Before I started the journey to come to Beijing, people around me thought I was crazy to go: the harsh winter, the smog and millions of people! I have to say that it turned out exactly (well almost :)) the opposite. I arrived end of August and saw the sky as blue as the sea, summer lasted exceptionally long until October and the number of people….well let’s just say Beijing is a big Capital :)
I cannot believe how fast time has passed. Working at the Embassy, meeting new people, learning so much from everyone, many fond memories were made and friendships created so of course six months flew by so fast! I used the time outside of work to travel across China, visiting 10 cities with amazing friends, trying new food and delicacies which I never thought would taste this good! During my stay here I was able to learn and improve my Chinese, unfortunately only in the food department – but that’s the most important part in China, knowing what you’re eating!
Having worked at a small Consulate before joining the biggest Swiss Embassy in the world, I was quite surprised and impressed by not only the size of the Embassy, but also the diversity of work and the people working here. The experience and knowledge that everyone brings along, the synergies created between the different sections and the projects that we could work on definitely opened up my horizon and understanding of the world.
I enjoyed the time in Beijing. The experience at work and the amazing people I have met, who I can now call my friends, are all part of the memories that I will cherish and keep for a long time as I head back to Switzerland to continue my studies.
A big thank you to my team and colleagues, for supporting me at work and my dear friends for spending so much time with me exploring the country and adventurously trying new food. I will miss the time at the Embassy, but I’m sure we will all meet each other again whether in China or in Switzerland.
