After arriving in Nanjing, a city of 15 million people, it took me several weeks to get settled into my new Chinese lifestyle. I had no apartment when I got to China and had to find a place within a week while I was starting my first week of Chinese classes. At Nanjing University, the fifth best university in the country, all foreigners are taught Chinese in -- get this -- Chinese. Very quickly I learned to change languages and was able to ask my teachers questions in Chinese. It was very tough, but an amazing experience.

Unfortunately for me, finding an apartment and a roommate during the first week made learning a big struggle. However, by using Facebook, I was able to eventually find my roommate who turned out to be from Switzerland. Technology today, if used correctly, can transform your life as it did mine, and make international relationships a reality.

An important holiday in Chinese culture is Xing Ming Jie, during which you go to the family's ancestor's graves to pay respects. The family members clean the graves and shrines, leave flowers and, unlike American culture, leave food and alcohol.

They traditionally leave a vase of white rice wine, which is 100 percent alcohol, and even cigarettes sticking out of sticky buns (even if cigarettes were a cause of death).

After leaving the items, they burn fake American dollars, Chinese Yuan, fake gold and colorful paper that they imagine is fabric. They burn it so their ancestors can use it in the afterlife.

I was allowed to participate with a Chinese family, and as the fire burned and the sky was filled with smoke, my friend and I knelt down beside the graves and prayed to the ancestors, our hands folded together and we bowed several times. As the fire died out, the men in the family lit tons of fireworks, and the clouds of smoke were filled once again in the sky.

Red silk ribbons were left fluttering between the graves as we left to visit more shrines. Most foreigners do not get the privilege of witnessing such a rite unless they are part of a Chinese family, so it was very unique for me to experience the holiday, Xing Ming Jie.

Living in China is an amazing experience, though at times an awkward struggle since the Chinese love to stare if you look different. (I happen to have blonde hair and blue eyes.)

I am very surprised that during a time when China is growing and expanding economically, the country still holds its culture and family values as high as they do.

As red silk flows between the markets, I sit by the side of an old temple market area, finishing off this essay, and looking back on the last months of my traveling, knowing I gained a lot of experience living in other cultures.

I would encourage you to get out there and travel. It will bring you first hand experience, which can definitely be used in America in this time of economic distress. Might I recommend China?