China: Like Living on Another Planet Past Review
By Kevin D (Accounting, Bryant University) for
CIEE: Shanghai - China in a Global Context
How different life is played out in different cultures. To see the extremely wealthy and the extremely poor on the same street with their wealth visible in terms of fancy cars or torn clothes. America is a melting pot of different cultures but it is still somewhat segregated in town, but in Shanghai and the rest of the Chinese cities it is much different.
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. |
Everything was well balanced and the workload allowed the students to have enough time for travel and experiencing the culture. I enjoyed the Chinese class because it was spoken in Chinese which really allowed you to challenge yourself in terms of language ability. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The administration was really out there to help you ease into the new culture and would help you along the way with any problems. Great staff |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
Chinese food will be tough on anyone's stomach. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I went to Chengdu to a Nature Park and Panda Reserve. I also went up to the mongolian and russian border. I also went to the Great Wall, Bird's Nest, and Tian na men Square. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
We were in a enclosed campus in Shanghai so safety was not an issue. They had cards necessary to open all the doors to the building as well as multiple guards to keep watch. |
| 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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Language
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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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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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? | Never miss the opportunity to go abroad if it is given to you. |
