My China Experiece Past Review
By A student (Loyola University Chicago) - abroad from 08/14/2017 to 12/15/2017 with
The Beijing Center: Semester and Full Year Abroad
I connected more with my Chinese culture and got to see the world from a different, but still good, side.
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. |
The academic program was very good, but I thought too rigorous and time-consuming for a study abroad program. I felt I didn't have much of an opportunity to explore my host city because I was always too busy completing schoolwork instead, and I might have missed out on connecting more to the culture. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The administration was very professional but friendly as well. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt pretty integrated; the Chinese roommate program at TBC is very excellent and they help students adjust very quickly to local life. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I had travelers' flu around the fourth week of the program that lasted about 2 weeks; the student development director was very available and willing to help me make plans if I needed to the local English hospital, but in the end I just took Chinese medicine and got better. |
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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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Less than 100 dollars a week |
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 |
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| 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? | Practice ahead of time; practice while you're there; practice after you leave |
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 more about how technology works and could have made plans to have a better system of communications and finances, and also I wish I was better at Chinese |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
