Wudaokou Watch: “I Found My Life's Purpose in Beijing”

Welcome to Wudaokou Watch! We'll meet a different Beijing-based international student each week, to hear about their life in China's capital...

Tell us your name and where you are from.  
My name is Otgontsetseg and I am from Mongolia. I first came to Beijing actually just to learn Chinese, but I have since found my life's purpose here: wushu, Chinese martial arts.

How is life in Beijing different from in your home country?
The most fascinating thing about the city of Beijing, besides being a developed city, it that it is an international city. There is a mix of cultures and different etiquettes displayed by people from different backgrounds, so you get to learn a lot of things from diverse cultures.

What are the biggest challenges for you here?
I found my life's purpose here so it has been a smooth ride for me. All of the things that I have faced in Beijing have given me a chance to learn more about myself. I never thought I could, or would one day become an athlete.

What are some of your favorite hangouts in the city?
My favorite hangout is wherever my friends and my colleagues are. And I love exploring Beijing with students of the Mongolian students association. 

What do you do when you are feeling homesick (are any of your local foods or cultural activities available in Beijing)?
I often meet my friends from Mongolia and cook together. I also like to attend the annual UIBE (University of International Business and Economics) Culture Festival. Being there makes me feel like I am in my hometown. During the festival, my friends and I put on our traditional regalia and cook Mongolian food.

What do you love most about Beijing?
I really like Beijing in the mornings. When I get up in the morning, I see workers and people doing sports everywhere. They give me motivation and make me feel it will be a good day.  

What is your most memorable Beijing experience?
I’ve been doing the wushu for the last three years. This practice has taught me so many things, including how to face difficulties and be my 'real' self. 

What inspires you and what are your future plans?
I really like learning different languages. I studied in a Mongolian Turkish high school, so while I didn't study it formally, I can speak talk with my friends in Turkish, and I just started learning Spanish and Japanese. My future plan is going to the countries where these languages are spoken, and explore the world.

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Images courtesy of Otgontsetseg