Y.O.C.O. You're Only In China Once Past Review
By Raymond W (Public Relations, University of Northern Iowa) - abroad from 07/09/2014 to 08/14/2014 with
University of Northern Iowa: Dongguan - UNI Summer Camp in China
Saw an incredible cross-section of China for a incredibly reasonable price. Camp was challenging as a non-ed major but in a highly valuable way. The experienced pushed me and was much more than a vacation in China. Met absolutely awesome people from UNI I would never have interacted with otherwise. Don't go if you're doing it just for your resume. Go because you want to see China and you're interested in working with a great bunch of kids.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
This is an incredible trip. But it's not a vacation. Ed majors, you'll be teaching just like you would back home. Non-ed majors prepare to be stretched by your classroom experience. I learned more in the 3 weeks I taught and camp than I did the previous semester. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Camp 2 accommodations are incredible. Beautiful and well-appointed hotel. You're going to love it. |
| * Food: |
The food at camp is boring. Luckily you'll get lots of chances to try stuff out on your own time. Be adventurous. You didn't come all the way to China to eat Western food. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| 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? | $75 |
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? | That is spite of being called "camp" you're not going as a counselor. You're going as a teacher. Prepare to teach. |
