Day Five

Day 5 Blog Post (Cedar Quarzenski - Liberal Arts)

April 22nd, 2026

I’m going to start with the small routine I’ve created since being here.

I enjoy slow mornings where I can relax and gradually wake up. The breakfast at the Awaliou Resort Hotel has a lovely spread every morning, but by far my favorite thing isn’t even food. It just so happens to be their freshly pressed watermelon juice. I run down to the breakfast buffet to get a glass every morning. It’s fresh, refreshing, and delicious. I might be biased, but it’s definitely one thing I’ll miss when we leave this hotel tomorrow.

I enjoyed breakfast with Chinedu, Mireya, and Jacob today. It was really nice to chat while eating. Apparently, yellow watermelon tastes exactly the same as red watermelon, too. The buffet has a lot of different foods to try each morning, so I look forward to coming down and exploring it.

Indoor atrium with glass walls, palm trees, and potted red flowering plants

Students listening to a speaker beside a wall display with a map and posters

Morning Visit

Our first stop was the Semir Group Logistics Center, and walking in felt like stepping into the heartbeat of a massive operation. Everything moved with a kind of synchronized precision. I saw conveyor belts humming, workers scanning and sorting things, and rows of neatly organized products..

I’m used to thinking about clothing as something you buy off a rack, not something that travels through a whole ecosystem before it reaches you. Seeing the behind‑the‑scenes flow made me appreciate how much coordination goes into something as simple as a T‑shirt.

Our instructors guided us through the facility, and the staff were incredibly welcoming. They explained how Semir uses automation to keep everything running smoothly. I loved watching my classmates’ reactions with lots of wide eyes, lots of “woah” moments, and a few of us whispering about how tiny we felt compared to the scale of the place.

Mannequins displaying various garments in a showroom, with small placards in front

Group photo in front of a blue welcome banner and a scale model of a building complex

Afternoon Visit

After lunch, we headed to Tengen Group, and the atmosphere went from logistics to innovation. The campus felt modern and bright, and the staff greeted us with the same warmth we’ve felt everywhere in Wenzhou.

We learned about their electrical products and how they support industries all over the world. I’m not an engineering major, but even I found myself fascinated by the way they design components that keep entire systems functioning. One of the managers explained how quality control works, and I was surprised by how much detail goes into every single piece.

My favorite part was seeing my classmates ask thoughtful questions during our business interview session. Some about manufacturing, others about sustainability, and a few about career paths. It made me proud of our group.

Students examining product samples on a display table with small screens

Afternoon Visit #2

Our last stop was DELIXI Group, and by then I thought I’d be too tired to absorb anything else. But DELIXI had this energy that pulled me right back in. Their company was huge, and the displays of their electrical equipment were honestly beautiful in a way I didn’t expect.

We toured their showroom, watched demonstrations, and learned how their products support everything from homes to massive industrial systems. The staff were kind and patient, answering every question we threw at them.

Wall covered with small placards and lit-up Chinese characters above large letters reading DELIXI

Group listening to a guide in front of a timeline wall display with years including 1998-2009 and 1994-1998

Group listening to a guide in front of a different section of the timeline wall, with years including 1990-1994

aGroup meeting in a conference room, facing a projection screen showing a title slide

Business Interviews

At the end of each business tour, we sat down for business interviews with management staff from the companies. This was my favorite part.

Hearing leaders talk about their operations, challenges, and hopes for the future made everything feel more personal. They spoke about teamwork, innovation, and the importance of adapting to change. I kept thinking about how different their daily lives must be from mine, yet how similar their passion for their work felt.

I asked a question about how they stay motivated in such large companies, and one manager said something I won’t forget:

“When you understand the impact of your work, motivation follows naturally.”

That stuck with me.

aGroup seated at a long table in a boardroom, with colorful posters on the wall behind them

aGroup standing in an exhibit corridor with red neon ceiling lighting and wall screens

My Reflection

Even though today was incredible, that little voice inside me that was constantly missing home was still there. Walking through these massive companies made me think about how my family would react if they saw all this. I kept imagining my siblings’ faces, their excitement, their questions. I miss hugging them more than I expected.

But I’m so very grateful.

This trip has shown me things I never imagined I’d see. I’ve met people who welcomed us with open arms, learned about industries I barely knew existed, and experienced a part of China I’ll carry with me forever.

I can’t wait to go home and tell my family everything. Every conveyor belt, every neon sign, every warm smile. I want to show them the photos and videos and try to explain how it felt to stand inside these impressive global companies

If I ever come back to China, I’d like to bring a few loved ones with me. Experiences like this feel even more meaningful when shared.

Company Sites

https://www.semir.com/

www.tengen.com/https://

www.delixi.com/

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