咳着，朋友们却哈哈大笑。
我的一个朋友第一个上了冲浪板，我们其他人则被困在无情的海浪中，任由它翻滚。我们在海里游了一会儿，看着朋友一次又一次地从板上掉下来，我们都笑个不停。
终于轮到我了。“先用后脚蹬板，然后前脚跟上。”教练说道。我爬上光滑的冲浪板，等待教练的指令。我望着海平线，等待着合适的浪涌。教练发出指令后，我用力划水，感觉冲浪板被抬了起来，突然间，世界仿佛倾斜了。我慌忙爬起来，把教练教的一切都忘得一干二净，随即又跌回翻滚的海水中。我再次尝试，浪头刚一涌上来，我就站了起来，这次稍微听懂了一些教练的指导，膝盖还是磕磕绊绊，胳膊像风车一样胡乱挥舞着。我居然真的站起来了！那仅仅持续了短暂的5秒钟，随后我便一头栽回了海里。我又尝试了几次，慢慢地、小心翼翼地，开始摸到了其中的门道！甚至有一次，我竟然成功驾驭着海浪，一路冲到了沙滩上！
我拖着疲惫的身躯爬上岸，沿着沙滩向上走去；正午的阳光温暖着我的后背，我最后一次回望了远方的海平线。我珍视着这一天留下的种种回忆——海浪带来的刺激感、与朋友们共享的欢声笑语，以及学习新事物的喜悦。在返程的路上，我回味着沙滩上发生的一切。那一刻我突然意识到：尽管那位教练讲的是一种截然不同的语言，但我却完全听懂了他的话，甚至还能与他进行顺畅、全面的交流。看来，那些年我在课堂上付出的努力，终究没有白费！
The bus pulled up to the sandy beaches of Hainan, and the smell of saltwater tickled my nose. I walked over to the boards laid out all over the beach.
“Get into groups of 4!” the instructor announced. I immediately gravitated towards my friends. There were seven of us, and we stood there, awkwardly, those less confident in their abilities started to fight over the good surfers. We all agreed that the two good surfers split up, so that both groups get to have one good surfer.
Each group was then assigned an instructor, and everyone started heading towards the inviting yet intimidating ocean. I stepped into the ocean and recoiled, the shock of the cold water jolting through me. I started wading as the ocean water got deeper, and after a short while, the point where I could no longer touch the bottom arrived, and I had to start treading water. I swam out towards the deeper water, following the instructor’s lead. I turned to look back at my friends, a grin of excitement starting to form on my face, and as soon as I turned back, an unexpected powerful wave crashed square into my face. I swallowed a mouth full of salty water sputtering and gasping as my friends laughed.
One of my friends was the first on the board, and the rest of us were left stranded in the relentless rhythm of the ocean’s endless swells. We swam around for a while and laughed as our friend kept falling off his board.
Eventually, it’s my turn to get on the board. “Get up with your back foot first and then let your front foot follow behind.” the instructor says. I crawl up on the smooth board, waiting for my instructor’s cue. I watched the horizon waiting for the right swell. When the instructor gave the cue, I paddled hard, felt the board lift up, and suddenly, the world tilted. I scrambled to my feet, forgetting every piece of information the instructor told me, and promptly fell back into the churning water. I tried again, as soon as the swell came up to me, I stood up, following the instructions a little better, my knees knocking together and my arms flailing like a windmill. I was actually standing! It lasted only a fleeting 5 seconds before I tumbled back into the ocean. I tried a couple more times, and slowly, tentatively, started getting the hang of it! There was even one time where I managed to ride a wave all the way to the sand!
I dragged myself out of the water, as I walked up the beach, midday sun warming my back, I looked back at the horizon one more time. Cherishing the memories that I had made that day, the thrill of the waves, the laughter with my friends, and learning something new. On the ride back, I reflected on what had happened on the beach. It struck me then, that even though the instructor spoke an entirely different language I had understood him perfectly and had held a comprehensive conversation with him. I guess all those years in the classroom finally paid off!
我在巴士上焦急地坐了大约三十分钟，等待巴士驶入停车场。当巴士驶入学校时，我感觉连接两种文化的桥梁终于连接起来了。海南山高实验学校巨大的校园让我得以窥见这里三千名学生的生活。高耸的宿舍楼和七层高的教学楼仿佛在拥抱我踏入中国校园的第一步。
在旅行团下车前，身着漂亮蓝色制服的学生志愿者们整齐地排成一列。所有学生的整洁程度都让我们感到惊喜。下车后，我的同伴——一位甜美的女孩——迎接了我，并送给我一些小礼物，之后我们开始参观校园。身着传统服饰的学生们在走廊上表演舞蹈，让我感觉自己像个明星。每个人都分配好同伴后，我们前往装饰精美的礼堂。礼堂里也赠送了礼物，并举行了非常正式的致辞。
我在巴士上焦急地坐了大约三十分钟，等待巴士驶入停车场。当巴士驶入学校时，我感觉连接两种文化的桥梁终于连接起来了。海南山高实验学校巨大的校园让我得以窥见这里三千名学生的生活。高耸的宿舍楼和七层高的教学楼仿佛在拥抱我踏入中国校园的第一步。
在旅行团下车前，身着漂亮蓝色制服的学生志愿者们整齐地排成一列。所有学生的整洁程度都让我们感到惊喜。下车后，我的同伴——一位甜美的女孩——迎接了我，并送给我一些小礼物，之后我们开始参观校园。身着传统服饰的学生们在走廊上表演舞蹈，让我感觉自己像个明星。每个人都分配好同伴后，我们前往装饰精美的礼堂。礼堂里也赠送了礼物，并举行了非常正式的致辞。
体验中国学生的学习生活让我对美国的学校有了不同的看法。学生们每天学习超过10个小时，大约是美国学生每天学习时间的两倍！隆重的迎新仪式让我感觉自己像个贵宾。老师和学生是我见过最有礼貌、最讲究的人。我真想再次见到我在那里结识的新朋友！
I anxiously sat on the bus for about thirty minutes, waiting for the bus to pull into the parking lot. As we drove into the school, I felt like the bridge between two cultures was finally being connected. The gigantic campus of Hainan Shan gao Experimental School gave me a glimpse into the lives of the 3000 students that study here. The tall dormitories and seven floor classroom buildings towered over me as if embracing my first steps on a Chinese school campus.
Before the tour group stepped off the bus, the student volunteers in their beautiful blue uniforms lined up in unison. The tidiness of all the students positively surprised my friends and I. As I stepped off the bus, a sweet girl who was my partner welcomed me and gave me small gifts before we explored the campus. Dancing students performed on the walkway in traditional costumes, which made me feel like a celebrity. When everyone got assigned a partner, we made our way to the nicely decorated auditorium. Gifts and extremely formal speeches were made as well.
After the heartwarming speeches and performances, my partner and I did many fun activities such as traditional pole marching, fitness dances, and fun crafts as well. When the group got invited into an 8th grade history class, I was astounded by the difference in lessons from American to Chinese schools. We got split into random groups and made a poster with the students. It was super cool interacting with kids from a completely different country in class.
Experiencing what students did in school in China gave me a different perspective on school in America. Students learn each weekday for over 10 hours, about two times the American school day! The intricate welcoming procedure made me feel like a total VIP. The faculty and students were some of the most polite and formal people I've ever seen. I'd definitely want to see the new friends I made there again!
Mandarin Moments staff in China
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