Wudaokou Watch: “China Has Taught Me a Lot”
In this Wudaokou Watch column, we'll profile a different Beijing-based student from abroad each week to hear about their life in China's capital.
What is your name and where do you come from?
I’m Souphatta Soubandith, nicknamed Ta, and I come from Laos. I am a student at Beijing Technology and Business University. Laos is a small landlocked country in Southeast Asia which originated in southern China and moved southward, forming a kingdom in the Mekong River in its present-day location. Laotians are becoming increasingly known for their exquisite hand-woven textiles in cotton and silk with intricate tie-dyed designs. Basketry is another Lao specialty.
Why did you come to Beijing?
I came to Beijing to study. I want to experience a culture so unlike my own because I love learning about people, about our lives, and how one species can live in so many different ways. I came to learn Chinese, try the food and drinks. I wanted to experience what I could not experience in my own country.
How is life in Beijing different from your home country?
Life in Beijing is totally different from my home country. China has some foods we don’t have but we also have foods they don’t have here. In Chinese culture, they celebrate Chinese New Year and other interesting and amazing festivals. China is a very developed country.
What are the biggest challenges for you here?
I have made many friends in Beijing but communicating in Chinese and English is a bit challenging. I sometimes also struggle with eating food with too many spices, and the weather is very cold in winter and very hot in summer – the seasonal changes here are extreme. Otherwise, I am coping with every situation here and having fun.
What are your three favorite hangouts here?
First is going to meet my friends and have fun together – my most favorite hangout is my best friend’s place. The second is Wudaokou; it’s a good place to meet many foreigners in the day and evening. The third place is my school, as I often eat with friends from my country and other countries.
What do you do when you are feeling homesick (AKA is there any of your hometown foods or culture available in Beijing)?
I rarely feel homesick because the representatives of our committee organize events that bring us together and we interact and have fun together. I also go to the gym and exercise; that makes me feel relaxed.
What do you love most about Beijing?
I love many things here. I love social media and mobile payment applications; WeChat which is very convenient in our daily lives here in Beijing. I love shopping and there are many shopping malls here, so I get a variety of products from the many shopping malls.
What is your most memorable Beijing experience?
I have had many memorable experiences, including going to many tourist places in China such as Tianjin, Shanghai, as well as attending many activities in my university. I have had a lot of fun in Beijing and traveled to many places in China.
How has life in Beijing impacted you?
I have met many people who have shared their experiences with me and have been inspired in one way or another. I have learned a lot.
What inspires you and what are your future plans?
My future plans are to continue my studies until I receive a PhD degree. I like learning Chinese and I hope my Chinese will improve a lot. When I finish my studies here I will go back to my country and find a job with a Chinese company.
Are you a student in Beijing? Let us profile you and your unique experiences here. Drop us a line at editor@thebeijinger.com and we’ll get back to you to schedule an interview.
Photos courtesy of Souphatta Soubandith
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