Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Program has great potential, needs director that is more involve. Past Review

By (Utah Valley University) - abroad from 05/01/2012 to 06/20/2012 with

Utah Valley University: Traveling - Chinese

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
What I would not change for the world is the friendships that I made in China with my Chinese friends, teachers and with the people in my neighborhood. I love China and the opportunity to have gone to China. I love the people that I meet there.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Director of the study abroad was not following up with the program other than by brief meetings and phone calls, the early intervention of personal tutors were needed. Students requested tutors, after we got the tutors everyone began to make huge improvements.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Chuxiong School administration was great and took care of us.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Was humble but very nice, in a safe area. Apartment needed to be clean in the bathroom.

* Food:

Not recommend, it is spicy for all meals including breakfast. Restaurants across the school has a lot of flies did not follow sanitation. BRING CEREAL TO CHINA it is worth it. Cafeteria food have veggies and tofu healthy choices, ask for not spicy.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt excellent with the Chinese people and integrated the fastest in my group.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

BADLY, a female student got run over by a motorcycle and was not taken to the hospital at all. The next day students including wounded one were awaken very early in the morning to walk at least 10 hours for a cruise when taxis were affordable. Female student was not feeling well.

* Safety:

In Yunnan, Chuxiong University the school area and Campus are very safe, however it is not recommended to stay out pass 10pm because people that drink are out and about or you could get taken by a tourist.

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)

Very cheap to live there , you can live like a king, it is $1.00 versus RBM 6.3257

* Was housing included in your program cost? Yes
* Was food included in your program cost? No
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 350 Yuan, about 55 to 60 US dollars weekly
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Yes. Fruit is very cheap and vendors are close to the Chuxiong School and the school cafeteria has affordable prices too. Bargain is ok to do if you buy things in the street. Go first with a Chinese friend on a taxi so you can learn what is the true price of things, otherwise they might overcharge you a lot. Go in the street and bargain, you will get things for $3 or $5 very inexpensive. Buy in the small cities not in the big ones otherwise is expensive

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

We were encouraged to use the language at all times

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
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? I prefer to not disclose
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? Learn the vocabulary first then GO OUT AND APPLY IT the Chinese citizens will correct you and you will learn faster. Example if you go to the restaurant, learn first the vocabulary of that place and then see how much faster you can learn by practicing

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 10+

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The available tutors
  • The apartments but there is not internet
  • The Chinese people in Yunnan are so friendly and helpful
* What could be improved?
  • Program has great potential, needs director that is more involve.
  • Excessive amount of classes that do not pertain.
  • Every two weeks meetings are needed among the students with anomymous feedback
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I would have known that the director of the study abroad was going to be absent and in his place a young couple with no experience were going to be in charge. I wish I would have known the director was not going to follow my progress in school. I wish I would have known things in the program were going to be taken away to save money when I had already paid for those things. I wish I would have known that the selections of the students was going to be poor; there needs to be a closer look at the - students selection -, where only dedicated students can be selected otherwise many did not want to do the work and happened to caused a lot of problems in China; were been disrupted in class, often late, and rude to their classmates. I wish I would have known only a certain type of computer worked in the apartment.