I would definitely do it again. Include China in your international experiences! Past Review
By Justin T (Kansas State University) - abroad from 01/02/2015 to 02/11/2015 with
Kansas State University: International Business in China, Hosted by the Asia Institute
Yes, the trip was absolutely worthwhile and I learned something new everyday. By being observant, asking lots of questions, and taking pictures, I was able to capture some knowledge that you cannot learn just by being in the classroom. The trip to China really opened my mind some more about its people and culture. Although they are known for having a strict government, the country is gradually becoming more free and gaining a more open economy.
Review Photos
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. |
We followed a busy itinerary and took detailed notes so we could complete our journals and assignments. I definitely think we got our three hours worth of credit for the class we were taking. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Our program coordinators and guides were outstanding. They were professional, took great care of us, and always made sure we were doing something engaging or interesting to make sure we got the most out of the trip. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I was satisfied with our hotel in Beijing and the hotel in Hong Kong exceeded my expectations. Although we did not spend too much time in either one, there were still things you could do in or near the hotel. |
| * Food: |
The food was excellent and exceeded my expectations! You can tell that the Chinese take cuisine seriously in their culture and put lots of effort in preparing it to ensure a great dinning experience. It was a lot different than most Chinese restaurants I had been to in America. We had many opportunities to try various foods from different parts of the country. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Our program offered some great opportunities to see Chinese culture such as visiting Chinese students, The Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City and some parts of the city in Hong Kong. I just wish we had a chance to explore the cities a little more and visit with some of the locals. Since our trip was 10 days, however, I know our busy and exciting schedule somewhat limited our time to adventure into the cities and local areas. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
We did not need to get any vaccines prior to the program. No one needed to use any healthcare systems in Beijing or Hong Kong, but we did have a few people get a temporary sickness. Our faculty leader helped them and after a day's rest, they were feeling normal and were able to continue enjoying the trip. |
| * Safety: |
I felt very safe throughout the entire trip. Overall, China seemed like a safe country. At our hotels and most of the major sites we visited, there were security guards and officials watching over the area. The traffic may seem a little crazy at first, but we got used to it and there were no issues with that. Pickpocketing was not an issue with our group, but make sure to take precautions, especially when walking around the highly populated cities. |
| 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) |
Besides a few of our meals, we all spent money on souvenirs, gifts, and other personal items. I think you can easily live on a student's budget, and it's up to you how much money you want to spend for other activities. I brought a couple hundred dollars with me and also withdrew money from the Chinese ATMs with my debit card. Make sure to tell your bank before doing that. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | approx. $200 USD |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Like any other big trip, you want to start thinking early about how you are going to acquire money and save up for the trip. Set aside some money whether it be from a full-time job or something you did over the summer. I was fortunate enough to have my family help me with some of the payments, but I still made sure to save up and apply for scholarships. If you qualify, definitely consider applying for all study abroad scholarships possible. Start the search early and spend quality time on the application essays. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
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 would have relaxed a little more before going on the trip. I was stressed about what I was going to do on the plane, how much to pack in my suitcase, having limited access to technology, etc. But It all turned out to be ok once we got there. There was always plenty to do and our Chinese guides were very available and willing to help with any questions we had or things we were worried about. |
