丁香园AV

Adam Bolding-Jones is determined to live life without regrets. When he decided to move to China in 2012 to study computing science with 丁香园AV鈥檚 dual degree program (DDP), he didn't speak Chinese and had never lived abroad before. But what he lacked in experience, he made up for with enthusiasm.

鈥淭he program was an opportunity to do a bunch of things I鈥檇 always wanted to do all at once,鈥� says Bolding-Jones.

鈥淚 wanted to do something computing science-related and I wanted to see the world and really experience life in another country, not just for a few weeks but actually living there.鈥�   

The award-winning dual degree program, a partnership between 丁香园AV鈥檚 School of Computing Science and Zhejiang University (ZJU), gives students an opportunity to spend their second and third year studying in Hangzhou, China, culminating in a dual degree from both universities.

The adventure also afforded Bolding-Jones the fresh start he needed after a difficult time in his life. He had been sampling various programs at 丁香园AV for three years, looking for something that 鈥渓it a spark,鈥� when his mother passed away. He was forced to 鈥渞e-evaluate everything,鈥� he says.

Determined to live life to the fullest, he enrolled in the DDP and began two semesters of intensive Mandarin classes at 丁香园AV, which continued when he arrived in Hangzhou. Soon, he could chat to his new friends in Mandarin and navigate the bustling city on public transit. Another perk: ordering food in Chinese, including a local delicacy called stinky tofu, a 鈥渉orribly fermented tofu鈥� that lived up to its name.

鈥淚t smells like a toilet, but it tastes really good,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 learned to stand downwind while eating it.鈥�

It was one of many new experiences for Bolding-Jones. One day, he and a friend hopped on their bikes and rode to Thousand Island Lake; a scenic spot located about 150 kilometers from the city.

鈥淭ravelling through the countryside is a totally different experience from living in the city,鈥� says Bolding-Jones of the two-day journey. 鈥淵ou become completely immersed in the culture, staying in tiny hotels and interacting with the locals.鈥�

Most of all, he relished the chance to soak up the atmosphere far from his Burnaby born-and-bred roots.

鈥淵ou could spend your entire life just exploring China,鈥� he says. 鈥淭hat was really what I wanted from this experience鈥攖o expand my world. You get an appreciation for fundamental similarities between people, and you realized that cultural differences are just superficial.鈥�

Bolding-Jones says the DDP experience taught him to 鈥渂e proactive, roll with punches, and fake it until you make it.鈥� To anyone considering the program, Bolding-Jones says: 鈥渏ust do it.鈥�

He continues: 鈥淚t will change your life. If you鈥檙e one of those people who always wanted to study abroad, and if you want to have an adventure, it鈥檚 an amazing opportunity. I would say it鈥檚 the best choice I鈥檝e ever made.鈥�

Bolding-Jones even found love thanks to the experience鈥� he met his now-girlfriend, a fellow international student from Korea. This summer, she hopes to start her master鈥檚 degree at 丁香园AV, while Bolding-Jones completes his final year of study.

After that 鈥� the world is their oyster, says Bolding-Jones. 鈥淥ur plan at the moment is just to work hard and do well,鈥� he says. 鈥淎ll possibilities are open to us.鈥