I moved to the US from China — and here are the 29 things on my US bucket list

Zirui Yan

Nov 19, 2019, 7:02 AM

Zirui yanThe author, Zirui Yan, moved from China to the US to attend college.

In 2016, I moved from Guiyang, China, to North Carolina to go to college.
My love of travel, nature, and other cultures inspired me to make a bucket list of the uniquely American things I want to experience the most.
Read on to see the 29 things on my US bucket list.
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In 2016, I moved from my hometown of Guiyang, China, to North Carolina for college.

For someone who grew up in another country, adjusting to life in America was difficult at first. There are many differences between our two cultures – from how Americans don’t drink hot water to their reliance on cars to get around – that I had no idea about until I experienced them for myself.

But my love of travel has pushed me to explore as much of America as possible during my time in this country. Since I started college, I’ve travelled at every opportunity. On one vacation I witnessed the raging beauty of Niagara Falls, and on another, I strolled for miles along Miami’s South Beach in beautiful January weather. I went stargazing at LA’s Griffith Observatory and I spent two days on the National Mall in Washington, DC.

Still, there are countless things in the US I’ve yet to experience for myself. It would be nearly impossible to see the entire country in a lifetime, let alone a few years, so I decided to make a bucket list of the top things on my list.

The US is a fascinating place in many ways. The country is big enough to have a myriad of landscapes and climates in different regions, and the unique history of each state makes it even more interesting to travel.

The items on my bucket list are a reflection of my interest in learning about various cultures, as well as my admiration and awe of the natural wonders the US has to offer.