By: Forrest Ogden

As someone who is an American, and who has never traveled abroad before, I wasn’t sure what to expect in realm of socializing and meeting new people from different countries. Because I stay in the international dorm, I not only meet Chinese people from the school, but also people from all over the world including Poland, Russia, Japan, Africa, and Uzbekistan. The experience was better than I could have imagined and I have learned so much about many different cultures, which in turn, forms a deeper understanding and respect for my own. As far as making friends, the Chinese people have always been friendly to me. I have not yet (knock on wood) had an experience where it has resulted negatively when dealing with the Chinese people. Making friends with the Chinese is very easy, as they will treat you very well. Friendship and the relationship with a friend that many of the Chinese people have goes deeper than most I have seen in America. The Chinese are able to truly depend on their friends and they let them know that through being there for each other. Personally, I think friendships are so strong among them due to their lack of siblings (one child policy) so the brotherly or sisterly relationships for many people is formed in the same position as a friend. It is evident when you see Chinese people that they have a more intimate and possibly more dependent relationship with friends. Throughout the journey, I have made not only friends, but connections as well, to many people. The experience could not have been better.