BEIJING / WASHINGTON - Popular Bluff, Missouri, native Catherine Beck never imagined her summer experiences in China would change her career course.

The 25-year-old has worked as a project manager at the Beijing-based overseas study agency Insights Education International since 2007. Beck is among a growing number of Americans heading across the ocean to realize their Chinese dreams.

"I believe working in a field that is closely tied to Chinese education, business and culture will be beneficial when applying for jobs in the US," she told China Daily.