12 years in China shaped my view of the world

We're at the park when an Asian-looking family pulls up. "Listen for Chinese and then go talk to them," I say surreptitiously to my husband as I keep watching over our two kids.

Chatting up random Chinese people has been an increasingly common occurrence for my Chinese husband and me since we moved from Beijing to Australia a few weeks ago. At first, I was encouraging my husband to do it to meet those who may have similar experiences to his. But I soon realized that I was also equally craving the company of Chinese people — the people whose country I lived in for over a decade.

I arrived in China from Australia as a student with a love for travel, culture, and adventure, and China did not disappoint.

My adventure began in the winter of 2014 at the country's renowned Peking University, for my one-year Chinese language learning program as part of my Asian studies bachelor's degree in Australia.

If you had told me at 22 that my "Year in China" program would turn into 12 years in China — a period where I would also complete a master's degree, begin my professional life, get married, and have two kids — I would have thought you were crazy.

In the bustling city of Beijing, each day brought something new. I quickly became captivated by the dedicated and hardworking nature of the local students, and I was soon calling my classmates from countless different countries my friends as we explored the city together.

On the streets and in the university, there was a real energy I had not felt before back home. Things were always happening, new shops were opening, and people were on the go everywhere. High-speed railways and skyscrapers sat alongside traditional buildings and tiny hole-in-the-wall eateries. In short, the place was exhilarating.