Visiting China will be an experience I will never forget. From visiting Beijing, Shijiazhuang and Shanghai, to meeting Frank, my Chinese companion through the trip, and touring Shijiazhuang Foreign Language School, my time in China will always be something I value. 

While I was sitting in African American Literature, Principal Mitch Gross sent an email to the West student body titled “Student Opportunity In China.” The email stated that the trip would only cost $310 (later $200), and it entailed all of the cities we would be in. I didn’t give it much thought at the time. 

After putting the opportunity off for a while, the night of the deadline rolled around. It was Dec. 19 when a friend of mine asked if I had applied. I quickly decided to apply at the last minute. I wrote up a 300-word paragraph on why I wanted to go and answered the questions on the Google form, then sent my application in.

On Dec. 23, the names of the people who got selected were sent out. When I opened the email, I wasn’t expecting to get chosen, but to my surprise, my name was written in bold black letters under the West High School section. I called my mom immediately to let her know the good news. 

One of the requirements to go on the trip was to have a passport by Jan. 10; I did not have a passport, and it was only a couple of weeks before then. As soon as my mom got home from work that day, we sat down and applied for a passport. We expedited the process and had it shipped overnight to be approved by the U.S. Department of State passport agency.  By doing this, we hoped it would arrive in time by Jan. 10.  

On Jan. 9, I got the word from my mom that my passport had been shipped and delivered to my front door just in time. Then, the process to go to China began. A couple of meetings were held to apply for visas and to learn more about the trip and what it would entail while in China. 

It was now March 13, the day before I left. I had finished packing, and I had my mom and dad both check to see that I was fully packed and not forgetting anything before I took off for the other side of the world. 

I woke up the next morning feeling a mix of emotions as I was getting ready to leave my family and friends to spend my spring break abroad on an educational exchange. Sadness, stress, fear and anxiety flooded my brain. 

At noon, we left the ICCSD Center for Innovation on a bus to O’Hare Airport in Chicago, Illinois. The three-hour bus ride felt like ages as I sat there anxiously awaiting the arrival at the airport. I also still hadn’t realized that I would be in China in 24 hours. 

After checking luggage and going through security multiple times, it was time to board the plane. Not long after, we took off into the sky and headed for Doha, Qatar. This flight would take a little over 13 hours.

While sitting in seat 41K, I sat there doing all the things there were to do on the plane; watching movies, reading my book, playing games on the screen in front of me and fidgeting with my hands. 

Time came and went, and after a long 13 hours of sitting on the plane, we finally arrived in Doha. The Hamad International Airport was the nicest airport I had ever been in. It had so many luxury stores and design brand places, as well as a rainforest inside. 

During the layover, I filled the time by eating a pizza in Gordon Ramsay’s Street Pizza restaurant and walking around the eight and a half square mile airport. I also spent some time in the rainforest, relaxing and napping. 

After an eight-hour layover, it was finally time to board my next flight to Beijing, China. I hadn’t slept in two days, so as soon as the plane took off, I was out. I ended up sleeping through the entire flight. 

Arriving in Beijing felt like a dream. It still hadn’t clicked in my mind that I was going to be in China for a week. We made it through customs and were immediately greeted by tour guides who had been expecting our arrival. 

That night, we settled into the hotel, ate dinner in a dining room, and had some time to explore the hotel before we needed to head to bed and get well-rested for the next day.

 The next day, we had a full agenda. First, all of the students on the trip from Iowa met their Chinese friend for the week from the Foreign Language School. My friend’s name was Frank. He had just graduated in January of this year from the senior foreign school and spoke very good English.

Throughout the day, Frank and I got to experience the Great Wall together, eat lunch together and go to one of the top universities in China. We spent most of the time talking and getting to know each other. 

Those weren’t the only things Frank and I got to see together, though. We also go to experience many ancient attractions, including the Hebei Provincial Museum, the Palace Museum and the Zhengding Ancient Town.   

I got to go to so many other places just like these, but my favorite was the Great Hall of People. This building was put in place to have legislative meetings and for elected officials from all over the nation and the world to meet and have discussions. 

In the Great Hall of People, there was a room for each province in China. Each separate room had architecture and artistic pieces specific to that province. Things like paintings and embroidery lined the walls of each room, creating an elegant atmosphere in each room. 

Also, in the Great Hall of People, there was a huge auditorium. This auditorium is where all 3,000 delegates in China meet for every election. During the National People’s Congress, the packed auditorium can hold up to 10,000 people. 

Gallery • 4 Photos

Kellen Craig

The "Orchard" in Doha, Qatar's Hamad International Airport brings to life one of the nicest must luxurious airports globally.

Throughout the week, I got to become good friends with Frank, and we got to know each other more and more. I even had the opportunity to meet his parents, and they took me out to a nice dinner.  

After spending a week in China, it was time to take off back to the U.S. I arrived at O’Hare Airport on Sunday night, the last day of spring break. I was so exhausted after being on a plane for 25 hours, but I was excited to see my family and to be back at home. 

This trip made me realize that in life, it isn’t always the feeling of comfort that brings you a moment you will never forget. Rather, it is that time when you go out of your comfort zone to experience or try something you never thought you would. That is when you get to experience life to its fullest, no matter what situation you are in.