We are using cookies
Some of them are essential, while others help us gather statistics that enable us to offer you a better experience on our website.
Spending a semester abroad is an opportunity to step outside your comfort zone, immerse yourself in a new culture, and see the world from a different perspective. For Valerio, studying at Tsinghua University in Beijing was more than just an academic pursuit—it was a journey of discovery, filled with thought-provoking discussions, cultural encounters, and personal growth.
In this interview, he shares his experiences navigating university life in China, from the classroom to the bustling streets of Beijing. He reflects on the challenges of adapting to a new academic environment, the friendships formed along the way, and the moments that made this exchange truly unforgettable. Whether you’re considering studying abroad or simply curious about life as an international student in China, his story offers valuable insights and inspiration.
Hej, thank you for joining me today. I’m excited to hear more about your journey and the insights you’ve gained. To start, could you tell us a bit about yourself and your academic background for the Lunartimes readers?
Hej Anahita, 你好！Thank you for inviting me to this interview. In the previous years, I gained a lot of encouragement just by sitting with some older students and listening to their stories. I hope I could share analogous insights to the LunarTimes readers.
In this real moment that I’m writing to you I’m in a coffee shop in Shanghai. In this city, I’m conducting fieldwork at Fudan University valuable for my final thesis that I will (hopefully) defend in May 2025. My research focuses on the scholarly debates internal to China’s international relations academy surrounding China’s foreign policy towards the European Union. To put it simply, I will interview Chinese scholars about and read articles related to how China shall interact with the EU.
Before settling in Shanghai, I spent the autumn semester of 2024 as an exchange student at Tsinghua University, in Beijing, where I learnt about China’s approach to international relations and its worldview. This experience turned out to be significant not only for academic purposes, but also to grow personally and to understand China better. During my bachelor’s years, I have already had the opportunity to spend a semester abroad. In September 2022, indeed, I went to Istanbul, where I got to know and enjoy Turkish history, cuisine, and people.
What inspired you to study Asian studies? and why did you choose China for your exchange?
I clearly remember the moment I decided to apply for the master’s in Asian Studies at Lund University. It happened exactly two years ago, in these days, when I was completing my final exams in Istanbul. During that time, I met a few Italian graduate students that were specialising in Asian and African studies. To be honest, I thought that the scope of their programme was too broad for me, but by listening to their stories (as I mentioned earlier this is a key factor in any major life choices we make) I grasped the motives behind their profound interest. Their passion was sincere, and it transpired from their dedication to master the disciplines as well as from the ideas they on their future.
I felt I could relate to their stories in a way. Indeed, when I was 16 years old I spent one schoolyear in Northeast China, so I nurtured an underlying attraction to this country. However, I felt that I was neither interested to commit to a China study programme nor to completely neglect my previous teenage experience.
I was about to complete a bachelor’s in global governance in that period and I was enduring an internal conflict. What would I have done after it? By ignoring the gap year option that is still not that much of a thing in Italy (unfortunately), I was about to choose between specialising on an academic discipline, such as international politics/economics/relations, or focusing on a region of the world that I would have studied in an interdisciplinary manner. I knew that I wanted to pursue something original, and I felt that moving to Sweden to study Asian studies was part of that. Most importantly, I recognised that East Asia (and China especially) was a recurring theme in any discipline I was studying in that period.
The decision to pursue a master’s in Asian studies was not difficult to take once I puzzled out these dilemmas. Sweden wasn’t my ideal first destination yet the academic plan offered by Lund University intrigued my curiosity and let me apply to the master’s. To be sure, my expectations about the programme and my student life in Sweden were not always fulfilled but I think that the ‘expectations-reality’ gap makes the whole experience way more enjoyable and valuable.
Was this exchange part of a long-term goal, or did it emerge as an unexpected opportunity?
I applied to Lund University also given the exchange opportunities it provides. Reflecting on the academic offer that included spending a semester in some of the most renowned East Asian universities further motivated me to apply to the programme (as well as to perform well once admitted). Moreover, given my previous experience in China when I was a high-school student, I nurtured a personal interest to reconnect with my then host family and pave the way for a potential return to China. Maybe to live here one day, who knows?
