Best cultural experience of China possible! Past Review

By (Marquette University) - abroad from 01/07/2013 to 05/10/2013 with

The Beijing Center: Semester and Full Year Abroad

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned basic Mandarin, Chinese culture, how to eat with chopsticks, how to travel efficiently and learn life long lessons about how to travel,

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

A wide variety of courses are offered by people that are experts in their field. The professors truly care about their students and many have some field trips to help you have a deeper understanding of the course material.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I had a Chinese roommate in the standard dorm. The dorm was in average shape by American standards but having the local roommate was a great experience to help me learn more about the area and practice my Mandarin with.

* Food:

The food in the university cafeterias is good in quality and very cheap. There are also many restaurants around UIBE which offer the good and cheap. Also about half of the restaurants have an English menu which is helpful for students like me that went to China knowing no Mandarin.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I had a Chinese roommate and a Chinese tutor. I met with my tutor at least once a week to practice Mandarin and explore Beijing together. Also the trip to Yunnan was a once in a life time opportunity to stay with local host families and see southern China.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I had to go to the doctor one time while in China. Everyone there has to go to the hospital. It is a little far from campus but it is an English speaking western hospital. Make sure you have a letter with you from the insurance company guaranteeing payment or they will ask for a large amount of money up front. With the insurance offered through the program I was able to make a claim after treatment and had to go back and forth a little bit with them to cover it but after 30 minutes it was all resolved.

* Safety:

The campus area is very safe. China is in general very safe for international students.

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

This program helped me to learn about real China. I was able to spend a semester there but wish I was able to stay a whole year.

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)

The exchange rate is very favorable going to China. I ate out for every meal and they cost between 1-3USD on average. It would cost 15 USD if we went to a fancy restaurant.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

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
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? None
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 a student like me with no Mandarin experience be ready to have an eye opening experience. Mandarin is a hard language to learn and requires some studying. My tutor was very helpful in teaching me the practical day to day phrases. By about half way through the semester I felt comfortable ordering food and getting around Beijing by myself.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
* 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?
  • The Yunnan trip
  • The classes
  • Chinese Culture
* What could be improved?
  • recommendations for where to travel to on the wekeends
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I had read up more about the geography and history of China. I also wish I had some small gifts to share with my Chinese friends.