When Ariola Gervalla decided to spend part of her studies abroad, she was not looking for somewhere familiar. Quite the opposite. She wanted to experience a place that would challenge her, surprise her and show her a completely different way of life. She found exactly that in Beijing.
Ariola studies Applied Cell Biology at the FHNW School of Life Sciences. Since July 2026, she has been conducting research at Peking University, where she will stay until February 2027. Her motivation for going abroad was both personal and academic.
Coming from a family with an immigrant background also played a role in her decision. Ariola wanted to get at least a small sense of what it means to leave a familiar environment behind and start everyday life somewhere completely new. She is quick to point out that her experience is not comparable to that of her parents when they moved to Switzerland. But it gave her another reason to take the leap.
From Basel dimensions to Beijing dimensions
One of Ariola’s first discoveries was that distances take on a different meaning in Beijing. On a map, her flat seemed to be about a 15 minute walk away, the sort of distance she knew from Basel.
In reality, the walk takes around an hour.
“What surprised me most was how big Beijing actually is. The scale of the city was really surprising.”
And the dimensions do not shrink when she arrives at work. Peking University has an enormous campus, complete with a large lake, restaurants and around ten canteens. Ariola usually starts work at around 10 am. Her supervisor gives her considerable freedom to organise her working hours. What matters are the results.
Depending on what is happening in the lab, she works until 6 or 8 pm. At lunchtime, she usually grabs something small. Dinner is more social. She and her friends head to one of the many canteens on campus.
Then it is time to cycle home. Or perhaps not. Sometimes Ariola gets on her bike and heads into the city instead.
“Sometimes I don’t go directly home after work. I go out and explore Beijing. It truly is a really big city and it has a lot to offer.”
Tiny flies, big questions
Ariola did not choose Peking University solely because she wanted a culture shock. The research was just as important. She is interested in gene therapies and genome editing and found a research group in Beijing working on precisely these topics.
Her current research subjects are rather small: fruit flies, also known as Drosophila.
In the lab, Ariola studies different strains of Drosophila. She cross breeds them and analyses their genetic material to understand which traits are passed on to the next generation and how they develop.
More specifically, she is investigating gene drives. These are a genetic engineering method designed to ensure that particular genetic traits are inherited especially frequently. One challenge is that unwanted genetic changes can occur, making a gene drive ineffective.
This is where Ariola’s project comes in. She is investigating how the CRISPR system used in the process can be inhibited at precisely the right moment. To do this, she tests different genetic “switches” that determine when this inhibition becomes active. She has already identified some promising candidates and is now preparing the DNA building blocks needed for further experiments.
There is one thing the research cannot be: rushed.
“After each cross breeding, it takes around two weeks for a new generation of Drosophila to reach maturity and for me to analyse the results.”
For Ariola, this waiting is part of the process and makes her all the more curious about where the project will lead during the rest of her stay.
A life organised by apps
Outside the laboratory, China has brought its own learning curve. Many digital routines that Ariola knew from Switzerland simply do not work in the same way. Apps such as WhatsApp and Instagram are not normally accessible without a VPN. A Chinese phone number is essential for many everyday tasks, including finding a flat.
Paying is another adjustment. Cash plays such a minor role in Ariola’s everyday life that seeing a 20 yuan banknote felt almost unusual.
“I had somehow assumed physical money barely existed here since it just never came up in daily life.”
Alipay and WeChat quickly became everyday essentials. Ariola also discovered how much people order online, including groceries. And although many people she meets do not speak English, communication usually finds a way.
“People are very cooperative and open to communicating through translator apps.”
More than a semester abroad
For Ariola, studying abroad is not simply about working at another university. It means learning how to navigate a megacity, organising a new everyday life, adapting to another digital world, meeting new people and carrying out research in a field she is passionate about.
Her advice to anyone considering a similar experience is practical. Sort out a local phone number early, check accommodation options well in advance and set up the essential payment apps before they become urgent.
“Don’t forget to actually enjoy the experience. It goes by fast.”
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