As soon as the plane touches down on the runway, you realise that you have just arrived in a totally new world. China is one of the major world powers and this is reflected in its streets, in its cities and in its people. I am sure that my stay here will make me grow as a coach, but also as a person, as the culture, language, personal relations… are all different.
One of the things that has surprised me most is how big everything is. Distances are enormous and moving from one city to another to play a match is always a big trip. Cities like Beijing or Shanghai have over 20 million inhabitants. There are people everywhere and it is crowded wherever you go. Really, it is like a small human anthill!
One aspect about which I am pleasantly surprised is the warmth of the people. Everyone is really friendly and helpful. They are always willing to help you in everything you need. But, first of all, you need to get them to understand you! Chinese is the only language for them; very few people speak English and the language barrier has been important so far.