Local friends made my trip Past Review
By jessica b (The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 02/14/2012 to 06/04/2012 with
CET Beijing
I made my best friend in another country.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Lots of homework and tests every week. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
You have to test into to different levels, and I hear from many, including the people in the program, that if you tested in a level you were not comfortable with they would switch you if you worked hard. For me? No. I was refused and because of that only 3 credits counted instead of 17. When I tried to explain, they did not care or try to help me. And I spent the first half of my program 'reviewing' everything I already knew because I messed up on my first placement test. So the program was rather easy since I learned nothing new. They think they know what is 'best' for you, but really, don't care. Honestly, I did not like most of the people who worked in the administration office at all. Not helpful. Kind of rude. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Housing was okay, for China. There was quiet hours, but when I tried to get them enforced I was kind of laughed at and not taken seriously. I mean I know it's college, but I like to sleep at night. |
| * Food: |
Food...was not good. Same thing every day for 4 months. It was better than nothing though. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Very. My local roommate became my best friend. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
It was ok. |
| * Safety: |
Good. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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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) |
China is cheap. |
| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | Yes |
| 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? | Don't buy stuff in China. It will break in a week. :) |
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 |
I liked only being able to speak chinese, helped my fluency. |
| 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? | Intermediate |
| 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? | Don't hang out with the american students. Seriously. You get a local roommate so you can hang out with the city people. Don't be like the kids in my program and only hang out and talk with the white people. |
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? | Credit issues. |