What courses did you take? Did these courses enhance your understanding of Chinese culture or the broader field of Asian Studies?
At Tsinghua University, I enrolled mostly in courses offered by the Department of International Relations. Specifically, I studied Theory and Practice of China’s Foreign Policy, Global Security and Strategy, and Contemporary Asian Security. Then, I followed Politics and Government of China, and Intermediate Chinese in other faculties.
These courses certainly broadened my understanding of China and its perspectives on global affairs and issues pertaining East Asia in particular. By living in Beijing, I also deepened my understanding of Chinese political, economic, and social phenomena.
How does studying in Tsinghua University compare to studying in your home university in terms of teaching methods, grading system, and academic expectations?
Tsinghua University’s teaching mechanisms consist in a mix of those I encountered throughout the bachelor’s years in Italy and my master’s in Sweden. Like in Italy, courses are taught simultaneously, and midterm and final exams occur in the same week for all the courses. Similar to Sweden, lectures consider constant student interaction that entails them reading the teaching materials before going to class. What I found truly original of the Chinese academic system is the campus life that eased studying in groups as well as working with classmates for presentations, for example.
In terms of the grading system, courses are mostly assessed via an ‘A-F’ scale and some exams include pass-fail assignments. The syllabi of the various courses explicit the weight given to attendance (which is tracked, and sometimes mandatory, for most courses), participation, presentations’ assessment, midterm paper, final assignment, etc.
Are there differences in the way professors and students interact there compared to your home university?
A first evident difference between Sweden and China is that the relations between professors and students is way more formal here. All the courses include a teaching assistant (so-called TA) that is a student of the course specially appointed by the professor as a kind of student representative of that specific course. Students enrolled in the course refer first to the TA that then forwards the questions to the professor who in turn replies privately to the TA in charge of sharing the info with the students. To be honest, as international students it is much easier to directly get in touch with the professors, which are often available to their personal contacts with you.
Furthermore, I sensed that professors here are interested in the participation of the (non-Chinese) students as if their perspectives are a window on other countries. In Sweden, I feel that professors are mostly pushed by a desire to nurture an academic debate among differing individuals rather than within a varied community of countries’ representatives. The experience was nonetheless useful to both learn from a different professor-student approach and understand Italy’s position on various international issues.
Have you encountered any challenges academically, such as language barriers or cultural differences in classroom behavior? How did you overcome them?
Professors teach their disciplines using English language. Most of them have pursued their PhD in American universities, or else have a long career that includes exchanges with international scholars. In terms of classroom behaviour, the main difference is that, as an Italian, I shared the ‘China experience’ more deeply with the non-Chinese students. Practically, this translates to often sharing the same doubts on the Chinese academic functioning and in solving these doubts more easily together instead of it being purely a personal struggle.
Some students may find building connections in a short amount of time quite challenging. How have you built connections with others, both locals and international students? Do you have any tips on this?
I have experienced several times the same condition of living in a place knowing there’s a sort of ‘expiration date’, hence I have learnt a bit how to deal with it, despite it being not easy each time neither to begin such experiences nor to conclude them. The main advice I’d share with these students is to be open to change themselves. I know that this is not an elixir for solving the struggle but the idea that lies behind it is that people usually embark on adventures seeking for the novelty and the transformation. The thing I learnt in these previous years is that such a metamorphosis is neither granted nor spontaneous. Surely, it is easier to be subject to change, but that occurs because we are targeted by more stimuli than we are in our natural state. I often feel overwhelmed by such stimulations, I cannot say that it is easy to react to them, especially if you (as I do) have a tranquil attitude that favour stability to variability. What motivates me most of the times is that I tell myself that the ‘expiration date’ is there and the instability moment will finish sooner or later. And with that will come to an end also all those stimuli that I was expecting to encounter when I was applying to the experience abroad and that I was desiring would induce my transformation to happen. Given the latter perspective, I then accept and expose to the inputs from the experience more easily and I have never regretted it.
