The four years I spent in China were some of the most impactful. The rich culture and magnificent architectural landscapes inspired me to start thinking about how to create immersive experiences that used structures and extended reality to enhance the way we interact with living spaces. I am currently a software engineering student and founder of a startup called Asthrall, which focuses on the intersections of extended reality, AI, robotics and architecture. I strongly believe these pioneering fields need each other and as an entrepreneur it is my job to create products that maximize their potential and usefulness in the global economy.

During this special visit, I plan to spend time in Shanghai, where I previously lived for three years, and Nanjing, where I spent my first year. Aside from the sentimental value both places hold, they were also where I connected with innovation and startup communities that have taught me a great deal about how to apply these technologies to real-life scenarios, to education and the pursuit of consciousness. I have been observing cities like Chengdu, Shenzhen and Hangzhou follow in Shanghai's footsteps to become innovation centers in their own right and it's all thanks to their ability to commercialize the uses of emerging technologies, whether it's creating theme parks or simulated learning environments. For me, this presents an extraordinary opportunity to work hands-on with recent developments and see how they fit into my vision. I want to take architectural tours and explore how design can improve our concept of modernity, ambition and even reality.

Guilin will be more of a meditation tour. I had my spiritual awakening while living in China. I felt I deeply reconnected with myself during this time. Perhaps because the culture and language-induced isolation forced me to look within. It could also be because of the generations-long spiritual signature of Chinese philosophy. In moments of deep contemplation I made it a point to escape the city bustle and visit quiet mountains and scenic villages. Guilin was the one place I didn't reach in my list. My move back to South Africa when Covid hit was an unexpected turn of events and resulted in my not completing the work I had planned to do and I call this my gratitude visit because I am going back to reflect and polish up on what I've learned both personally and professionally.

The trip will help kickstart Asthrall in earnest. I hope to come back with conclusive evidence of the impact and viability of the technologies I want to adopt and develop, like laser drone technology and digital clones. I also want to see how the country is using regulation and education to implement these on a bigger scale. This will help me increase the complexity of my projects when I return to my program, which have so far been 2D and 3D models. It will also help me create a more detailed study plan for my Robotics degree, which I plan to pursue at MIT or Stanford later next year.