Yishan (Susan) Y. - AGE (Arcadia): Shanghai, China - Fall 2010

大家好！Hello everyone and Welcome to my blog! I am currently studying in China, the largest country in the world in terms of population, and I am attending the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics (SUFE). I have been in China since the beginning of August to visit my family before the semester started. So technically, I’ve been in China for almost two and a half months but I have only been in Shanghai for a month and a half. Shanghai is definitely a very overwhelming city with a population of 19,210,000. It is one of the well-known cities in the world. This is the city where everyone comes for business meetings and conferences, which means Shanghai is the financial centre of China. I love Shanghai as a city because it is very westernized since you can find a lot of café, pubs and bars all over the city so you don’t ever have to worry about missing American food. This city is an extremely vibrant city because it is more modern compared to the other cities in China.

During the past one and a half month, I must say I am starting to like China very much despite the fact that there are people everywhere. Everything in China is very cheap and the transportation system in Shanghai is excellent! I am currently taking four different courses, three business courses along with a Chinese language course. My favorite course is definitely Chinese language because without it there’s no way to communicate with locals who doesn’t speak English. My Chinese has improved a lot since the first day I got here so I am extremely happy. As for my other courses, they are taught in English so it’s not such a big deal. Hmm…wondering what I do on weekends? Well most of the time, my friends and I would explore different parts of the city to see what its like and so far it has been really fun. This weekend the program coordinator actually planned a trip for the students to go to the zoo to see PANDAS! This is going to be so exciting. As for the food unlike America, in Shanghai there are restaurants everywhere. There are no meal plans at universities so students have to find food on their own…so that’s why my friends and I would eat at restaurants everyday just right outside of my school campus. Each meal only cost about $1.50USD. I am going to miss everything in China so much when I go back! I really cannot express how happy I am to be studying abroad right now…this is a really great opportunity that I think everyone should take in order to experience what other cultures are like. I really would recommend students to study in Shanghai because it would no doubt be a wonderful experience. I have a feeling I don’t want to go back already…just kidding. I love Elmhurst! See you all soon!  

Laura M. - Prague, Czech Republic - Fall 2010

I’ve been in Prague almost a month and I can’t decide if the time has gone by too slow, too fast, or just right.  Regardless of time, I am having the time of my life.  It’s amazing how much you can grow in such a short time. 

My program is through SIT World Learning, and is structured completely differently than a traditional Study Abroad Program.  There are 7 students all together in the program, and we go to a school in a converted apartment flat.  We have our traditional classes there, but I would say we only are in the class room 20 hours a week, the rest of our classes take place in cafes, cinemas, art exhibits, theatres.  I love the SIT program because I am not sitting in a University classroom in another country taking the same classes I would be taking at Elmhurst.  My program focuses on “The Post-Communist Transition and the Arts”.  We study Post-World War II to the present and learn about how the Czech Republic has evolved and changed over time, mostly in relation to the arts (visual, theatre, music, etc).  We get to do a lot of field study based work, and meet interesting people from the region.  Also the final project is our independent study project (ISP).  We choose a topic/ question and the last month of the program is dedicated to only your ISP research.  Usually the project results in a 30-40 page paper and presentation, which seems overwhelming but really it’s not. You have an advisor who guides you along the way and you are working on something that is meaningful and interesting to you. Now I still don’t have a concrete idea as to what my ISP will turn into but I have a few vague ideas. Hopefully something will come to me, I have a few more weeks to think.

A day that I will never forget was the second day here. Our coordinator split us off into two groups and we experienced “The Drop-off”.  We were given a list of 5 places and were told to go find them.  All we had was a map.  In any other circumstance this would have freaked me out.  But even though I didn’t know the language, I had no clue where I was or how to use the transportation system, we figured it out.  It wasn’t so scary because we knew that it was ok to get lost, it was ok to ask for help and it was ok to get things wrong.  We succeeded in our assignment, and after that day I learned to master the transportation system of Prague and how to use a map better.

