I was Shanghaied by Shanghai Past Review
By Jennifer R (Anthropology and East Asian Studies, The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 09/14/2012 to 12/03/2012 with
CIEE: Shanghai - China in a Global Context
What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I wide number of skills, such as cross-cultural communication and adapting to new situations, quickly and sensitively. I feel like I'm able to see the world with a little more multiplicity. It was absolutely worthwhile.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | Just one: East China Normal University |
| 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 |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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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? |
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 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
It was Shanghai, so it was a little more expensive. |
| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | No |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Depends on how nice we ate that week. Anywhere from 15-30$/week |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | If you want to save big, street food and divey-like places are a great options. The only trick is you need to know how to say a few of the main dishes, or maybe even just a few mains like "meat" (and what kind of meat), and "veggies" (and their names). You can usually tell the waitress what you want in the dish and they'll do the rest. It's also easy to eat expensive, but luxuriously so. |
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 |
My recommendation is to run away from the pack and make Chinese friends. That is your best bet! |
| 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? | Beginner I, but I still just tested back into Beginner I at the end of the semester |
| 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? | Do the homework, speak it ALL THE TIME, review your vocab and grammar as often as possible. |
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? | That I should make more Chinese friends and that living with a Chinese Homestay or living with a Chinese roommate is NOT SCARY AT ALL!! If I could do it again, I would in a heartbeat. |
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