Christmas in China

December was definitely one of the quickest months here in China! All the Scots on Floor 7 were feeling festive from the very start of the month and we couldn't wait to decorate the hall and our rooms! On the 1st we all made a giant paper chain down the corridor and around our doors. It was strange being away from home at Christmas in a place where many people don't celebrate like we do, however it was exciting to share our Christmas traditions with our friends from around the world! My roommate and I bought a Christmas tree and my family sent me decorations from home!

Christmas Day in China was definitely one to remember, normally my family and I have a traditional Christmas dinner at my Nana's but this year we all enjoyed an Indian in Tianjin! All the scholars and our Chinese friends did a secret Santa, which was a lot of fun and made us all feel a little better about being so far from our families when we have our own kind of family here in Tianjin.

After Christmas Day it was straight back into studying as we all had exams at the beginning of January. However, we had a day away from our studies to visit Beijing for New Year. We got the bullet train to Beijing and then a bus to a ski resort near the Great Wall. Some of us couldn't ski so we enjoyed the music. It was a great experience to bring in the New Year at the Great Wall with so many of the friends I have made in this past year.

2018 began with exams, mine finished on the 4th of January and then we are on holiday until the 5th of March. The end of my first semester here in Tianjin came with mixed emotions. I'm feeling excited to be on holiday and to travel in China but the end of the semester also meant we had to say some goodbyes to people who are heading home to their own countries. Goodbyes are always sad but I also feel lucky to have been able to meet people from so many different countries. I am really looking forward to the next few months travelling and I'm sure I will have some stories to tell you in my next blog!

I hope you all had a great Christmas in Scotland and I'm wishing you all the best for 2018!

新年年快乐,

Ana 安莱