Mind-opening Past Review
By Daniel C (History And Political Science, Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville) - abroad from 06/01/2012 to 08/12/2012 with
CEA CAPA Education Abroad: Shanghai, China
I have gained so much. Most importantly, I now have the confidence and ability to travel or live abroad in any country in the world. I now have the capability to communicate with native Chinese speakers, and the same skills of learning a new language in a foreign country can be applied if I try to learn any different language in a different country. I feel that the world just became a little smaller, and feel that I can now better identify with different people on a worldly level rather than simply national. You realize that in many ways people are not all that different no matter where you go. Living with the locals, and completing a day to day routine on my own in a totally foreign environment has been an incredibly enriching experience. I now have a deeper appreciation for international travel, and I feel that I have developed a wanderlust that will likely follow me for the rest of my life. After this experience, I feel that I now have the ability to adapt to new environments quickly. My experience was completely worthwhile.
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. |
I took one class 3 hours a day, 4 days a week, with at least 2 1hr tutor sessions required each week. I felt this was a good amount. It was not overwhelming and left me enough time to explore on your own. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The program was well organized and the on-site director and teachers were fantastic. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Lived in an international dorm, very clean and accommodations were roomy. It was interesting living in a building with students from around the world. |
| * Food: |
Food was not included in the program, but the location provided easy access to inexpensive meals at University dining halls and nearby restaurants. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Very integrated, my university was in the heart of the city, right next to many shops and food streets so I literally had to move with the culture to fulfill day to day routine tasks. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Never experienced a health issue, but was well aware of it's availability at a local international hospital. |
| * Safety: |
Shanghai is incredibly safe. I never personally encountered, witnessed or even heard of any sort of crimes or violence during my stay. However, that does not mean it does not exist, and students should practice common sense while exploring the city. Keep money and important belongings safe when traveling about. Overall, I would certainly consider Shanghai far more safe then the vast majority of cities in the United States. The only major safety issue I could think of would be the traffic, traffic rules are far less enforced compared the United States, and driving is incredibly chaotic. Exercise caution when crossing roads, especially during your first few weeks as you get used to the new driving culture. |
| 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) |
Shanghai is fascinating because of the extreme contrasts of both expensive and cheap options throughout the city. If necessary, Shanghai is an extremely inexpensive for a student to live. A student could potentially eat out 3 meals a day for under $10. There are also many many American fast-food restaurants in Shanghai (McDonalds, KFC, Pizza Hut etc..) with prices comparable to the west. There are also far more min-range to downright ritzy restaurant options. It all depended on how much money an individual wanted to spend. Public transport is incredibly cheap, as is domestic travel. |
| * 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? | $200 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Just be smart, and pay attention to the exchange rate. It is quite easy to get by on a little in China, it is also possible to live a luxurious lifestyle here as well. Pay attention to your spending habits and use common sense. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
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| 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? | Beginning |
| 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? | Get out there and speak with native speakers. Learning out of necessity in high-stress situations can be the best type of practice. When you and understood and can understand others it is an incredible experience. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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| 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? |
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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? | N/A |
