My name is Ed Fabrice Emmanuel Mulsow Krieger. I am Swiss-Chilean, raised in Valdivia, and currently residing in Viña del Mar. I hold a degree in geography from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso. I studied at Shanxi University 山西大学 for an academic year to learn Chinese. I speak Spanish, French, and English fluently, and have an intermediate level of Chinese, thanks to my experience in China.
Before I came to China, I was in the middle of my undergraduate studies in geography back in Chile. I had just earned my degree and was at a crossroads, wondering how to best prepare myself for the professional world. The idea of moving to China was both exciting and terrifying—it meant leaving everything I knew thousands of miles behind. But I was determined to gain an edge in a competitive job market, and I knew that living and studying in China would offer just that.
The decision to move to China happened almost by chance. A few months before the deadline for the Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC), I heard about the opportunity. It all felt rushed—by early 2023, I had applied, and by July, I received my acceptance. At first, I wasn’t sure if I could go through with it. The idea of moving to a place where I didn’t know the language was daunting. But after talking with my family and weighing the incredible opportunity, I made up my mind just one month before the term began. With little knowledge of Chinese, I packed my bags and took the leap.
Life in China, particularly at Shanxi University, has been an eye-opening experience. I’ve been lucky to make strong friendships, not just with Chinese students, but with people from all over the world. Sharing experiences with others from such diverse backgrounds has broadened my perspective in ways I never imagined. My Chinese skills have improved significantly since I first arrived, though it remains a challenging language to master. Every day, I get a little bit better, and that progress is incredibly rewarding.
I’ve been fortunate to receive support through the CSC General Scholar program, which has made my life in China more comfortable. Thanks to the scholarship, I can live well in my dorm and even save enough to travel around the country. Dorm life can be tough, especially when you’re sharing a small space with many others, but it’s also a unique opportunity to connect with people from different cultures. I’ve shared meals and learned to cook dishes from various countries, and those moments are something I’ll always cherish.
Looking ahead, I’m excited about the future. I want to continue improving my Chinese and find work that allows me to use the language. Living in China has given me a unique advantage that I’m confident will help me stand out in the job market, whether in my field or even in a new direction. I’m also considering pursuing a master’s degree, and China is definitely one of the top options I’m exploring.
To anyone in Latin America or anywhere else who’s thinking about studying in China, I say go for it. It’s a chance to learn not just about a new culture, but also about yourself. You’ll meet incredible people from all walks of life, and while the academic challenges are real, the experience is more than worth it.
