François C.
Years: 2010, 2013, 2014
As a professional software developer, I have always felt that I needed to do something on my own. Ever since I was a child, I had also been convinced that I wanted to live abroad and leave Belgium for good.
In 2009, towards the end of a trip to China, I discovered a place where I could see myself living happily and where there were countless opportunities.
First of all, I needed to learn the language. Although my English was very good, it wasn’t enough to communicate effectively in China.
After doing some research, I found that the most interesting and affordable option was to come to this school.
My main goal was, of course, to study the language, but why not take my first steps in a sport I had never practised before at the same time?
So I began my adventure in 2010, joining the school in May and leaving in December.
And what an adventure it was! Not only did I learn a new language (making it the fourth language I could speak, alongside French, English and Spanish), but I also discovered a sport – or rather, a martial art – for which I developed a genuine passion.
Those eight months at the school flew by, and I have nothing but wonderful memories of them:
– Meeting lots of people, both Chinese and international
– Making new friends
– Countless discoveries about culture, language, sport, myself and others…
– Experiencing a completely different way of life that suited me better
– Being part of a community and living within this big family
– …
I had to return to Belgium to save some money before I could rejoin this wonderful big family that the school represents. I also decided to return to studying so that I could eventually teach languages (English or French), as this could be useful in the future.
After two and a half years spent achieving my goals, I was ready to get back on a plane and continue the adventure where I had left off. That was exactly how I felt when I arrived back at the school in March 2013. Of course, some things had changed, but I immediately felt as though I had never left.
It has now been eight months since I left Belgium and came to live here at the school.
My Chinese has improved considerably, especially thanks to the English lessons I give to young Chinese students – a job that my Shifu kindly offered me.
My Kung Fu has also taken a huge leap forward. Whereas my first stay was all about discovery, this experience is deeper and more intense. Kung Fu is no longer just a sport for me, but a way of life and a constant process of improving myself and my physical and mental abilities. I can feel the benefits in my everyday life, which has become simpler, less tiring, more interesting, more enjoyable, more intense and more passionate…
Every day, I (re)discover a little more about myself. This experience becomes even more interesting when I can interact with local people through the wonderful Chinese language. These encounters lead to an extraordinary exchange with everyone who crosses my path and wants to talk to me, or with whom I want to start a conversation. This allows me to learn more about their culture, their way of thinking and their outlook on life – all so different from ours.
This experience, which I began more than three years ago and which is still continuing today, will shape the person I become tomorrow and will remain engraved in my memory forever.
Germany · 3 months 
Switzerland · 5 weeks 
New Zealand · 3 months 
France 
Russia