It was tough, but so many lovely things came out of it Past Review
By Charlotte B (Plan Ii, The University of Texas at Austin) for
CET Beijing
I would probably have spent more time in a smaller city, splitting the year between Beijing and Hangzhou, for example. Made some fantastic chinese and non chinese friends.
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 reasonable workload, chinese instruction was wonderful, much better than any experience I had in the chinese department |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I had an issue with my roommate and the faculty and staff were very supportive and helpful |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The international student dorm was really convenient and the location had everything we needed around within walking distance, supermarket, print shop, restaurants |
| * Food: |
Great, inexpensive cafeteria |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I found that the program is so small that the best way to have a good social experience is to find something to do in the city, I dance swing, lindy hop and blues and had a great time going into the city every week to do that |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| 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) |
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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | No, I think living in China and costs of the program were just fine, no more expensive than a semester at UT and lots more traveling ability |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 1st year of chinese |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
Having a chinese roommate was one of the best assets of the program. |
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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