A Summer I'll Never Forget Past Review
By William C (Finance And Economics, The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 06/13/2012 to 08/13/2012 with
CET Shanghai
Numerous friends and colleagues. You not only learn about the language and business field, you learn about people, how to handle all different types, and how to get close to others.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The CET office was always there to help in any way possible from reimbursements, giving ideas on local trips, and providing help for storms. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
The cafeteria food wasn't the best-it was watered down and didn't fill you up. But it was cheap and an easy way to meet up with friends. Also, there was plenty of food off campus. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Great chance to befriend your roomates and to get to know your coworkers. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
No Health Care problems at all. |
| * Safety: |
Shanghai and Donghua University felt even safer than anywhere I've been in America. The only dangers were pickpocketing and traffic but they informed us early on how to deal with both issues and to stay safe. |
| 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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| * 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? | $80 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Buy local Chinese food, do not go to western restaurants. They taste great but you're spending more for something you can get in America and that's not part of the experience you're paying for. |
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? | Advanced |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Fluent |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Fourth Year of Chinese |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 10+ |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Never break into English. Try to befriend your Chinese coworkers and talk to them in Chinese. Also, find friends of your roommates so when you're walking and you run into one, you can just break into a conversation. You learn a lot by those random conversations with the locals. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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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? | 10+ |
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? | Shanghai is very similar to the United States, but you'll find a lot of small differences that'll make the experience way better than any trip within the States. I also discovered that I want to return for my career. |
