Xi'an has great food! quite a variety as well Past Review
By Devin N (International Relations and Affairs., University of Arkansas - Fayetteville) for
China Study Abroad Reflections: Comprehensive Reviews of Past Programs
very worthwhile. I built up a social network of Chinese professors and American students, gained great references, learned tons of Chinese, and also got to experience some amazing things (ride camels, camp on the Gobi desert, bargain on the street, get first-hand experience in a very dynamic, fascinating country)
Personal Information
| The term and year this program took place: | Summer 2009 |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Chinese instruction was exceptional, as was the history |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
program is very well thought-out and organized, staff are very efficient and caring |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
clean but basic, definitely gives you the Chinese experience (had a Chinese roommate) <br /><br /> very close to the university, very convenient |
| * Food: |
Xi'an has great food! quite a variety as well |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
2-week long field study trip along the silk road, all across China, part of the program. it was AMAZING. learned more those 2 weeks than through classes, got to see history and Chinese culture in person |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
China's cities has among the lowest crime rates in the world, very safe |
| 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? | $50 on food per week |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | China is cheap for Chinese stuff, western stuff is quite expensive |
Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
improved by a huge degree over six months, from talking about every-day things to talking about politics and Chinese culture |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | do it. the social networks you will build, and the amount you will learn and experience is HUGE. very well-organized program, and money is very well spent. approach it with a good attitude though, and try to make the most of everything in the program, and every day in China |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
The Silk Road: Yesterday and Tomorrow |
| Course Department: | |
| Instructor: | Andrew Womack |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | very interesting, also included a 2-week field trip along the silk road, definitely made the course amazing |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Chinese Language |
| Course Department: | |
| Instructor: | |
| Instruction Language: | Chinese |
| Comments: | amazing quality of Chinese teachers, all young |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
