INTO China: A Remarkable Adventure that will Change Your Life Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The grading system was based on a final exam and class attendance, however I did not receive credit at my home university so my participation was purely out of interest for the language and culture. The class size was very small and allowed every student to receive personal attention and extra help. Out of classroom help sessions were also provided to practice ones Mandarin with local students.

On-site administration of your program

The onsite administration and staff at Dongbei University of Finance and Economics were excellent. The language professor, as mentioned, was wonderful and the culture class professors were happy to welcome the INTO students and introduce them to new subjects. The dorm had an attendant who was friendly and able to help with dorm related needs. INTO had interns living in the dormitory with us who went above and beyond to guarantee that we were comfortable and able to fully embrace and explore Dalian during our stay.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

We stayed dorm rooms on the DUFE Campus. The accommodation was spacious and very clean. There were two beds, two desks, closets, and a bathroom for the room as opposed to sharing one for the entire floor. Many amenities were provided such as internet, a hot water boiler, mugs, hangers, bedding, and laundry racks. The dorms were located in close proximity to shopping, restaurants, and lots of fun street food. Living on campus was a phenomenal experience and resonated with my freshman year at a U.S. university. The only amenity I missed here was having less access to a typical gym but the DUFE campus does offer plenty of alternatives such as basketball courts, volleyball courts, and a stadium track. The campus was lovely and had a few gardens to enjoy, some cafeterias, cafe's and small shops in between classroom buildings.

INTO introduced us to some famous dishes in China such as Hot Pot and Crispy Duck, however food options in China are endless. Once in Dalian we had the option of eating on campus with expenses covered by INTO, however, there was plenty of street food around and small local restaurants serving lots of noodle and dumpling dishes. Fresh fruit and produce is very abundant at local stands and there were multiple groceries and markets within walking distance of the dormitories. Some of the food in China is different than chinese food in the U.S. and can be difficult to get used to, however all of it was fun to try and treat as apart of the experience. There was also popular chains such as McDonald and Pizza Hut near campus for those who wanted to eat something familiar on occasion. I was in one of the first groups enrolled in the program and something which stood out to me was how different Chinese breakfast was from what we eat in the U.S. as they served buns with bean paste, pickled green beans with cabbage, and fried noodles and rice. The staff however tried to make us feel more at home and introduced toast and jam, boiled eggs and a few other menu items. INTO definitely works to try and make everyones experience the best it can be.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

When visiting Beijing, INTO was very good at arranging activities to visit major attractions such as: Tiananmen Square, The Forbidden City, The Great Wall of China, The Hutongs, and the Temple of Heaven. They also quickly introduced us to local cuisine and night life. The best part of all of these activities occurring at the beginning of the trip was the opportunity it presented to meet and bond with the other students enrolled in the program. While I learned plenty about China and its culture, the unique blend of students from different backgrounds and countries that were on the trip allowed me to begin developing a more international experience than one solely based on Chinese culture. The staff members at INTO were friendly and outstanding at helping students acclimate to their new surroundings. When arriving in Dalian, where I lived for the duration of the program, they were beyond attentive in guaranteeing everyones comfort on campus and accompanied us on trips around Dalian. Like in Beijing, INTO planned activities to explore Dalian which beyond attractions also included visiting local businesses and getting a different perspective on China and its growing economy. There was so many social venues to explore in Dalian with the other students and INTO planned cultural trips and activities such as playing popular local sports, attending Chinese Opera, Caligraphy courses and more. This program is all about highlighting and helping one experience what is unique to China.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I did not really require much healthcare while on this trip. However, the dormitory was located right next to the student healthcare center if needed. I did purchase some band-aids and what not and while everything is over the counter (in my experience) in China, the locals were happy to attempt to help and communicate with you as well as INTO introducing one to local students who speak English who were also able to assist in this type of situation. I felt very safe everywhere I traveled. The dorms had key codes on them for evening entrance and an around the clock attendant on the entrance floor. Campus was clean and surrounded by plenty of attractions within close range for those who may be timid to travel far away on ones own.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

I feel I was able to acquire and retain much more Mandarin in this learning environment than I would have been able to in a language class at home. The language professor was patient and able to quickly assess the pace of each student to provide what help was needed. The textbook used was straightforward and easy to follow and study on ones own. There was ample opportunity to practice what was learned in class with local students and interns who were proficient in the language. The professor was happy to answer questions outside of the lesson plan that would help students get around town when venturing to shopping, markets, restaurants, night life venues, and utilizing local transportation.

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• Dorm

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• International Students

• Having the opportunity to use the langauge I learned regularly
• Masterclasses with interesting and informative guest speakers
• Visiting major attractions

• A little more down time. The INTO program maximizes ones time to experience China but it can be exhausting some days
• More time in Beijing or an opportunity to visit other major cities outside of Dalian