English Summer Camp in China Past Review

By (PSYCHOLOGY., University of Northern Iowa) for

University of Northern Iowa: Dongguan - UNI Summer Camp in China

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I think I really grew as a person just by going abroad. I learned a lot about myself as a person, as an American and really got a sense of cultural identity.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

It was a great experience, I would have never been able to learn all the things I did at UNI.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The organization of getting the trip set up was great, I think everyone knew what was expected of them before we left. Having the teaching manual and other things taken care of before we left made it a much more enjoyable experience.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The hotels were all very nice and we were located in great areas for shopping and safety!

* Food:

The breakfast was great in Dongguan however the lunch and dinner situation was not as great. I would've rather been on my own rather than waste the time and money sitting in the canteen with food I didn't care for/could eat. During Beijing and Hong Kong the meals were all very good!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Being able to see all of the things we did in such a short period of time was so amazing! I had a good experience getting to visit all of those sites. Even the times when we could go off on our own was really good!

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Some people needed medical care and received it quite swiftly. I didn't feel unsafe or any such thing while abroad.

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)

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Hotel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The connections I made with the culture and my students in China.
* What could be improved?
  • Having a cohesive schedule that aligns the beliefs of both sides of the camp (teachers and camp leaders)
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Participating in this program is such a unique experience and is something that everyone should get to go through. Being able to gain all the skills I did in such a short time was incredible and is all because of teaching the kids at the summer camp!