1. Describe a foreign country you would like to visit

Recently, the foreign country I really want to visit is Peru. In fact, the main reason I applied for my 10-year U.S. visa was because I wanted to visit Peru. With a U.S. visa, I can enter Peru without needing another one. But even so, I would still need to take some vaccines a few weeks in advance, because of the risk of infection in the rainforest environment.

The first time I heard about Peru was when I went to the World Expo in Shanghai during primary school. I visited the Peru Pavilion, and I was deeply impressed. Years later, I saw a travel vlogger on the internet named A Jian. She spent time living in the Amazon rainforest in Peru, and her videos made me fall in love with the place.

There are three reasons why I want to go. First, I really love trees, especially wild trees. I always feel a kind of energy and vitality when I’m around them. In the vlog, the tour guide took them hiking in the jungle and said that during the rainy season, the water could rise even above their heads. They also took a boat and moved through the trees, which looked very fun. There were also many wild animals like sloths and frogs.

Second, I want to try Peru’s national dish—ceviche, which is raw fish marinated in citrus juice. I love both fish and citrus, so I often imagine how refreshing and appetizing that combination would taste. My boss once told me the fruits in Peru are amazing. That made me even more curious!

Third, the local people in the vlog were very chill and polite. They lived in simple wooden villages, went to bed early and got up early. They even sang songs while cooking or working. I think that lifestyle looks very warm and peaceful.

So, if I get some free time in the future, I’ll definitely go to Peru and explore the Amazon rainforest.

2. Describe a place with a lot of trees you would like to visit

The place with a lot of trees I really want to visit is the Amazon rainforest in Peru. It has been on my wish list for a long time. I’ve always liked trees, especially wild ones in the forest. Whenever I’m surrounded by trees, I feel a kind of mysterious energy and vitality.

I first heard about this place from a travel vlogger online. Her name is A Jian, and she stayed in the Amazon rainforest in Peru for a few weeks. In one video, she showed how they took a boat through the jungle and sometimes had to push away thick branches to move forward. It looked really fun. The tour guide said during the rainy season, the water level could rise way above their heads. That shocked me. I thought nature there was so powerful.

Besides the trees, the rainforest is also home to many animals, like sloths, frogs, and tropical birds. I love the feeling of being close to nature, and I believe walking through the jungle would be a very unique experience.

Another reason I want to go there is because the local people live such a peaceful life. In the vlog, they lived in wooden houses, cooked outdoors, and sang while working. Their life looked very different from modern city life, but also very warm and welcoming.

So yes, I would love to visit the Peruvian Amazon rainforest one day, to explore the wild trees and experience the beauty of nature.

Describe a kind of foreign food you like and you have had

A kind of foreign food I really like and have already tried is ceviche, which is the national dish of Peru. I had the chance to try it last year when I visited Peru during a short holiday. The trip had always been my dream, and one of the main reasons I wanted to go was to experience local food—especially this one.

Ceviche is basically raw fish marinated in fresh citrus juice, usually lime or lemon, and mixed with onions, chili, and herbs. When I had my first bite, I was amazed. The fish was super fresh, and the sour flavor from the lime made the whole dish very refreshing and appetizing. I still remember that it was served with sweet potatoes and corn on the side, which balanced the sourness very well.

Before going to Peru, I had already seen this dish online in a vlog by a Chinese travel YouTuber called A Jian. She ate ceviche in the rainforest and said it was one of the best dishes she’d ever had. That really made me want to try it myself. So when I finally had the chance, I went straight to a local market restaurant in Lima and ordered the most popular version.

I think I liked it not only because it tasted good, but also because it reminded me of my love for fish and citrus. I’ve always enjoyed sour and fresh flavors. Also, I felt really happy that I was finally eating something I had dreamed of for so long.

After trying ceviche in Peru, I even learned how to make a simplified version at home. It’s not the same, of course, but it brings back memories of my trip every time I eat it. So yes, ceviche is definitely one of my favorite foreign foods that I’ve had.