Best experience of my life! Past Review
By Maria K (Religion/Religious Studies., University of North Florida) - abroad from 05/06/2013 to 06/08/2013 with
Chinese Language Institute / CLI: Guilin - Study Abroad and Intensive Mandarin Language Program
I learned that you only learn when you get out of your comfort zone. It's important to take risks and venture off, with a group of course. Take all the saftey precautions you can, but it's important to be unafraid of learning about the surrounding culture away from the tourists. The learning usually comes from the everyday lives of those citizens. This was the best money I ever spent, and I'd do it again in a heatbeat!
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. |
Perhaps it's because I was not actually studying at the Institute, but just there with a study abroad group from my own university, I didn't get much out of the caligraphy classes. The language class was helpful, however, and we even got free Beginner's Chinese books! |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Everyone was really helpful, but for the most part non-existent unless they were teaching a class. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Really nice rooms. No dryer so just hope it doesn't rain so you can dry your clothes ourside! |
| * Food: |
Best food in China. Hands down. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Amazing cultural integration. You really are mostly on your own to get to know the beautiful city of Guilin and it's beatiful people. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I contracted lyme disease in Guilin from a tick bite. Nobody really knew what kind of rash I had, but they didn't have an onsite medical specialist. I simply brushed it off and didn't know until over a year later. |
| * Safety: |
Watch out for the insane traffic! |
| 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) |
Most affordable country you could ever study in, except for Shanghai, which has lots of high-end places. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $25 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Learn how to haggle first, and then start buying. People will try to rip you off because you're foreign. |
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? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Nothing |
| 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 ask for direction/talk to peope! |
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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| 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? | I wish I spoke more Chinese at the time. |
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. |
