When I first arrived at USTC in 2023, everything felt unfamiliar: new faces, a new language, and an entirely new routine. I came from Hanoi, where winters are cool but never cold enough for snow. So you can imagine my amazement when, one early December morning, I opened my dormitory window and saw Hefei blanketed in white. I rushed outside without my gloves, eager to feel the snow in my hands. It was painfully cold—but utterly magical.

That winter became one of the most unforgettable parts of my USTC experience.

While the snow was beautiful, winter also brought its challenges. I missed home more than I had expected—Vietnamese food, my family's warm conversations over dinner, even the familiar noise of Hanoi's streets. Some nights, the silence outside, softened by falling snow, made me feel lonelier than ever before.

Yet in its own quiet way, USTC reminded me that I was not alone.

My classmates—both Chinese and international—became my family in Hefei. We cooked hotpot together in the dormitory kitchen, studied for exams in cozy corners of the library, and even built a hilariously misshapen snowman outside the Management Building. Su, a friend from Myanmar, cooked her country's traditional fried rice, while Zhao, a classmate from Shandong, taught us how to say "too cold" in different Chinese dialects. That winter, despite the homesickness, I laughed more than I ever thought I would.

Academically, winter was intense as well. Project deadlines, group presentations, and research work filled our days. But the pressure felt lighter when shared. My groupmates helped me understand complex business models and encouraged me when my Chinese wasn't perfect. One night in late January, just before the Spring Festival break, after finishing a long exam session for Data Model and Decision Making, someone suggested we go outside. Snow was falling gently, and the campus glowed softly under the lights. We walked in silence, and for a moment, everything felt still—and full of possibility.

That is what USTC gave me: possibility.

Over these two years, I have grown not only as a student but as a person. I have learned to think critically, communicate across cultures, and adapt to unfamiliar environments. My Chinese improved not just in the classroom, but through daily life—buying groceries, chatting with teachers, and joining Chinese Corner activities. Once, during the Dragon Boat Festival, a campus auntie even taught me how to say "wear more clothes" in the Anhui dialect.

To future international students, my message is simple: it is okay to feel cold and homesick.

Just do not forget to look around—USTC will surprise you with warmth in the most unexpected places.

Once a USTCer, always a USTCer.

As I prepare to graduate in 2025 with a master's degree in Business Administration, I carry more than academic knowledge. I carry memories of snowflakes and warm soup, of shared struggles and shared successes. I carry friendships that will last long after we leave Hefei.