What to write about China and my first trip to China, and to be short and meaningful? Where to start writing about this wonderful experience? Maybe to start from the very beginning. Yes, this is my first trip outside Europe, the first adventure to another continent. Until the ceremony at the Hotel Westin in Zagreb I didn’t understand exactly what kind of trip is that, but when I saw all these wonderful people and the organizers, everything become so clear. And I’m truly honored that I traveled with all these excellent students and people. As the only student from the University of Osijek, as the only student representing the eastern part of Croatia, Slavonia, I feel really proud and happy!

Even before the trip, China fascinated me with its history, its culture, lifestyle, and now I got a chance to see and experience all that, it is truly priceless! I knew some facts about China that I have read in books or seen in documentaries:

- China - the oldest civilization on Earth, - A nation established on splendid customs and ritual, - A country that has preserved thousands of years of learning, - A country with the greatest population on the planet, population of 1.3 billion people, - A nation that will become the world’s next superpower,- China is the fastest growing country on Earth, - China is the greatest transformation on Earth,- World’s largest communist state has become the largest world economy. 

I was wondered can this ancient civilization survive a relentless journey to the future? And what is the price of numerous changes?After the trip I realized that all these are not just facts, these are China's past, present and future, this is China – not future but present world superpower!  I could not wait to know China as much as I could in the seven days of this adventure!

Shanghai - One of the largest metropolitan areas in the world. It's definitely the largest city in China in terms of population with over than 20 million people. It's located on China's central eastern coast at the delta of the Yangtze River, almost equally between both Beijing and Hong Kong. One of the many beautiful and memorable experiences is a visit to the Yuyuan Garden. Garden with more than 500 years of history, and so preserved! At the very thought that the construction of the garden began in nearly 500 years ago during the Ming dynasty causes veneration. It’s a place where every stone has its own history, where time stood still, a place where you just forget all the city noise and bustle, a place where you feel pleasure and satisfy, exactly what the word "Yu" means in Chinese. But already in the evening again in the heart of Shanghai - visiting the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, where are the crowds of people again. The view from Pearl Tower is something magnificent, but when I remember the huge crowds and hustle when coming down it really creeps me pass. In Croatia there is no such a crowds, so I’m sure that I need a time to adjust to life in China :).

I must mention here a moments when we learned the basic moves of the ancient art of Tai Chi in Shanghai’s park, while a thousand of birds twittering. Although the outside was over 40 degrees Celsius, I must say that I’m pleased learned every move that the master showed to us. I must to admit that at first all seemed quite simple and easy to learn, but once we got the order and must to repeat moves after the master, oh yes then the problems started :). But truly a wonderful experience in the heart of Shanghai and with own master to learn Tai Chi - priceless!

And the last day in China we visited the Chinese traditional Waterside Town Zhouzhuang. After several days spent in the hearts of the world's biggest cities, surrounded by tons and tons of concrete and steel, suddenly we were in the "real" China, China which we all really wish to see. A bit of a strange feeling is to come from the huge cities to the China's oldest Waterside Town. It’s really incredible that ancient town, which has a history of more than 900 years old still keeps the intact, original ancient water village’s style and pattern.

And finally - EXPO 2010! The first day of visit to the Expo was filled with excitement, because first of all, we visited the pavilion of our country. As I expected, the hosts were extremely hospitable and they greeted us with a smile on faces. I was felt like they missed their nation, Croatian people. I expected a lot from the own country pavilion, but in the end I stayed a little disappointed and sad, because the pavilion has not met my expectations. Everything was clear when Mr. Ivica Maricic, Croatian General Commissioner for Expo 2010, revealed some reasons of "poor" Croatian pavilion. The reason? Of course, finances - such as might be expected. But in the end, in accordance with the possibilities, Croatia has most invested in promoting tourism, as the greatest wealth. Among other things, I think that tie is promoted on very good way, so the world has got the message from where comes the ubiquitous tie, yes - right from the Croatia! So we must be satisfied, because in accordance with the possibilities, Croatia is presented in the best possible way.

Although the Shanghai sun mercilessly heated, we visited quite a number of pavilions, thanks to the special passes that we had. Fascinating to me was when I saw huge lines in front of most visited pavilions, when I saw how many people are waiting tirelessly to spend some time in the individual pavilions – respect!