Another part of the SIT program is the home-stays.  Everyone in the program has their own home-stay family who we live with for about seven weeks, could be more depending on your ISP.  When I first moved in with my host family I was very nervous and had a lot of “that was awkward” moments.  I definitely had to adjust to some of the cultural differences here. You would never believe how much I miss drying my clothes in a dryer and not on a line, or how meals are structured differently (lunch is the big meal, dinner consists of bread and cheese), and how it is common not talk constantly at home, silence in gold.  After the first few days I settled in and now I look forward to coming home from school and spending time with my host mother and father and brother.  They also have 2 cats and a dog which is nice to have around as company.  Being in a host-family also helps with the language barriers.  My family speaks English very well, but they speak Czech to one another.  I have learned that just by listening to their conversations I can pick up on new words and usually get an idea as to what they are talking about.  My host brother also likes to help me with Czech homework and I have even corrected one of his English essays. 

I just returned from our Regional Stay portion of my program. We were split into two groups and my group was sent to a small village in the rural CZR near the Slovak border.  It was about a 5 ½ hour train ride from Prague and I have learned that Prague is its own country compared to the Czech Republic.  I spent five days with a nonprofit organization that focuses on preserving the landscape and traditions of Czech culture.  For those five days I trekked up the mountains, went to an apple festival, made traditional Czech crafts, visited other nonprofit organizations and spent some time with some amazing people.  The quiet and simple life of Valasske Klobouky (the village) was refreshing compared to the city life I had been experiencing.  People were warmer and more welcoming in the country and were very interested to meet Americans.  During this trip I had to use Czech more because very few people speak English in the country side.  After those 5 days we met up with the rest of our group in Cesky Krumlov and had two days to explore this historical village, it was a real gem.  We walked the Castle grounds and explored the cobblestone roads with numerous shops and restaurants. It was like a mini Prague without a lot of the hustle and bustle.  But, after the week away I am very content to be back in Prague. 

My program coordinator does a great job of really making us feel like we live in Prague.  Lots of people have asked me if I have visited the typical tourist sites you see in Prague and the truth is I haven’t.  I don’t feel like a tourist here, I feel like I am a resident.  I travel everyday by tram or metro to school, I try my best to speak Czech when shopping for things even if the shop keeper speaks English, and I have even noticed if I hear another American around me I get a little annoyed by their “out-going” behavior.  Czechs are very reserved, so when I ride the tram I try to take on the same demeanor as them, quiet and a little reserved.  I also do this so I don’t draw attention to myself because pick-pockets prey on tourists on the metro or trams.  I do intend to visit the famous sites but when it get colder here, or early in the mornings when the crowds are not around.

I love being here. Studying abroad is one of the best decisions I have ever made.   Please ask me any questions you have, I would be thrilled to answer them.

Lauren F. - France - Fall 2010

Me and some friends at a traditional Breton-style Crêperie

Bonjour from Nantes, France. I know that Kristen is also studying in Nantes this semester, so I won't go on too much about the city itself. We were placed here through different programs, so I'm sure we'll have different experiences.

After a rough first week,  I've had a fairly easy and mostly wonderful month here in France. My advice for any students coming to France next semester: be prepared to fill out insane amounts of paperwork, and to have to run all over your city gathering signatures, identification photos, stamps, paying fees, mailing, waiting, emailing, calling, and waiting some more to finish it all. The good thing, is that you will quickly get to know your way around your city after these excursions.

I am incredibly thankful that the city I am in has such a fantastic public transportation system. There is a tram line which runs through the middle of the street, and can take you nearly everywhere in the city. It is generally very clean, and is much cheaper than public transportation in Chicago. I'm  going to miss it when I come home! There are also buses, and you can rent a bicycle if you would like to bike through the downtown area of the city.

