Shreya Patel

Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, China

China is disorganised, chaotic and often dirty and unkempt. China is also one of the most intriguing and mesmerising places, full of hospitable, curious people. It is here I learnt how to be more forgiving, patient, resilient, demanding and questioning. My year abroad hasn't always been easy, but I've come back from it a better person, having met incredible and inspiring people. Thanks to them I have discovered new passions and goals in life. Once you go abroad you can never truly come back. It sounds scary but it is also inspiring and life-changing.