Traveling from the 30°C warmth of Vietnam straight to China’s Northeast—where rumors say it’s cold enough to “freeze your ears off” in winter—Vietnamese freshman Hoang Quyen arrived in Shenyang, Liaoning Province with two massive suitcases full of winter gear. Waiting at the airport was her senior buddy Kelly, an African international student. And just like that, an awesome cross-cultural welcome kicked off!

Before arriving, Hoang Quyen pictured Liaoning as a place covered in old, rusty factories. Seeing it with her own eyes, however, completely changed her impression. Wide streets and clear blue skies blew away all her preconceived notions. Kelly gave her a tour of the campus, and showed her the international student dorms complete with central heating. With such cozy facilities and an amazing mix of local and international friends cheering her on, all her travel anxiety just melted away. When asked what made her choose this place, Hoang Quyen said she was totally drawn to Liaoning’s epic winters and couldn’t wait to dive into a completely different way of life. What she saw today has only sparked her anticipation for everything ahead. Crossing mountains and seas was totally worth it—stay tuned for a warm, multi-national campus adventure waiting to unfold!