I must admit that I mostly entertained relations with international students, and I would have liked to know more locals than I finally ended up doing. However, I feel that this is also part of my exchange and the consequent appreciation I have for the whole experience.
What has your living situation been like in terms of housing, transportation, and overall comfort? Did the host university offer dormitory accommodations?
I had the fortune to live in the university dorm together with other international students and many more Chinese students from all the angles of the country. I lived in a double room that I shared with a Croatian roommate. Restrooms, showers, and laundries were shared with other 80 students living on the same floor. Cleaning duties performed by the dorm staff was scheduled to be done every other day. Kitchenettes included a sink, a microwave, and a fridge in my dorm, meaning that I shared my meals mostly with other international students in one of the sixteen canteens present on campus, in the restaurants nearby, or by ordering food on delivery apps. I also bought a second-hand bike for 25 euros because classes were held in teaching buildings distant some 30 minutes on foot from my dorm.
This environment made me realise the significance of the campus life. In this sense, Beijing wasn’t central in my daily life. The university campus is located in the city, near a popular student district called Wudaokou, but it is quite far from Sanlitun (one of the most vibrant districts popular among foreigners) or the city centre. It takes more than one hour by metro with some changes, so it is easy to get a Didi (the Chinese Uber) that is quite cheap especially when shared with other passengers. Given these obstacles, I used to go out of the campus just once or twice a week, also because on campus there’s really everything you need from supermarkets to stationery stores, restaurants, gyms, a theatre, an ice-skating rick, and many more places.
How do you find the affordability of life in China compared to your home country, and was it easy to access healthcare or other support when needed?
Living in China is way cheaper than living in Europe. Food, transportation, clothing, train tickets, hotels and cultural attractions, and other daily life expenses are lower given the cheap labour conditions characterising the Chinese economy. I found the accommodation in the university dorm particularly cheap. My double room rental fee was 160 euros per month.
Luckily, I have never had to rely on the Chinese healthcare system, but I’ve heard that it’s difficult to communicate with the staff if you don’t know the language since English is not widespread among the hospital workers. However, the university staff supports in case there’s any emergency of this kind and the health insurance covers the costs, so you need to provide the receipt for when anticipating the payment.
What’s the most unforgettable experience you’ve had during your exchange?
This is a tough one, given the many various experiences I’ve gone through in these past months. I will pick one that stroked an uncommon emotional chord. During a cold evening of November, two Italian friends of mine and I were wandering around in Beijing’s hutong (胡同), narrow alleys that characterise the city centre and its traditional intricated urban structure. On a crossroad, in the distance, we noticed a small restaurant serving dumplings and decided to have a warm meal there. After we ordered our food with a quite old odd waiter, they somehow forgot of us, and we waited for literally one hour and a half for our food to be served (after a couple of impatient reminders). I can’t think of it in any other way than that it was a celestial sign considering what follows. In the meantime, indeed, three Chinese people our age sat next to our table, the only available in this tiny, crowded dumpling restaurant. By noticing the curiosity nourishing for our presence, I could overhear a girl in the group telling the others we were speaking “意大利语”(Italian). That was quite surprising because Italian is often misidentified with either Spanish or even English by Chinese people. Therefore, I jumped into their conversation and confirmed that we were indeed speaking Italian. She seemed so happy by this interaction and told us that she is studying to become a soprano one day. Upon our surprise and felt request, she then performed an Italian opera aria that touched the three of us listening to this young Chinese soprano so committed with her passion. I experienced some other special gems like this throughout my exchange that make the whole experience unforgettable.
Any favorite food, activity, or place in China that you would recommend?
