Why did you decide to study abroad with CSA at BLCU?
Andrew: I first became aware of China Study Abroad when I was looking for information on Chinese programs. I was considering a few cities but was leaning toward Beijing. The CSA website provided information on programs in all three of the cities I was considering: Beijing, Shanghai, and Kunming. Whenever I had questions, CSA staff were very helpful and answered very quickly. They also helped a great deal for my accommodation as I wasn't interested in staying in a dorm and definitely didn't want a curfew. I wanted an apartment but I wasn't familiar with renting in Beijing. I also wanted to have a place I could go to as soon as I arrived so I could settle in quickly without any worries.
CSA provided some useful information and great options both on their website and whenever I contacted them. Finally, the process of getting a residence permit can be a complicated and frustrating process in China. I wanted to have people familiar with that process and that could speak Chinese fluently on my behalf so I wouldn't end up with a big headache after wasting a lot of time trying to figure everything out myself.
My reasons for choosing BLCU are pretty straightforward. Teaching Chinese and training the teachers that will be teaching is their specialty. All the Chinese books I've ever used were made by BLCU Press. In addition to their reputation, a friend of mine, who speaks Chinese very well, had studied there before and recommended BLCU to me.
What made your study abroad experience unique and special?
Andrew: This was my second time to China so I already knew what to expect in terms of the food and culture. What is truly special and life lasting every time you travel abroad, however, is the people you meet and the friends you make. My classes at BLCU were a tight knit group group of people from all over the world. To name just a handful: Ukraine, Costa Rica, Thailand, Eritrea, Egypt, Greece, and Sweden. We frequently had lunches together, would go out together some nights, and learned a lot about each others country, culture, and language.
Likewise, the people I've become friends with through China Study Abroad are some that I want to stay in touch with for the rest of my life. While in Beijing, I unfortunately had an accident on my bike while heading to class and had to go to the hospital. Words really can't express how much I appreciated all the help and genuine concern from everyone at CSA through that entire ordeal. Let me tell you, you don't spend all day at a Chinese hospital with someone and not grow closer to them and value their friendship.
How has this experience impacted your future?
Andrew: I now know, with complete certainty, that I want to live and work in China in the future. I plan to remain in China another year to work and pay off student loans before I return home for a graduate program. I'm currently looking at a handful of programs to apply to and all value another language, Mandarin Chinese in particular, as a major asset in the admission process. Given how much my Chinese has improved since I came to Beijing nearly 8 months ago and all the other experiences I've gained from living here, I stand a much better chance of being accepted to these graduate programs. That will obviously, in turn, help my career prospects afterward. It's not just about experiencing and coming to know Chinese culture better but understanding Chinese mentality in a number of different settings. I've no doubt that what I've picked up here will be invaluable to the graduate program I choose and any future employers.