China Does Not Disappoint Past Review

By (University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh) - abroad from 05/05/2018 to 05/19/2018 with

University of Pittsburgh: China Plus3 Study Abroad Program, Hosted by the Asia Institute

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I feel that I learned so much about China's history and people. We visited so many culture sites and all of them were amazing. It was very worthwile.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

There were plenty of resources for me to go to on this trip. It was not too stressful and I felt that I learned a lot over the two weeks abroad.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The hotels in each city were great.

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Seven people in our group got sick during our time in Beijing. However, they were taken care of and back to normal within a day or two.

* Safety:

I felt pretty safe on this trip. It was mainly in more crowded areas that I needed to be more concerned of my surroundings.

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

This program really opened my eyes to a whole new environment and culture. It was my first time in China and I loved every moment.

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)

Most of the meals were very reasonably priced.

Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? When at the local street markets/vendors, make sure to negotiate for a better deal on items.

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? Beginner
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Intermediate
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Learn basic sentences to communicate. Translator apps are helpful as well.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Hotel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
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?
  • Meeting new people
  • Exploring the cities
  • Authentic food
* What could be improved?
  • Company visits
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew the coolest parts of each city to explore prior to the program. It would've saved a lot of time.

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 Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.