"Travel far enough, you meet yourself". This is how Ilaria Nucera summarizes her life experience in China, with a phrase taken from the novel Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell.
A LUISS graduate in Political Science and in Marketing, Ilaria changed her mind about what to study after living in Oslo for her Erasmus. "The five months I lived abroad were decisive for me. They helped me understand how little I knew of the world and, above all, how much I wanted to fill that gap. When I came back to Italy, I found myself reflecting at length about the type of person I wanted to become and the type of career I wanted to pursue."
At first she dreamed of becoming a journalist, but then was attracted by the prospect of working in the world of corporate communications and marketing. After graduation, she decided to fulfill her desire to go abroad. "I was attracted to the idea of immersing myself in a different culture. Asia intrigued me and I was aware that, of all the countries on the continent, China would be the one that enriched me the most, both professionally and personally."
Having found an opportunity to do an internship in Haikou, the capital of the island of Hainan, Ilaria left last November to work in a hotel within the Marriott Hotel groups. "With me there were another four Management Trainees and together we represent the only foreign element of an otherwise completely Chinese staff. In my job, I handle the Front Desk and customer service through several tasks: from the cash inflows and outflows of the office to the normal procedures of check-in and check-out at the hotel."
Adapting to a new environment is not easy, but the effort can lead to enormous personal satisfaction. "From the beginning we immersed ourselves in the true lifestyle of the Chinese worker, which includes travelling at fixed times, a limited internet connection and a diet based on products made from rice. But this adventure has given me unique experiences that I will cherish for a lifetime."
These experiences include contact with the local culture and population: "In China, traditional culture and modern trends, which come mainly from Japan and Korea, coexist, though not without conflict. Conservatism is felt at the political, economic and cultural levels, but there are a number of exceptions, people who challenge government restrictions on information or who spend a lot of time gathering information."
More than two months after she left, Ilaria feels she can offer advice on the decision to live and work abroad after graduation: "The personal enrichment that you derive from it is unparalleled and it gives you all of the tools to see the world with a keen, critical eye, without being misled by personal biases. I recommend China to those who are not afraid of giving up their habits, to those who can adapt, and above all, to those who want to question everything in this new, complex but, at the same time, marvelous world."