Beijing: For those who cannot contain their curiosity Past Review
By Alexandra v (Sociology., Ithaca College) for
Beijing Foreign Studies University: Beijing - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
Of Course!
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
There was a lot of work but it kept you busy and in general the topics being taught were relevant and helped you understand why things were the way they were in China. At the end of the semester all the classes I took gave me a great understanding of china and its citizens. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
All my expectations and more were met. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
Dietary restrictions are difficult because they do not understand allergies. A girl in my program had a big issue with peanut oil being used in their cooking. A lot of times vegetarian meals can be confusing to them. Chinese food is very oily, but it sure does taste good! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Make a "food club" and go and explore interesting restaurants once a week. Once we ate an entire lamb, and another time we ate in a Yurt! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Beijing is the safest place on earth. There was a hospital an hour away but other than a few food issues no one got too seriously ill. |
| 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? | 6.30 yuan = 1 US Dollar Breakfast: 2.5 yuan Lunch: Nice: 15-25 yuan Noodles/small place on campus: 5-10 yuan Dinner: 8-25 yuan every subway ride is 2 yuan and a bus is .6 yuan 1 Peking Duck (entire duck shared): 180 yuan- 300 yuan |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Yes the exchange is incredible but we aware that you should still not be spending in excess. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | NONE! |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
We had a language pledge so we were forced to practice with our peers every day. Also almost no one speaks English in Beijing, so you were constantly practicing. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | The type of student who goes to Beijing should not be afraid to make a fool out of themselves every day, one who is willing to get lost without being able to ask directions and one who is willing to involve themselves in the culture and create friendships with the citizens. |
