The best introduction to life in China! Past Review
By Christine D (Sociology., Vancouver Island University) - abroad from 05/01/2013 to 05/29/2013 with
CRCC Asia: Internship Program in Shanghai
It was such a great time, with everyday being a new adventure, one made better by the people who I was sharing it with. Shanghai was such a great city to explore! It is a big city that has such a cheap and convenient public transportation network, in which everything is written, and announced, in both Mandarin and English. This made it easy for me to get around for work and recreation. CRCC made it even easier by giving us a guide book with key phrases, and they also included weekly mandarin lessons to help with the integration into Chinese society. My work placement was an excellent introduction into my chosen career path, and has led me to further interest in that work. Everyone in my office was friendly, and the work was interesting. I learned a lot and gained valuable experience. Along with my work life, my social life was vastly improved by the other wonderful interns visiting that month. This internship was one of the best experiences I could imagine for a first time traveler, like myself. Everything is planned and taken care of, and while it is a little pricey, if you are able to afford the fee, it is worth it. This was such a fantastic time, and has made quite an improvement in my ability to stand out amongst the crowd of other graduates. It was the best of times, and I would do it all the same again!
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The housing was not the greatest quality, but the hotel we stayed in was done in apartment style, which allowed for us in the program to live our lives normally. A kitchen to cook in, a living room to watch tv, and many other amenities. It was also in a great location, near valuable things, and each apartment was located close to the others in the program, which allowed for better socialization and connectivity with the other interns. |
| * Food: |
CRCC only offers limited meals, but the food in China is just great! and you are able to explore this as freely as you wish! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
They made sure all issues were dealt before and after departure. |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* 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) |
More so on budget cause China's so cheap, but its hard cause CRCC's a bit pricey and food, communication and transportation are not included. They help you get on your way, find everything you need and than you pay for it as it comes. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 40 CAD or so |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Learn how to haggle! those tips are gold! also while saving money is a great plan I often regret the times I chose to be thrifty, instead of adventurous. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
They provided weekly classes free of charge, also they give a mandarin intensive program version. A version of the internship, in which you stay for two months, but the first month is only mandarin classes, but no work. Than the next month is workcentric. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Beginner |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | If you are going for more than a month, than stick with the lessons! They are useful, but if only a month than use the language as much as you can! China is very good about giving English speaking tourists the ability to read signs and understand what is generally going on. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I wish I knew how worth it another month would be. I only stayed a month, and it was such a shame to leave. I made all these new friends, and contacts, all which I had to leave prematurely. I also missed out going to certain events, and experiences, cause of my limited timeline. I never got to leave Shanghai cause I did not have enough time. So stay as long as you can, if you can! Also take every moment you can to be adventurous! Try new food, experiences, and meet new people! I did not do as much as I wanted, and I wish I did!! |
