CIEE High School Summer Abroad in China

This is a 4-week high school study abroad experience in Shanghai China, studying Chinese language and culture at East China Normal University, while living with a local family. This program was such a unique experience that got me out of my comfort zone, while still being a comfortable and safe experience. All of the host families are carefully screened and neither me nor any of my peers had any issues with host families. And it was a key part of the experience to understanding the real-life side of the culture. CIEE is great at figuring the logistics out so on our end it is really simple and seamless. They also offer incredibly generous scholarships, so don't let the price deter you. I think this study abroad experience is so great because any person can get something out of it. In my cohort I had a very diverse group of people, and they all found something in Shanghai; whether they were into music, sports, the arts, etc. Every evening we have a cultural experience and those varied a lot, from visiting a ceramics museum to playing ping-pong to learning about the traditional tea culture and so much more. Every Friday afternoon, we had free time where we could explore the city with our friends which was so fun! I was also a content creator for CIEE so if anybody would like to learn more, I documented it extensively on my Instagram account: its_lea.na_. I highly recommend to all high school students, go out and change your life!

After completing my summer study abroad experience in China, I believe that the CIEE program is a great opportunity for teens to learn and discover different cultures and countries.  At first, I was really nervous about traveling alone to a country I had never been to before, but I ended up loving it in the end.  I learned numerous things about China, the people, food, language, and culture.  I spent time in class completing homework and community conversation tasks, which enhanced my speaking skills.  We went on community activities (outside excursions) that were very entertaining and fun.  Most of all, I spent time with my homestay family and got to know them and the culture.  

During those 4 weeks, I grew both academically and personally.  I learned a lot about myself as a person.  I became more independent and outspoken.  I am able to communicate more and get out of my comfort zone.  I am also more open-minded and willing to explore new things.  I did experience challenges along the way, such as getting lost and sticking to the target language.  However, these encounters allowed me to develop and flourish.  Overall, I had a lot of fun and learned a lot.  I would definitely do it again.

This program was honestly like a dream. Initially, I thought it would be like a vacation, but so many new and interesting things happened in just one month. The friendships and relationships that I built there were hugely impactful. Every day was a new adventure because there would be a different location we were visiting. These activities were very diverse and provided something entertaining for everyone. One of my favorite moments was when I tried Haidilao hotpot with my host family. It was one of the most life changing meals that I've had. The food in Shanghai is just pure heaven and everyone there is super nice! I quite literally asked everyone for directions whenever I got lost.

I was introduced to this program by my school and decided to join. It has been by far one of the best experiences in my life. The first day after you arrive, they introduce you to everything and let you meet your homestay family. My homestay family was extremely nice and welcoming even though i could barely speak chinese. The environment on campus is very good and the teachers, staff and peers are all very supportive. I've met some friends who I'm extremely close to now just because of this program. Very fun, would definitely recommend.