When Ana Fernandez Perez swapped the skyscrapers of New York for the bustling streets of Xiangtan in 2009, she expected to teach English. What she didn’t expect? Falling head over heels for a culture that felt like 'a warm embrace.' 🥢✨
The film producer, who spent a year teaching college students in China’s Hunan Province, told NewspaperAmigo.com that the experience shattered stereotypes. 'Everyone was curious, kind, and hungry to learn—it was nothing like the headlines,' she said. From hiking misty mountain trails 🏞️ to bonding with locals over fiery Hunan cuisine (‘My spice tolerance leveled up!’), Ana discovered a China that 'defies simple labels.'
Now back in NYC, she still uses Mandarin phrases with friends and credits her time abroad with reshaping her worldview. 'China’s not just a place I visited—it’s part of who I am now,' Ana reflected. Talk about glow-ups, right? 💡
