All the food in the cafeteria looked a little strange, and I couldn't read or ask what it was. Thankfully, I had two labmates that I worked with who spoke English, and they were a huge help. They taught me some Chinese, translated for me, and took me to nearby tourist spots like the Summer Palace. By the end of summer 2017, I had a good handle on the layout of my community, what I liked to eat at the cafeteria, and had made some friends.
I traveled back to China again to work at CAF during the summer of 2018. It was during this time that I got even more comfortable working in my community. People recognized me and I got right back into the swing of things. I now have a whole network for friends here, and the science I was getting to do every day to help save snow leopards was really exciting!
Because of my previous summers at CAF, integrating into daily communal life here now has been pretty easy. I have a great support system and network of friends, and I know my way around. I'm comfortable standing out here because everyone is so welcoming and friendly. I feel like I belong here.
