My staying in China was from September 14 to December 11, 2003. IAESTE China offered me a working experience in the company “Triastoria Trading and Consulting” which is located in Beijing. There are so many things I would like to write about these 90 days, but unfortunately I have to be limited in this report.

　　The company I was working for was a trading company that was trading high technology products. They use to supply the Chinese petroleum industry with products produced by manufacturers located in any place of the world. For a student specialized in wastewater treatment that was a great experience! I had no idea about trading before; neither had I ever imagined how complex it is to import or export something, or what is important in a contract, or what an invoice is. Apart from checking invoices and contracts, another thing I had been asked to do was to find suppliers and contact them. This helped me a lot to realize how many different products are related to the same technology, and how can someone find the company or the technology he is interested in. Finally, what impressed me in the company was the environment. Chinese people work more time and in a different way than Greek people do. In addition everybody was friendly, and was behaving to me as I were a real employee and not as a trainee, without asking me to do things out of my skills. This, besides the fact that they were teaching me and training me helped me a lot to adapt to the company. This internship was a great experience. I would like to thank IAESTE-Hellas, IAESTE-China and Mr. Michael Li, the president of TTC, for giving me the chance to gain such an experience and skills.

　　China is a great country, with long history and interesting culture that really differs from the European. I always wanted to visit it. Everything is so different, nature, culture, people, food… In my opinion food is very important for Chinese. I think that entertainment for them means being with friends in a restaurant, eating, talking, laughing and playing games. Most of the things I tasted were delicious, I consider that cooking and eating in China is more a kind of art, rather than a way to stop feeling hungry!

　　Chinese people are different as well. They have great sense of duty, and great sense of humor! The last was something I didn't expect. I will never forget their jokes and laughs. What also surprised me was that Chinese like talking to foreigners? Although it may be the first time they meet you in a train or in the street, they are trying to start a conversation with you no matter if they can speak English or not. They are really warm and friendly, what Greeks call “filoxenoi”. Although I was the only foreign student in Beijing in Autumn, the employees of my company did their best for me not to feel lonely. I think that finally it was better being alone with Chinese, I had the chance to live with them, learn about their life learn a little bit of their language and get in their mind, something I would not be able to do if there were any other foreign students with me.

　　I could write a lot about China, about the interesting people I met in Wangfujing street, the party of IAESTE in Shanghai, the scorpions-souvlaki, the hot pools in Bei An He, the wedding of Don's friend, the delicious meal with farmers in Shen Zhen, the success of Vandi's song “geia” in Beijing's night clubs, the recipes I learned from Shandy's parents in Shanghai, how crocodile, camel and Beijing –duck tastes, about Chinese dances and music, the sky scrapers at the Bund, the life in hutongs, the prayers in the Lama temple, the great wall, the baijiu (distilled spirit) (72% alcohol !) and the rice-wine, the kite above Tiananmen square, the tea…

　　I think whatever I would write, would not be enough. You cannot learn about living and working in China as a trainee from a student's report. China is an experience and the East is magic. If someone has the opportunity to go to China through IAESTE should not loose the chance. I am looking forward to visiting it again.