At 16 years old, I took the biggest leap of my life—I packed my bags and moved from my small town in southern Italy to China, a country where I didn’t speak the language, didn’t know a single person, and had no idea what to expect. It wasn’t a casual decision. It was the result of months of preparation, a rigorous national selection process, and, most importantly, an unshakable curiosity that had always pushed me beyond the familiar.
I had always been fascinated by different cultures, languages, and ways of life, but growing up, I didn’t have the opportunity to travel much. So, when I discovered “AFS Intercultura” association —an organization that offers high school students the chance to study abroad —I knew this was my chance.
The process wasn’t easy. Unlike other exchange programs where you simply pay to go, this required me to prove my motivation, adaptability, and determination. After months of applications, interviews, and national-level tests, I was awarded a fully funded scholarship to study in China for one year.
Naturally, people asked me: Why China?
I could have chosen many other destinations—many of my peers picked English-speaking countries like the U.S. But I wasn’t looking for the easiest or most familiar option. I wanted a real challenge, a place that was completely different from my own culture. I had always been intrigued by China, a country with thousands of years of history, a language completely different from anything I had ever learned, and a culture I knew little about. The unknown excited me.
In August 2017, I boarded a plane to Guangzhou, a metropolis of over 18 million people—far from my quiet hometown in Calabria. The moment I stepped off the plane, the humid heat hit me like a wall and I was shocked. As we drove into the city, I remember looking out the bus window, seeing tall skyscrapers and neon lights, and thinking: “I can’t believe I’m actually here.“
The first days were overwhelming. My host family spoke very little English, and I could barely say “hello” and “thank you” in Mandarin. Even simple tasks like ordering food, understanding signs, or navigating daily life, became small but significant challenges. I vividly remember struggling to eat with chopsticks, my hands cramping from the unfamiliar grip, and calling my mom back home, worried that maybe I had taken on more than I could handle. “I don’t know if I can do this,” I told her. “No one understands me, everything is different, and I feel lost.” But deep down, I knew this was exactly why I came—to push past the discomfort, to learn, to grow.
And I did.
Within a few weeks, I started adapting. I carried a small notebook everywhere, writing down words, asking people for translations, and practicing Mandarin whenever I could. High school was an entirely new world—I was the only foreign student in my class, and aside from one other exchange student in the entire school, I was truly on my own. But instead of seeing it as an obstacle, I took it as an opportunity. I embraced the challenge, studied hard, and by the third month, I could communicate in Mandarin.
That year changed everything. It wasn’t just about learning a new language or living in a different country—it was about breaking stereotypes, immersing myself in a culture so different from my own, and realizing how much the world had to offer beyond what I had known. Before going to China, I had heard so many misconceptions—people told me the food would be strange, that the cities wouldn’t be developed, that the culture would feel isolating. Instead, I found a place that was vibrant, modern, and full of kind, hardworking, and welcoming people. Guangzhou became a second home to me, and China became a part of who I am.
Looking back, taking that leap at 16 was the best decision I ever made. It gave me independence, resilience, and an open mind. It taught me how to navigate the unknown with confidence. And most importantly, it set me on the path that led me to study, live, and travel around the world.
At the time, not everyone supported my decision—some of my friends thought it was strange, even crazy. But now, those same people are fascinated by my experiences. And that’s the thing about taking risks and stepping outside your comfort zone—it changes you in ways you never expected, and in the end, it’s always worth it.