The Most Phenomenal Thing I've Ever Experienced in My life Past Review
By Michael B (Business Administration, Florida Memorial University) - abroad from 08/19/2013 to 12/20/2013 with
Capital Normal University: Beijing - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I learned how to be self reliant, and depend on myself for survival in any environment. I also learned that we as human beings are a lot more interconnected that we presume ourselves to be. I gained the ability to connect with people from any culture on a deeper level very effectively. It was totally worthwhile.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The academic side of the program was very intense because learning Mandarin required at least 2 to 3 hours of studying per day outside of classroom time. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The administration was excellent, very informative, and very welcoming. I felt safe and comfortable with them. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My living arrangements were good. The only thing I can say is that the minor cosmetics defects of the building was a small concern of mine. For the most part the living conditions were good. |
| * Food: |
The food was diverse and there were many options to choose from. There was the option to eat at the school cafeteria, the street food, and the many restaurants surrounding the University. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt like I stood out, but the good thing was that most of the Chinese people I met were very friendly and welcoming. Some of them were not so friendly in the sense that they made me feel like I didn't belong. It was a great experience being able to mix in and mesh with people from different countries and cultures only to discover that you had a lot in common with these people. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I'd gotten sick a few times out in Beijing, but it was mainly due to the pollution in the city. The program administration did a great job helping me find medicine and things when I needed it, so they get a 5! But the overall weather out in Beijing was terrible and that's why I give it a 1 and 1/2 star rating. The CAPA administration gets a 5! |
| * Safety: |
I felt very safe the entire trip. And I was given great instruction on what to do, and what not to do to remain safe. The University I attended gave me great instruction, and the CAPA administration also gave me great instruction on how to remain safe during my study abroad journey. |
| 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) |
It's not easy. You need more like $500 - $1,000 per month to eat good and live good. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I spent just about $200 per week on food and other expenses |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Save up at least $1,500 before you go so that way you can live comfortably while you're there. And while you are there try to share taxi's with friends, go out with groups of friends to split the costs of meals, eat street food, don't go party alone, buy snacks from the Wu-Mart and not the school convenience store, don't drink the tap water, buy four sticks of deodorant before you go to China, study hard, play hard, and have fun! |
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 |
It encouraged me to travel back to China to become fluent in the language. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| 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? | Spanish 3 |
| 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 and focus on what's relevant to you in your life. Pretend like you're a baby that doesn't know anything and just copy every sound and mouth movement. Listen to Chinese TV in the background while studying, also watch Chinese movies, TV, and listen to Chinese songs. It will also help you become familiar with the language. |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
| 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? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I wish I knew that it would end. I would have put that in my head because I had the most amazing time of my life. But I know I will be going back to China. |
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 Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
