Yiting is a Thai student studying at Nanjing University. [Photo/WeChat account: zhoudu2026]

Nineteen-year-old Yiting, a student from Bangkok, Thailand, has been exposed to the Chinese language from an early age. By junior high school, she had already chosen Chinese as her academic focus, making writing characters, reading Chinese books, and following Chinese news part of her daily routine.

Now studying at Nanjing University, she is majoring in Chinese Language and Literature with a focus on Business Chinese. "I have always been interested in history," she said. "I learned that Nanjing is a city with a long historical heritage and excellent universities, so I chose to study here."

However, after two semesters in China, Yiting hopes for more opportunities to connect with local students. "I wish the university could organize more activities where Chinese and international students can interact. Most of my classmates are international students, and I still don't have many Chinese friends," she said.

While she often communicates in Chinese with fellow international students, Yiting believes deeper interaction with Chinese peers would further improve her language skills and help her better experience local culture. She also hopes to take part in traditional cultural activities such as calligraphy and painting to gain a deeper understanding of China's cultural heritage.

Yiting plans to pursue a career as a flight attendant, a popular choice among many of her peers in Thailand.