"It was the opportunity of a lifetime! I would go back in a heartbeat," declared Courtney Fisher of her participation in the Global Young Leaders Conference in the People's Republic of China this summer.

The conference was held from June 29 to July 8 in three different Chinese cities: Beijing, Hangzhou and Shanghai. It involved approximately 350 young people from all over the world. All had been nominated by their schools to participate in the conference sponsored by the Congressional Youth Leadership Council based in Vienna, Virginia, just outside Washington, D.C.

The Warwick Academy IB student was one of two Bermudians who participated this year. Courtney was nominated by her school, which sponsored her in part, though her parents covered the bulk of the cost of the trip.

Given the option of a conference in New York and Washington or China, Courtney leapt at the chance to travel to China. "I was interested in learning about a different culture," she explained, "and thought 'Wow, I've never been to that part of the world before.' I know it would be an amazing experience."

The purpose of the conference was to simulate the United Nations general council, with delegates discussing and coming up with solutions for problems in different countries – water scarcity in China, for example, or the one-child-per-family policy.

Discussion took place in small leadership groups as well as an open forum, with presentations from authorities in different organisations. One issue explored was China's one-child policy with presentations from representatives of the UN, UNICEF and an orphanage. The forum was also addressed by Chinese political and business leaders on a range of topics.

"It was interesting to debate with different people, hear different opinions," Courtney noted. "There is so much to talk about when you come from such different backgrounds, influenced by the way you are raised and your lifestyle."

Though grand ideas and global issues were discussed in the morning, the afternoon activities emphasised Chinese culture. "We definitely went to a lot of palaces, including the renowned Summer Palace," Courtney recalled. "And small markets, which offered a different shopping experience." Visiting the Great Wall of China was a highlight, as was a side trip to Hong Kong following the conference.

What struck Courtney most was the amount of people. "I was so overwhelmed by the sheer volume of people in Hong Kong," she admitted. Shopping was a challenge, too, as the merchants in the markets they visited had very limited English speaking abilities, so negotiating was very difficult. Courtney kept her purchases to small souvenirs, like fans and chopsticks, concerned that as a foreigner she might be taken advantage of in terms of pricing and quality if she were to buy other, more expensive goods.

One aspect of the trip Courtney found difficult was the food. "Eating Chinese food three times a day took getting used to," she confessed. "Dog, snake and duck are not foods that I eat, and seeing dead animals decorating restaurant walls made me a little uneasy about eating. My appetite soon disappeared!"

Even that, however, could not diminish her enthusiasm for the experience. "The best part of the conference was meeting young people from all over the world, nominated by their schools, and attending for the same purpose. I met the most amazing people and hope to keep in contact with many," she concluded.