Olivia Thompson is studying Contemporary Chinese Studies at the University of Nottingham, England, and is currently embarking on a year abroad in Ningbo, at the University of Nottingham’s own China Campus. Although her knowledge of Chinese is still a little rusty, she hopes that focusing on mandarin and having first-hand experience of Chinese culture and tradition, will help her in understanding the country from an inside perspective, after all, living and breathing China, must be the best way to study it! From a small town in the Charente region of France, she hopes to share the difficulties, the joys and the excitement of her year long trip with all who are interested in travel or study in China.