I've now been in Shanghai for one month, in China for 7 weeks, and it is as much fun as I've ever had. I live with Chinese housemates and I can see my language improving every day, the food is fantastic and so cheap - I try a new restaurant almost every night!

There's always something happening in Shanghai, there is also a great mix of foreign students here from right across the world and to mix amongst them is also a great experience, not to mention the endless party invitations. However parties are not the only way to entertain yourself, I've joined the university orchestra and am the first foreigner to do so - we have a couple of concerts before the end of the year! I also play soccer with a group of guys who graduated from Fudan but still work in Shanghai.

As an Economics/Chinese studies major at my home uni of UNSW, studying at Fudan is a great opportunity to understand a very different way that things can work. The courses I'm taking are mostly to do with development economics, particularly the transition of China to a market economy, as well as how this contrasts or parallels with other development around the world. I think I never realised how much I didn't know; studying here has been engaging and somewhat eye-opening! 

The rest of china is amazing as well. It's a vast country, my photo attached is at the beginning of the Pamir mountain ranges of the Himalaya nestled in a corner bordering Pakistan and Afghanistan. The old silk road is still full of bustling trade towns which have some of the most exotic things I've ever seen - though it's no short trip to get there, it's worth every step!