Tracy Wei
Tracy Wei (she/her) - Stanford in Beijing
Major: Symbolic Systems
College year while abroad: Sophomore
About the photo: Me in Furong Ancient Town, a beautiful "fairytale waterfall town" near the Avatar Mountains in Zhangjiajie!
Contact
Email Tracy or schedule an appointment
Q&As
Why did you choose to study in Beijing?
I’ve been to China before as a little kid visiting family, but I’ve wanted to experience what modern China is like as a young adult and college student while immersing myself in the culture and language. So when I saw that the Beijing program was being offered and at an incredible university like Peking University, I jumped at the opportunity!
What were your expectations before you went and how did they change once you were in Beijing?
I had heard a lot about surveillance in China, often with negative connotations, but when I arrived, I was surprised to find that it actually contributed to a sense of safety, and it made being outside at night in the city, even alone, feel safe. I had also heard about how people in China tend to gawk at and take photos of and with foreigners, particularly outside more international neighborhoods. While I didn’t personally experience this myself due to my Chinese-American appearance, I noticed it when traveling with my friends. However, for the most part, we found that people were generally friendly and curious. In fact, one time, some locals even treated us to free ice cream!
What were some of the academic benefits from studying abroad in Beijing?
Before this study abroad experience, I hadn’t taken any political science, economics, or international relations classes, so I was initially nervous about what to expect but found myself enjoying learning new things. I came out of the program with stronger writing skills and a deeper understanding of China and its global role, especially as U.S.-China relations become increasingly significant. Engaging in conversations with Chinese students and locals further enriched my perspective
What did you learn about yourself while studying abroad?
Despite being terrible with directions, I learned that I’m more capable than I give myself credit for in navigating new places and traveling. I gained more confidence, found myself to be more adaptable and willing to go with the flow of things, and become better at problem solving in tough situations. I’ve also met and connected with more people than I thought I ever could, from local restaurant owners to a tea apprentice around my age.
What was the most challenging experience you encountered while abroad and what did you learn from it?
Learning how to balance making the most of my study abroad experience with my health and daily habits. In China, I wanted to maximize my weekends traveling and explore Beijing during the weekdays, taking advantage of all the fun things there was to do in the city. I found myself constantly traveling or on the go, staying up late, and trying to experience everything possible. Eventually, it caught up to me, especially with my sleep and my skin, but I learned how to better balance my life, being more mindful about making time to prioritize rest and wellness.
What was the biggest cultural adjustment you had to make?
Having to bring around toilet paper with me everywhere since not all restrooms have it and the squatting toilets.
What was your favorite part of everyday life?
Biking on our blue Alipay bikes from SPKU to the 4-story dining hall on the PKU campus to try something new from the incredible selection of food and chat and laugh with everyone.
What was the most memorable experience you had while in Beijing?
A day during our Guizhou field trip where we picked tea leaves at a tea plantation, got to see the tea-making process, experienced a traditional Chinese tea ceremony, learned how to make matcha, and the most fun part, driving and riding ATVs and scooters around the fields to see the beautiful scenery while racing each other! The conversations and laughs shared on the bus ride back and during the family-style dinner at a huge round table afterwards made the experience even sweeter.
What 5 words would you use to describe the experience?
Unforgettable experiences, people, and places.
What was your favorite food or music?
Soybean milk (dou jiang) with any sort of Chinese breakfast food like jianbing guozi or soup dumplings
What was the most valuable item you took on the program?
Super practical but portable charger! Almost everything in China requires your phone so had to make sure it had charge at all times