I decided to separate my trip experiences and learning points into two different parts so as to let the site be neater and easier to read. Trip experiences would be under the diary where days are divided into 4 different posts while I pen down my learning points in this individual reflection. 

There are many takeaways in this 8 days trip and it is rather hard to put them in words. Although it was merely 8 days, I understood and learnt things that I would not get to learn if I did not sign up for this trip. Sometimes, it is good to step out of your comfort zone and go over the boundaries for some new experiences. 

From education system, the chance to be a spokesperson to speaking with natives, every single part of this trip inspired me, a person as a whole. 

During our visit to Tianjin University, I was pretty astounded by the learning environment of the students there. In my own expectation, I thought an university would not be that bad an environment. However, the stench of urine swept through the whole corridor. There was no proper ventilation at all, the air was trapped inside the building, not to add the dusty floors. The students were also cramped together, making them hard to concentrate. This is definitely not a conductive learning environment. 

This again made me reflect on what we have in our schools in Singapore. Cleaners are always working hard to keep the schools clean, the classrooms are properly ventilated and tables are spread out to allow students to have more space, to feel more comfortable and to concentrate better.

During one of the talks with Min Jun, one of the tour guide, she told us that the mothers of China are trying very hard to even get their child registered into a childcare centre. The demand way surpassed the supply and some would have to head to private childcare centers. This could take up whole of a worker's wages, S$300, similar to a worker in Yakult Company, Tianjin. This let me appreciate the availability of resources in Singapore, at least we do not face these serious problems like China. The competitiveness is way higher in China, imagine the millions of people fighting for just merely childcare seats. 

We also got to know a Caucasian after lunch in the university and got to know why he was in China. He actually came here on his own to study and live on his own too. This highlights to me the beauty of independence. I would not say I am very independent after I saw a person like him. The reason why I am always against the choice of studying aboard is because I cannot accept myself to live alone at a foreign place. But after looking at a real-life example and knowing how well he has coped, it brightened up my thoughts a little, opening my opinions towards studying aboard.  

In the company visit of PowerWaterHouse Coopers Accountancy and Consultancy Company, I got to know more about the politics in China and how the government controls everything in the nation. While we are complaining over the government in Singapore, China does not even have the freedom of speech at all. The media is controlled, information are not widely available. Facebook and Twitter, social platforms are made unavailable too. They are not as well connected to the happenings in the globe and the people as many others. 

Adding on, our tax rate is one of the lowest as compared to China and we are entitled to more reliefs, family reliefs. China only allows personal reliefs. 

The visit to PWC is the best company visit of all, I really understand more about China. I did not know how the government and society was like before I came to China. They really widened my view and knowledge of China now other than those takeaways from the presentation they prepared. 

In the other company visit, Meng Niu Company, I learnt that the entrepreneurs in China are very high in EQ, their social behavior. They do not see others as competitors but friends in the same field and learning from each other. I feel that Singaporeans, whether in school or in work, should adopt the same perspective. This is then the healthy and right mindset towards reacting to competitiveness.

Meng Niu company also holds passion in innovation as they are able to come up with a new product in merely 5 days. This shows their drive in achieving success. Deep down, I am very impressed and inspired to have passion in the future career I will go after.

Adding on the list of takeaways, I find that this trip acted as a platform for me to develop my leadership skills  and presentation skills. On one of the speech, I was loss of words in front of everyone including the speaker which was very embarrassing and disappointing. Despite the fact that it made everyone laughed, but I was representing Ngee Ann Polytechnic. I was quite depressed aftermath but James, the other tour guide shared with me his experience of hosting a 3,000 people wedding dinner and giving me suggestions for me to improve on my public speaking skills.

Besides that, I find myself liking Chinese culture more and aiming to improve on my chinese speaking skills too. Although I scored a distinction in my O levels Chinese, but I was very ashamed by my standard of chinese after speaking with natives there. Afterall, my chinese is not as good as I thought and there are rooms for improvements.

Also, I am grateful for the teachers, Ms Karen Quah & Mr Ong Poh Leng for taking good care of the group throughout the trip and putting us first at all times. Thank you for their patience and planning for this perfect overseas study trip.

I also appreciate Min Jun especially for being so responsible in her work and helping us email and contact the various companies. What touches my heart was the time she helped us look for another investment company in that short period of time when the company cancelled on us. I understand that it is what she should do but I think it is out of the scope as anybody else could have just slot in another activity instead of making the effort to source for another company. This warms my heart. Despite the fact that we were always sleeping in the bus, both of the tour guides would fill us with stories patiently and answer to all our questions and requests.

The other tour guide was very forgiving as well even when we returned to the bus far past the meeting time.

Overall, Beijing/ Tianjin Study Trip 2012 was a platform for me to learn and improve myself in many ways, especially the inner part of me. I am more conscious and aware of the happenings and things around me, it makes me wiser as a whole. I learnt that I should further improve in many ways of me and how to speak well in front of people. I also learnt sharing, bonding, having more initiatives in volunteering. It really made me a better person from inside out.

The toilets in China may be dirty but it makes me appreciate more of what I have back in Singapore.

I am appreciative of every single thing packed in the schedule as they all brought me different experiences and takeaways that I would never experience in my life again, at least for the next 3 years.

Thank you for making this trip possible and letting me be part of such an awesome trip!