The Guangzhou air was thick with 38-degree heat in August 2025, but a new chapter was being written — not with ink, but with the laughter and stories of friends from across the world. This is the story of one summer Mandarin Study Program: how a group of strangers became, in thirty days flat, a family.
From July 10th to August 14th, 2025, South China Normal University (SCNU) opened its doors for a summer Mandarin Study Program. The cohort that gathered came from as far as Russia, Spain, France, Germany, and Italy, and as near as Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia. Nine countries, one shared purpose: to immerse ourselves in the Chinese language, and to collect memories that would outlast the month.
First, the heat
Let no one tell you otherwise: Guangzhou in summer is an event. The air itself feels like a warm towel. And yet, every morning, thirty-odd students from nine countries got up, got out, and got to class — which brings us to the first challenge of the program.
Morning class: the real test was getting up
The first challenge of the day was not mastering Mandarin’s four tones. It was simply getting up and not being late. A dedicated few were successful; many of us failed spectacularly — one to three hours late, on more mornings than we care to admit.
For those who made it on time, the teacher would start from the very beginning: 你好 (nǐ hǎo), 我 (wǒ), eventually climbing to more complex words like 希望 (xīwàng, hope).
But the best part was that class never really ended. The real test was ordering food and bubble tea without just pointing, or deciphering a menu of characters with no pictures to guide you. Every Didi ride was a chance to practice with the driver. It was a complete, 24/7 immersion in real-life Mandarin — for thirty days straight.
Afternoons: culture, hands first
After refueling with a massive Chinese lunch, the afternoons were all about getting our hands dirty with the culture itself.
Paper cutting 剪纸
The delicate art form that comes from hand, paper, and scissors. It is harder than it looks — much harder.
Mask painting
It was messy, colorful, and a ton of fun.
Tai chi 太极拳
Slow, graceful, and grounding — a relaxing way to find inner flow. That said, a good number of us gave up after a few minutes. It was held indoors for a reason: it was far too hot outside.
Calligraphy 书法
Mastering the brush takes a lot of focus — which is actually pretty difficult when you can watch the 帅哥 (shuàigē, handsome guys) in the process.
Mahjong 麻将
From cultural exchange to gambling legends — 开玩笑 (kāi wánxiào, just kidding).
The road trip
Escaping the daily grind: on our time off we explored Guangzhou, from the Canton Tower to the art and China museums, and everything in between. It was scorching outside, but that did not stop the adventure. And the ride back was an absolute blast.
Behind the scenes
Behind every successful program there are some seriously exhausted organizers. We cannot speak for the University team, but we poured our hearts and souls into this one — from meeting your faces at airport pickup and sorting out a month of housing, to navigating a Chinese hospital for the very first time (what an experience!). It was a wild ride, and every bit of energy was well spent: we got to watch a group of strangers turn into a family.
The real treasure: friendships
Our month-long adventure went by in a flash. It feels like just yesterday that we began this journey: new characters, daily conversations, cultural afternoons, and the bonds we forged with friends from around the world — all the way to listening together to the songs of an Indonesian artist on the bus home. Now it is time to say farewell, 再见 (zàijiàn) — but may the spirit of this month always walk with us on the paths ahead.
Because while we may have come to China to learn a language, we left with something far more valuable: friendships that span the entire globe. Sharing new tastes of food, getting lost in the city together, laughing at our terrible pronunciation — those are the moments that turned a group of strangers into a family.
Thank you for your dedication and your participation. 您们很棒 — you were all wonderful.
千里之行，始于足下 — a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
Want to hear from the participants themselves? The cohort’s own posts from the summer are on Instagram. And if a month like this sounds like the right first step for you, the Study Programs section on the main page is where to begin.