Author: Kash Brown
Rise and shine—our first full day in China was packed.
We were up early, dressed in matching blue polo shirts provided by Hebei University of Technology, ready for our first cultural deep dive. The shirts were fresh, but let’s be real—they ran super small. If you normally wear a medium, you were rocking an XL. Fashion adjustments aside, we came downstairs ready to roll.
When we got to the bus, we found out we’d be sharing transportation with another student group—about 24 students from Finland here for a three-month study program. We were encouraged to mingle and connect, and naturally, we sat on opposite sides of the bus at first (them on the left, us on the right), but energy was open and positive all around.
Breakfast, Tianjin Style
After experiencing a full banquet-style dinner the night before, we expected something similar for breakfast. Instead, we pulled up to a humble local restaurant with outdoor seating on the sidewalk. It was cozy and authentic.
The staff was welcoming and wasted no time bringing out dish after dish of traditional Tianjin breakfast foods like Jianbing guozi —some dishes were different, some surprisingly good, and one in particular—a sweet bread—was a hit with everyone. We could’ve eaten that all week.
After eating, we had a few minutes to talk with the Finnish students before heading to our next stop.
Touring the Hebei University of Technology Museum
At the museum, we split up into two groups—Americans with one tour guide, the Finnish students with another. We took a group photo outside before beginning a one-hour tour through China’s educational and cultural history.
One part of the tour that stood out: learning how a former Chinese leader discouraged education, encouraging people to live as peasants. Later, under new leadership, China shifted to a forward-thinking model, valuing education and forming partnerships with global universities like Cambridge. Seeing how they evolved into a hub for innovation and technology really hit home.
Another highlight from the museum tour was learning about Yu Zitan, the first female college student to attend Hebei University of Technology. She broke barriers by enrolling in the Department of Chemical Manufacturing and later went on to become a professor at the Northwest Institute of Technology, paving the way for future generations of women in STEM.
Before leaving, we took a bathroom break and got our first real intro to Chinese restrooms. Instead of Western toilets, they had squat-style ones—a cultural adjustment for sure. Luckily, we’d been told to bring our own toilet paper, but it was still a surprise for most of us.
Opening Ceremony & Introductions
Next up: the official opening ceremony at Hebei University of Technology. We met education leaders, international students, and Abby—the local program lead for Journey to the East. Each of them introduced themselves and shared what they hoped we’d gain from the program.
Then it was our turn. One by one, we shared our names, backgrounds, and what we were most excited to learn while in China. After intros, we were called up in groups of five to receive our very own Hebei University of Technology backpacks and take a group photo. A great touch to make us feel welcomed.
Lunch: Lazy Susans & 20+ Dishes
We headed to lunch where we were seated in three private rooms upstairs, each with large round tables and spinning tabletops (lazy Susans). It made it easy to try everything without reaching across the table.
They brought out dish after dish after dish—at least 20 in total. There was a heavy presence of pork (about 60% of dishes), but we also had chicken, tofu, beef, and veggie options. A few of our group members had shellfish and peanut allergies, so we had to wait for Joy, our translator, to tell us which dishes were safe—which wasn’t always immediate. One standout surprise? A dessert-looking dish that turned out to be cold mashed potatoes with berry sauce. Unexpectedly good.
Robotics, AI & 3D Printing Innovation
After lunch, we visited the Scientific and Technological Achievement Center at Hebei University of Tech. The center was focused on robotics and AI.
They began with a lecture on innovation, tech design, and how students at the university turn their ideas into reality. Afterward, we got to see some of their work in action—robots built by students that were controlled by remotes and could shoot golf balls across the room. A few of us even got to test them out before moving on to our next challenge: building our own miniature robots.
To kick things off, we were split into six groups, mixing American and Finnish students together to build our own AI robots using 3D-printed parts. They showed us a video tutorial that made the process look easy—but once we got started, we quickly realized it was more complex than expected. Some teams ran into wiring issues, while others got their robots up and running smoothly, responding to voice commands and prompts.
Once we wrapped up the activity, they let us keep the completed robots we built—definitely a cool souvenir and a reminder of what we’re capable of when we collaborate and problem-solve together.
Hands-On Dumpling Making + Dinner
To close out the day, we headed to a restaurant for a dumpling-making session. None of us had done it before, so it was a fun, hands-on experience. We learned how to flour the dough, add the filling (pork or seafood), and fold it into proper dumpling shapes.
Soon after, the Finnish students arrived and joined in. Once everyone finished prepping their dumplings, the restaurant staff cooked them and brought them out with the rest of our meal. Eating something we’d actually made ourselves made the meal that much better.
Calling It a Night
After dinner, we hopped back on the bus and returned to the hotel to finally wind down. It was a full day of cultural exchange, history, hands-on learning, and new friendships forming—exactly what this program is all about.
Tomorrow’s another adventure. Let’s go!
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