Wang Fangwei 王方巍 Last summer I went to England alone for a soccer event — the most memorable experience I have ever had. The trip was incredibly valuable. I learned a lot from communicating with different people, which broadened my horizons and helped me better understand other cultures. I have always been interested in U.K. soccer culture, since the country has one of the richest soccer traditions in the world. One of my favorite teams is Liverpool, with its long history and vibrant culture. I went to England to take part in a Liverpool training camp, which was a major challenge for me. During the two?week camp we trained intensively for five hours a day, so getting enough sleep and eating well were essential. My teammates and coaches were very friendly and took good care of me, especially because I was the only participant from East Asia. They were curious about my Chinese name and enjoyed learning how to say it. Their attention made me feel welcomed and special. After the camp ended, I took a one?day trip to see local architecture, which was very different from what I’m used to in China. The buildings were beautiful and unique, and I thoroughly enjoyed exploring them. I also noticed that many English meals I tried were relatively simple, and potatoes appeared in many dishes. Although half of the meals I ate in the U.K. included potatoes, they prepared them in a variety of ways. This showed me that, despite obvious differences in food and architecture between the U.K. and China, there are also shared elements and common pleasures. I felt deeply satisfied with the trip. I believe I gained a richer understanding of different cultures and grew personally from the experience. | 