Well, in terms of food I love Xinjiang food that has Central Asian, Turkic, and Islamic influences. Probably, it’s simply for its familiarity with the Turkish culture and the reconnection with the Mediterranean flavours that make me enjoy it that much. Dishes such as cumin lamb and barbecue skewers (烧烤) are my favourites. Originally from Xi’an, in Northwestern China, ‘Roujiamo’ (肉夹馍), basically stewed chopped meat in a piece of bread (traditionally served clay oven-baked), is also a must in my culinary suggestions. Noodles are also another favourite (maybe because they remind me of pasta?). Here in Shanghai, I liked eating a noodles with a crab cream topping (蟹黄面).Back in Beijing, I enjoyed eating ‘Zhajiangmian’ (炸酱面), essentially noodles served with a fried bean salty sauce. Despite all of that, the thing I will miss the most is eating ‘Xiaolongbao’ (小笼包), steamed stuffed buns served in small bamboo steaming basket, at 5am after a night out with my friends. Pure emotions and unforgettable memories.
When it comes to activities, I would suggest people going to China to camp a night on the Great Wall and to visit the breathtaking national park of Zhangjiajie, whose quartz-sandstone pillars inspired the Hallelujah Mountains of the Avatar movies.
Would you recommend this program to others, and how do you think it will influence your future plans?
Absolutely! If a student is interested in mastering an understanding of East Asian contemporary developments. During the past two year, I not only had the opportunity to acquire academic competencies in the field of Asian studies but also had the chance to meet mates sharing interests similar to mines, to grow personally as a citizen with a deeper awareness of the world we live in, and to build up international experience and language skills.
I feel that the underlying pros are evident. But to make them explicit shortly, I think that the most obvious outcome that I am glad I acquired is the capacity to deal with changes, obstacles, deadlines, workloads, and various peoples and circumstances autonomously. This is the quality that I believe will influence my prospective path the most.
If you could summarize your exchange in three words, what would they be?
Reflective. I often felt the solitude derived by living in a country distant from my own. Travelling on hours-long train routes is one of the ways I spent most time with myself, often with no internet, surrounded by Chinese people among whom I felt an alien, in the middle of nowhere. This condition made me sometimes reconsider my previous life choices as if my world was crumbling under my feet and at the same time contributed to fortify many aspects of my identity and to ponder on what relates me to China.
Shared. My exchange experience was made by people which were by no means figuring in the expectations I was constructing in my mind before I embarked on this adventure. I also comprehended the value I had in the other people’s understanding of China. I often unknowingly acted as their conductor in a China foreign to them. Vice versa, they had a role in shaping my perception of China of the last few months, by making me look to it through their eyes.
Vivid. This term alludes to the fact that China evoked many extreme sentiments in me. Sometimes I felt fascination, dreaming for a long-term stay in China, some others repulsion, craving the ‘expiration date’ to arrive as soon as possible. Sometimes I felt optimism, thinking that I finally figured out how the whole system works, some others hopelessness, knowing I’ll never be able to decipher its complex intricacies. The China I lived made me broaden my emotional spectrum in a way.
Again, thank you so much for having this interview with me. I wish you the best in your academic journey and hope LunarTimes readers find this interview insightful about exchanging experiences.
Thank you for having hosted me today. While answering to your questions I had to reflect deeply on the many things I encountered in the last few months, and this let me digest and appreciate my exchange experience. 谢谢你！Anahita.
I feel like the interview is pretty long so I’d also like to thank anyone who has been so curious as to go through it all. I hope this talk could inspire someone to embark on the exchange experience or else to grasp whatever life offers to us.
It’s been a pleasure sharing this conversation, and to everyone who made it to the end of this interview—your academic path is not just a journey, but a testament to your curiosity, resilience, and the unique perspective you bring to the world :)
– Anahita (Lunartimes Chief Editor)
Copy Editor: Ellen Anderson
Anahita Poursafir
I am in my second year of a master's degree in Asian Studies at Lund University in Sweden. Before starting this academic journey, I earned my bachelor's degree in Chinese Language and Literature in Tehran, Iran. During my undergraduate years, I worked as the editor of the Culture-Education section of a well-known Chinese student journal. My passion for the Chinese language and culture led me to become a Chinese teacher and translator, roles I have continued ever since. My academic interests focus on politics, economics, and media in East Asia, with a particular emphasis on China.
