Leah Duncan-Karrim

• Name

Leah Duncan-Karrim

• Age

20

• Year

2016/17

• Current Job/Degree

MA Chinese at Edinburgh University, currently on a year abroad at Peking University in Beijing

• Currently based in

Beijing

• How long have you studied Chinese?

3 years

• Other Languages

German

• Special skill/Hobby

Singing and I’ve just started learning the Pipa, a Chinese instrument

• Describe your Tianjin experience in one sentence

Tianjin took a 17 year old and sent home someone a year later who had a new, richer, view of the world, putting my future on a different path entirely

• What do you love about China?

At the moment I am learning about Chinese philosophy and I think the Daoist concept of ying and yang is beautiful. According to this, good will always turn to bad and bad will always turn to good, in a continuous cycle. So if life isn’tgoing well for you at the moment all you need to do is wait and see what happiness has for you next

• Best Opportunity learning Chinese has given you

This year I got to travel to China to compete in the world finals of the Chinese Bridge Competition. As well as being on a Chinese TV show, I also got to meet people from all over the world who share an interest in Chinese

• Do you have future plans involving Chinese?

I am currently in my third year of a Chinese degree so I still have a few years left before graduation. Afterwards I don’t have any definite plans yet but I know that whatever I do I want to work internationally in a career involving Chinese, hopefully one that brings me back to China a lot!”