Why did you choose this program?
In undergrad, I was a business major with minors in Chinese language and entrepreneurship. I knew I wanted to study abroad in China to improve my language skills and my professor highly recommended the Nanjing CIEE program above all others in China. I had been to China before, but never to Nanjing and so I began asking friends and seeking advice on what Nanjing was like. Everything confirmed that Nanjing was welcoming to internationals and had the reputation of being the world's college town.
What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?
My scholarship from undergrad carried over into paying the CIEE program fees. I also got a scholarship to cover my flights. CIEE also has other scholarships that students can apply for to supplement funding. CIEE set up our dorms and placed us with a Chinese roommate, helped us get a Chinese phone plan, and learn how to operate in China sufficiently. What we didn't have was a kitchen, so we ate all our meals at the campus cafeteria or at nearby restaurants. Overall that was pretty convenient and cheap.
What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?
Learn as much Chinese as you can before you come! This is obvious, but even simple things like improved character recognition will improve your experience on and off campus. I also recommend researching what trips in China you'd like to take, what things there are to do in Nanjing, and coming prepared with some knowledge of the helpful apps you will use day-to-day (Alipay, WeChat, Meituan, Taobao, etc).
What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?
CIEE's Intensive Language and Culture program was obviously language-intense. Our program had 11 students and around 6 teachers, an incredible ratio! We all took 18-credit hours and spend Monday through Thursday 8am to noon in class learning Mandarin. We had two other classes (Modern Chinese History and Intercultural Communication) that met two other times during the week. All other time was spent studying and exploring Nanjing.
Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?
I was afraid of the fact that I wouldn't know anyone in Nanjing and that I would feel rather alone. I can make friends relatively easy, but I wanted some connection to home in Nanjing other than my fellow students. One thing I did to overcome this was ask people in America if they knew folks in Nanjing, and sure enough, there was one connection. Just having the knowledge that someone outside of my program was expecting me for coffee in Nanjing was comforting!