I'm also thankful that there is an active youth culture here, since I've been feeling very isolated from France in my courses. I am taking courses at the university, but through a separate program for learning French as a second langage. I was expecting that I would enjoy meeting fellow francophiles, but most of my classmates are not study abroad students, rather, older people who have followed their partners here for whatever reasons. Needless to say, many of them are not interested in discussing French literature, or even showing up to class on time.

Since regular French university courses don't start until mid-September, activities and associations are only now becoming active. I'm looking forward to getting out and meeting some more French students in October, and I plan on taking advantage of the day trips to other regions in France sponsored by the association for international students.

I was prepared to go through a period of culture shock, but I haven't really felt it. However, what I was not prepared for, was how exhausted I would be. I attend classes 18 hours a week which start at 8 am. I'm still working on finding the motivation to go out and explore France after class. For the most part, I have been returning to the dorm and napping just enough to wake up and finish my homework. I'm hoping to eventually adjust to this schedule, because my weeks here are passing by incredibly fast!

I know that almost everyone who studies abroad gives this advice, but I will repeat it: If you can stay a year, do so. I can't believe that I only have three months left in France. Every time I tell someone that I'm leaving in December, I always let them know how sad I am about it. While my time spent here has assured me that I am 100% American, I feel as though France has become my second home.

Château des ducs de Bretagne

Kaitlyn F. - Spain - Fall 2010

I'm just about at the one month mark and so far Spain has been quite the adventure.  I feel like I am always on the move doing one cool thing after the other.  I am always happy to partake in the Spaniard's daily siesta.  I've quickly made some wonderful friends in my program.  I have also made it my goal to befriend native Spaniards in order to improve my language.  Yes, the language barrier is intimidating and challenging, but it is sort of a sink or swim situation.  I am understand better than ever before and my classes are helping me speak.  IES provides a lot of organized trips and walks and tours, I'm trying to take advantage of them because they are really cool and things I probably wouldn't do on my own.  So far I've traveled outside of Madrid to Toledo, Asturias, Alicante, and a couple other places.  It's an adventure, that's for sure.  I'm trying my best to be open minded and remember that I am the guest in this country, I've been trying every type of food put in front of me and I've been stepping outside of my comfort zone.  I also want to experience Madrid like a native so I've attended a bull fight and a cooking class.  Next week is a Real Madrid soccer game and Flamenco.  I have endless options of what to do, it's now a matter of prioritizing, but so far so good.  Hope all is well in the States!

Kristen K. - Nantes, France - Fall 2010

Bonjour mes amies! I am in the wonderful city of Nantes in France! The flight here was long and painful (from sleeping in weird position) but seeing the Eiffel Tower, le Louvre, et l'Arc de Triomphe made it all worth it! From Paris I had to take a 2 hour train to get to Nantes and this is where I met a lot of people from my program (IES). Now all of the horrible rumors of France are all false! (Or at least that is what I think.) There were so many French natives that are patient with you, et (even though they don't smile on the street) si you ask for help they are more then grateful to!

The first couple of weeks were hard (which is what I was expecting) but I'm pretty sure I have had the most problems out of anyone in my program. Within the first week, my credit/debit card was eaten and the bank couldn't give it back to me for some strange reason. Because of this, I ended up running out of money...But! All of my friends, host parents, and IES staff where more then willing to lend me some money!

Then (just this past week) my laptop broke! This was a huge suprise for me! It was my life and I didn't know how to live without it! But now I kind of think of it as a little blessing (even though I would rather it work...)! Because I'm not spending all my time on a computer, I'm seeing more of this amazing city! It is filled with so much history and every where you go there are beautiful buildings and gardens and so many wonderful cafes and bakeries! I know that I've definately gained weight here from all of this food! All the food is so amazing! When I first arrived I hated all see food and tomatoes but now I can't stop eating them!

This is all that I can think of right now but if you have any questions or anything at all I will be glad to answer!