这个月是我在中国的倒数第二月。这意味着我要考试，让我变得很忙，没有时间去旅游。不过，我这个月还有时间在北京玩一玩。上上周末，我去了清华大学。清华大学靠近我的大学：北京大学（PKU），简称北大。 虽然在英国清华大学和北京大学（合称‘清北’）不太为人熟知，但是在中国这俩所大学非常有名，是最重点的大学，就像英国家喻户晓的牛津大学和剑桥大学一样。 清北学生在全国最优秀的。以下是中国大学短短介绍。
首先，我在中国读书期间就读于北大。北大创建于1898年，是中国最古老的大学之一。7个学院，每个学院设下专业，比如化学系。跟大多数中国大学一样，北大是封闭式小区的大学。从理发店到食堂，校区里应有尽有。
北大校区非常漂亮，尤其是校区里的未名湖。每周末校友带着家人回来。他们都会聚集到湖边。夏天，围绕着湖边柳树在微风中晃晃荡荡，小鸭和天鹅在水面上滑翔。冬天，湖面完全结冰了，学生和老师们来滑冰。最重要的是，矗立着未名湖边北大博雅塔。它作为这所大学的标志性符号。
大多数的大学生住在校园里，宿舍里没有厨房，因此校园内设有食堂。食堂饭又便宜又好吃。 在北大，我平时去‘家园’这个食堂吃饭。第一次去，感到非常惊讶，因为这食堂是四层的，提供丰富多样的选择。第一层有各种各小菜。第二层来自不同地区的没事，比如韩式料理或新疆菜。第三层有更多选择，比如中国快菜或麻辣烫。最后，有西方饭，比如意大利面和一家小面包店。
与英国大学相比，中国大学在很多方面都有所不同。比如，为了进入校园的时候，需要扫脸。再说，中国大学宿舍截然不同。学生最多和7个同学合住一个房间。一般来说，学生都有书桌双层床。每天晚上11点，宿舍会同意断电。另外，学生也需要分享公共浴室。
留学生生活情况的话，没有这么辛苦。比如，我只有一个同学。我们房间里很大，有两个单床，也有水槽，两张书桌。我很幸运，我和室友的关系很好。但是听说，很多人跟室友产生矛盾。 中国学生必须不惜一切代价跟室友们保持良好的关系，因为整个大学期间不会更换室友念（约4年）。
对我来说，就读于北大是一次非常好的体验。 我不仅体验了中国的大学生活，还结识了许多中国学生，了解他们在中国教育系统的经历。 我们互相分享我们的经历，比较文化差异，指出类似之处。 我回家之后，一定会想念北大！
This month is my penultimate month in China. This means that I have to do exams, keeping me quite busy. I haven’t had much time to travel. However, I still have had time to have fun in Beijing. Two weekends ago I went to Qinghua University. Qinghua is next to my university, Beijing University (PKU) or Beida for short. Although Qinghua and Beijing University are not that well known in the UK, in China they are the most famous universities. They are the highest-ranked universities, like Oxford and Cambridge, known by everyone. Students at Qinghua and Beijing University are the best in the country. Below is a short introduction to Universities in China.
First, during my time in studying China, I attended Beida. Beida was founded in 1898, and it is one of the oldest Chinese universities. It has 7 colleges which are organised into subjects, eg. Chemistry. Like most Chinese universities, Beida is a campus university. From hairdressers to canteens, the campus has everything you might want.
Beida campus is really beautiful, especially the ‘no-name’ lake onsite. Every weekend alumni come back with their families. They all flock to the lake-side. In the summer the lake is surrounded by willows swaying in the light breeze, ducks and swans gliding on the water. In winter, the surface of the lake is completely frozen, and students and teachers come and ice-skate. Most importantly, standing tall on the lakeside is Boya Tower. It serves as the university’s iconic logo.
The majority of university students live on campus, and the accommodation does not have a kitchen, so the campus provides a canteen. The food in the canteens is tasty and cheap. At Beida, I often go to the ‘jiayuan’ canteen. The first time, I was quite surprised, it has four floors, each with an abundance of food options. The first floor has a range of small dishes. The second floor has food from different regions such as korea or Xinjiang. The third floor has even more options such as Chinese fast food or Malatang. Last, the fourth floor has Western food, eg. Pasta and a small bakery.
Compared to UK universities, Chinese universities have many differences. For example, to enter campus, you have to scan your face. Also, the accommodation is very different. Students can have up to 7 roommates. Usually, they each have a bunk bed with a desk below. At 11 pm at night, the lights are turned off systematically. As well, students have shared a communal bathroom.
As for exchange students, they don’t have it so bad. For example, I just have one roommate. Our room is big and has two single beds, it also has a sink and two desks. I am really lucky, my relationship with my roommate is pretty good. But I have heard many people have fallen out with their roommates. Chinese students have to maintain a good relationship with their roommates at all costs, because during their whole time at university (usually four years) they don’t change roommates.
I think, studying at Beida has been a great experience. I not only have experienced life at a Chinese university but also have met many Chinese students to then get to understand their experience in the Chinese education system. We share our experiences, compare cultural differences and point out similarities. After I return home, I know I will miss Beida!