Study Abroad in Shenzhen, China Past Review
By Daniel R (Public Administration., SUNY - Binghamton) for
SUNY Binghamton: Shenzhen - Understanding Contemporary China
I learned that I can push myself and handle situations where I'm not in control at all (and that it's ok). I also learned that for as different as environments and cultures are people still essentially the same. Finally, I learned that preconceptions are often misconceptions and that people including myself need to be more open minded in evaluating people and cultures. I gained perspective fro the program, which I believe to be invaluable.
Personal Information
| The term and year this program took place: | Winter 2010 |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The academic content was diverse and exposed students to a broad range of issues. Although, I was hoping to get a better understanding of the operations of local government in our host community, I’m not sure if that would have been possible in the short semester program. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
They were responsive to our requests and very helpful in setting up non-campus related tours. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I've never lived in a dorm, so I have nothing of comparison. It was adequate for our needs. I did prefer living on campus versus the alternative of living off campus. <br /><br /> It was adequate for our needs. I did prefer living on campus versus the alternative of living off campus. |
| * Food: |
It was different from home and made me challenge myself to try things I would not have otherwise eaten. I was thankful for the opportunity, because the food was really good. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
We saw and experienced a lot of the country and culture in a very short period of time. It made me want to go back to visit the place we didn't see. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Professor Sinclair was extremely helpful to students that were ill during the program. The program participants and the host university did a good job looking out for the students and preparing students to stay safe. |
| 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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | A lot. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | It always cost more than you think it will, but it was worth every penny. |
Language
| Language acquisition improvement? |
The program has inspired me to continue studying Mandarin. Beyond our class, the host students were the most helpful in expanding our comprehension of the language. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Keep an open mind, try everything, pack light, bring a backpack, and try to learn some Mandarin before going, but go...because the trip is life changing. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Mandarin |
| Course Department: | |
| Instructor: | Professor Liu |
| Instruction Language: | English and Mandarin |
| Comments: | In my opinion, Professor Liu was the best instructor we had in the program. He went out of his way to ensure that we understood both the topic and culture of the community. He was an excellent representative for Shenzhen University and the program. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
