Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

5 Weeks in Shanghai for the Summer Past Review

By (Jazz Piano Performance, McGill University) - abroad from 07/07/2012 to 08/12/2012 with

CEA CAPA Education Abroad: Shanghai, China

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I have always felt that travelling is a rapid way to mature and make yourself a better person. This program has provided me with more than I could have expected - I have found the lessons learned in my business class to be extremely relevant and interesting, and I feel like I am a more well-rounded human being having been through this program. It was more than worthwhile, and I would definitely recommend it to others.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I had no health needs to be addressed, but I'm sure if the situation had arisen it would have been dealt with effectively and efficiently.

* Safety:

Not once did I feel threatened or unsafe - riding in a taxi through the crazy traffic is about as dangerous as it gets here. Use common sense and there will not be any problems. Walking through the city, even late at night, you are never alone, and the Chinese people are very helpful should you ask them for something. They generally are not looking for trouble.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

* Was housing included in your program cost? Yes
* Was food included in your program cost? No
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? ~$100
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? While things in China are extremely cheap to a visiting foreigner, it is precisely this reason that makes it easy to get carried away buying things that you don't really need. The deals are tempting, but remember that saying no to an unnecessary purchase will always be the cheapest option.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • How easy the administration/teachers were to communicate with
  • The freedom and trust you are given, allowing you to determine your own experience in the city
  • Manageable workload, not too much, not too little
* What could be improved?
  • Group outings that were part of the program could have been better-planned
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? It is extremely easy and cheap to visit other parts of China during the weekends. I didn't know how much freedom would be granted by CEA - whether or not we would need to stick around on Fridays and Saturdays, or be free to roam around. Now I know that one could indeed visit a different city each weekend. Had I known travelling was such a great option, I would have planned out weekend trips well before coming to China in the first place.