Its an adventure that I will remember forever in my life! Past Review

By (Asian Asian American Study, special, SUNY - Binghamton) for

SUNY Binghamton: Shanghai - Chinese Business Language & Culture at Fudan University

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
This program is not only about classwork, but everything else. Its the culture that you can experience from your everyday life counts. I learned about China outside of the classroom and thats the most wonderful part of this program. Beside Shanghai there are many great places to visit around Shanghai. The transportation is very convience and cheap. I leave Shanghai almost every weekend to explore different places around Shanghai. I visited all the great place in Shanghai on weekdays after class with my classmates. You can probably travel all around china with trains and buses. I get to like China more after this program, I like it so much I am planning to find a job in China in the future.

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.

I think the professors are great, they tried to help us in all aspect, including our everyday life. I think the program is too short, because its only a 6 weeks program professors tried to provide us with as much imformation as they can, but they also forget to consider if we understand everything or not.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

I don't know if we have a faculty leader or not. If we do, I don't think he/she is going a good job, because up till now I still don't know who he/she is or what he/she did.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The housing arrangement is done by binghamton. There is a guard outside on the front gate 24hours, so its safe. To settle-in you have to buy all kinds of soaps for cleaning, and toilet paper.

* Food:

I tried to try different food and different place for every meal, and all food are good there.

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Food is cheap, around 20-30rmb for dinner. 40-60rmb for really decent meal.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Its always good to go out with a group of people instead of yourself. Food, more people you can tried more food and after you split the bill its really cheap. Taxi, you pay the same amount of money to the driver for four people or one person, but after you split with four people its so much cheap than you paying the full fee. Shopping, bargain. Girls alway know the right price for everything.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition?

Language acquisition improvement?

I have to use the host country language in everyday interactions, so I practice language everyday.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans

A Look Back

* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Students who has little chinese background will gain the most from this program. If you hate reading textbook, you should consider this program, because you can learn from experience instead of textbook. I have the most rewarding adventure in Shanghai that I can never experience in US.