Bewildering, Wonderful, & Memorable Past Review
By Shannon Miller (University of Colorado - Boulder) - abroad from 05/18/2017 to 06/01/2017 with
University of Colorado Boulder: China - Doing Business in China, Hosted by the Asia Institute
I learned a lot about how to communicate cross-culturally and how to be flexible with plans. I also learned the importance of planning and being prepared when traveling abroad.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
This trip was incredible for so many different reasons. I made some life long friends and got to know both myself and those I knew before leaving in a completely different light. This experience broadened my view of the world tremendously and was so valuable not only to my academic experience but to my entire life experience as well. This trip is something I will fondly remember and cherish forever! |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Overall our on-site guides were amazing. Each individual we had the pleasure of getting to know was friendly, knowledgeable, and easy to have meaningful conversations with. It was so helpful having people who spoke Chinese to guide us around and give us advice about where to go and what to see -- I know we would have had a VERY different (and significantly less fun) experience without them. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Hotels were very clean and accommodating. The beds were comfortable and the air conditioning was life saving! The breakfast buffets always had so many great options, so it was easy to have a filling breakfast before leaving for activities. |
| * Food: |
For the most part, the food was incredible. Occasionally, it seemed as though our suggestions were ignored in terms of what kind of food we were interested in eating/trying at meals, which was frustrating. Additionally, if you are like me and are very sensitive to spicy food, there are definitely quite a few dishes that you cannot partake in. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Growing up in an area that is predominantly Asian, I did not feel strange being in China at all, despite being white and blonde. I was asked to take photos a few times, which was a bit awkward initially. People definitely look at you and treat you like a tourist, but generally don't make a big deal out of seeing you. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Although I didn't experience any adverse health affects, I saw how quick people were to get other people on our trip any help they needed. From second hand stories, it sounds like international/English speaking hospitals were far superior to local Chinese hospitals in terms of comfort and ability to diagnose since translation was not needed. |
| * Safety: |
Day to day I felt very safe. I was never a victim of pick-pocketing or any tourist-related crime. We were advised against exploring the night life in each city, and upon doing so was the only time I saw anything that was unsafe. Although it did not directly impact me or the health of anyone on our trip, it was unsettling. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
This program opened my eyes to another culture and gave me so much insight academically in terms of business practices abroad. I made amazing friends and had so much fun exploring a country I doubt I would otherwise have had an opportunity to visit. |
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) |
If you wanted to buy souvenirs or go out at night, the costs quickly added up. Just buying food and the occasional souvenir was not very expensive though. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $300 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Don't buy water when you go to touristy places, they typically overcharge you. Instead, buy a big pack of water each week from a near by grocery store and just bring enough with you each day! |
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 |
Attempt to converse with Chinese people using words like "Thank you" and "Hello" |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | None |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Spanish 3 |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 0 |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Learn some of the basics like "Hello," "Thank you," and "water" |
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 had known how much fun I was going to have so I could have been even MORE excited before leaving for the program! |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Avid AdventurerThe wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal. |
