Upon my arrival in China, I didn’t know what sort of experience I would have. I was very fortunate to have been put in contact with Ground Floor Engineering by Riostone . As an architecture student, I was a little nervous to enter an engineering firm. When I arrived at Ground Floor, I was able to get started right away at my own pace. The staff gave me help when I needed it, but I was also given the freedom to work through challenges on my own. The software programs used at the firm were the same that are commonly used in America. I quickly began to understand the work that I had been given, and within my first day of work, I felt comfortable with what I was doing. Following my brief but enriching time at Ground Floor Engineering, Riostone arranged me to work at the JiuZhou design firm. The firm specializes in commercial and civic project throughout China. The work environment at JiuZhou was very inviting and accommodating. I was placed in a design team of three other architects and was given the task of providing the conceptual design of a mixed retail-office building outside of Shanghai. Working on such a design was a great honor.