Beijing Baejing Slayjing Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

There was definitely a steep learning curve, and I struggled a lot to get assignments and readings completed on time in the first two weeks. However, this was probably also due to adjusting to life in a different country, and after a month, it was quite easy to complete assignments with great accuracy, while still enjoying free time to do things like go to the gym or explore Beijing. The teachers are wonderful and really seem like they go out of their way to make sure nothing is too difficult. Perhaps more rigorous than another academic program, but the teachers and staff also do a LOT to make sure you're doing well. For any students coming from Middlebury-my semester in Beijing was MUCH easier than any semester I've had at Midd.

On-site administration of your program

While Zhang, Li, and all the other teachers try their best to be amiable, generous, compassionate, and open, they and the rest of the MiC staff might need a little bit more training in dealing with psychological issues. I've personally never had any problems with the administration and thought they did an excellent job, but several other students noted an inability to effectively handle students' emotional issues at times, which seems like a critical task for the staff of a study abroad program. Case in point, on election day, when most students were breaking down crying in public, the teachers offered little if any real comfort. But this may also be due to cultural differences, and was due to a very specific event.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The dorms are clean and spacious.

The food is what you make of it. You can literally eat whatever you want.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I think it's important to note that there are distinct aspects of Beijing society and culture, and MiC sort of alienated us from both. On the one hand, it's difficult to truly integrate foreign college students into the culture and society of the native college youth, and to that respect, MiC did an incredible job. Navigating Beijing with actual native roommates was such a valuable and great experience. For that, I have to give MiC 5 stars. However, there's also the very palpable and unique foreign social circle, the "laowai community" that MiC really disconnects us from, for valid reasons like the language pledge. Although the language pledge is one of they core components of the program, I feel it also ignores that Beijing's culture is unique in how globalized it is, and that may be one of the reasons to choose to study in Beijing. There were a lot of incredible opportunities and events, such as lectures by the head of the Carnegie-Tsinghua Center or Henry Kissinger, that you would have to make a real effort to attend. I think MiC needs to really recognize that "local culture" encompasses more than just Beijing Opera, 798, and the Lama temple.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

The program was easy and enjoyable.

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

Honestly, Beijing can be as expensive or cheap as you want it to be. There's plenty of delicious and cheap food near school and scattered around Beijing. Obviously, if you eat out at Western restaurants often, it gets quite expensive.

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

We were literally commanded to only use the language.

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• Dorm

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• Local Students
• Americans
• International Students

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• Americans

• International experience
• Classes (ease and topics)
• Classmates

• Experience Beijing fieldtrips
• Emotional Counseling
• Scheduling/Planning

The Outright Urbanite