Just the fact that so far, at least 40 million visitors visited the Expo, it's almost like a 9 Croatian population - incredible! I believe that by the end of the Expo will be at least that much. I must mention that the theme of this year's Expo is entirely well chosen: "Better City, Better Life"! Many countries need to work on the betterment of life and preserve the environment, but not in order to justify the theme of this year's Expo, than the residents of planet Earth enjoy all of its resources, enjoy to live on planet Earth, and that is the task for all of us, task that we must realize! Of all visited pavilions, China, Chilean, UK and Saudi Pavilion will stay in special memories for me. Why?

China pavilion? The most impressive building! And a movie that we looked at the cinema inside the pavilion stayed etched in my mind. While watching the movie my heart was beating fast, I was shuddering every second for the duration of the movie. I think that every Chinese, when leaving the cinema felt immense proud! I must mention that China is one of the countries that simply must work for the benefit of preserve nature and the environment. They show that they are aware of that in short movie, which was presented in the pavilion. I'm sure that China will succeed in that aim, because Chinese nation is extremely organized, responsible and hardworking nation.

Why Chilean Pavilion? Because from the very entry into the Chilean Pavilion, I felt like I’m a part of Chile. The entire pavilion is a great story about Chilean past, present and future ideas how to make life better. In some existing examples they showed exactly that, so Chilean pavilion really stayed in the wonderful memory for me.

UK Pavilion is one of the most impressive and most unusual pavilions, as the outside and inside. 60,000 transparent rods containing a certain type of seed at its tip, it is truly incredible and memorable experience to be in that building. The area around the 20 meters high Seed Chatedral is designed to look like a wrapping paper, signifying a gift of friendship to China - truly amazing gift!

Why Saudi Pavilion? Due to the incredible video projection, which left us all breathless. The 1,600 m2 screen is larger than any other cinema screen on Earth, but of course with exceptional acoustics that is a truly incredible moment that cannot be described with words, even not with pictures, that is a moment which must be experienced!

And the third city of our trip was Shenzhen, located immediately north of Hong Kong, and with area almost twice as big as Hong Kong. This is not the last city in which we stayed, but I decided to mention it at the end, because it is home of one of the most successful high-tech companies in the world - Huawei. For me, almost unknown company until my trip to China, but I was extremely excited about the visit, because I’m studying Technical Faculty, so it's partly my occupation. At the very beginning I must to say that I will not write word “amazing” after every sentence, I’ll write it only at the end, but it will relate to each sentence about Huawei :)!

Tour of the huge areas of Huawei really pleasantly surprised me, I did not expect so many trees, so many of nature and environment. And arrival to the first Huawei building - again big surprise: a traditional Chinese tea with the beautiful sounds of ancient music, as well as lunch in the premises of the company. But after that all, I hardly waited for a company tour. After visiting some centers of the company, again I was quite surprised. So modern company, with so many employees, with so many products and innovations, with a huge number of people in development - must say it was the first company where I was, a company in the truest sense of that word!

The only thing I was sad is when I found out that we will not visit the factory, what would be the most interesting part of company tour for me, because as I partly mentioned I’m studying Mechanical Engineering. Also I was sad because we didn’t visit Training Laboratory, which extends on 7000 m2, and has so much equipment, where so much can be learned and seen. But what we have seen is quite a lot and thank you for that Huawei! I remember some informations that the host tell us: materials storage, sorting and delivery systems of individual parts had no errors at all, nothing! Server room which we could see in the Data Center covers an area of 4000 m2, over 100 rooms in the Training Center aimed to educate new employees, for lectures, conferences... So much is invested in the education of future employees, and the company's progress, now is the time for word “AMAZING”!

I must mention that I will always remember the gift that we got by living the first building, a framed photo of all participants of Huawei Summer Camp 2010. Thank you Huawei on that great experience, thank you Huawei for this wonderful journey to China, a journey of my life, and I believe the journey of life of all other wonderful people who attended this trip. It is my great honor and pleasure to be a part of this trip because I meet wonderful people, wonderful culture, I saw a totally different world than where I live, partially I meet one of the world's largest companies, experienced a new world! Thank you from my heart!