CET Beijing: Internship

Why did you decide to study abroad with CET?

Omega: I decided to study abroad with CET primarily because of the rave reviews my Chinese teacher on campus gave the program. I had studied Chinese under her for a year and a half and I trusted her judgement. I also explored various programs myself, however. I talked to people who had studied abroad in China with CET and with other programs and everyone had an awesome experience- hands-down- however the students who came back from studying abroad with CET sought me out (and other students studying Chinese) to tell their story. That decided it for me. I wanted an experience that I would be excited about coming back to America to tell, and I found that in CET (as evidenced by my eagerness to complete this review).

What was the best place you visited outside of your study abroad city?

Omega: The best place I visited outside of Beijing was Yixing for various reasons. First, I traveled to Yixing with friends from my program to visit the home of one of our Chinese roommates. That connection to the city made our visit smooth. We visited tourist stops- eating xiaolongbao and buying tea pots- but the excursions we took to places our friends had frequented as a child were the best. We hiked up a mountain, visited two bamboo parks (in addition to seeing bamboo all over the place as we drove), toured a natural formed cave and waterfall, and got massages. To top off our trip, we had dinner at the Chinese roommate's friend's house and road bikes around the city afterwards.

The beauty of the city captured me. It was big enough that thee was plenty to do both inside and outside of the city, but it wasn't too big that we feared getting lost or hit by one of the thousand-plus cars speeding by (as it was in other cities).Friends, food, and fun... Yixing pretty much provided it all for me.

What is one piece of advice you'd give future CET - Beijing students?

Omega: I would highly advise future CET-Beijing students to maximize the program and use it to its fullest potential. Talk to the professors and learn from them. Never be afraid to just walk into their office one day and talk about something you experienced or saw while out in the city or on campus. That being said, I would also encourage them to not be trapped in the program. Go out and explore the city around you; make friends at the college where you are studying; and connect with alumni from your university back at home.

Being hands-on and engaged in all that a study abroad experience has to offer you is the difference in having an experience that only last one semester (or year) and one that will last a lifetime.Before I began my program with CET, I spent Chinese New Year in Shenyang with the family of one of my international friends at Vanderbilt.

When I began my program in Beijing, I connected with an alumnus of Vanderbilt and interned under them for the semester. I also connected with another international friend's family and would go out for meals and travel with them, or seek help with Chinese. Those are the experiences and connections that really enhanced and supplemented my time in Beijing.

Describe your favorite must-have food that you tried abroad.

Omega: Dumplings is a given, so I will name two other favorites that, when on the menu, had to be ordered in obnoxious quantities: xihongshichaojidan (stir-fried tomatoes and eggs) and tangyuan'r (no translation). The first, xihongsichaojidan, is a traditional Chinese dish that, even here in the states, most Chinese people either know how to make or can instruct you in making. This was a staple of almost every meal I had. On top of a steaming bowl of rice, xihongshichaojidan is one of those dishes that is simple but "Oh so delicious!" I like it so much that I have even learned how to make it and prepared it while serving abroad in Kenya. Mention this dish to any Chinese person (both in China and abroad) and you are certain to get an "Ooo!" and nod of approval!

The second, tangyuan'r is a more rare delicacy (in resturaunts, atleast)- unless you travel to China during the Spring Festival, in which case, it will be available in abundance. Tangyuan'r is like sweet dumplings in a broth. I had it for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert. They come in a variety of flavors- seaseme, peanut butter, chocolate, strawberry, and more- and are very easy to make (if you can find them). All you do is buy the frozen tangyuan'r, boil them with hot water until soft, and then... enjoy! Dumplings, xihongshichaojidan (stir-fried tomatoes and eggs), rice, and tangyuan'r are a MUST-HAVE for study abroad in China.

What is your favorite travel memory?

Traveling the first time to Taiwan was one of the most challenging and rewarding travel experiences I've ever had. The language and culture were as alien and incomprehensible as I could have imagined, and my job was to tutor three kids in English, as well as babysit them after school. Each day was exhausting, but I was eating new food, speaking new sounds, learning a new way of living, and finding out about my limits and abilities. I still look back on the experience as a seminal one. Through all the cultural confusion, misunderstandings and frustrations, the humanity and kindness of the people there always came through for me, and I think that they were also able to understand my basic personality and interests despite my abysmal language abilities.

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

Being a very goal-oriented person, since I first went to China in 1987, one of my main objectives was to speak Chinese as well as possible, and so I spent 99% of my time in China with my Chinese college students, university academics, and local friends. Since working for CET I have shifted my focus to working more with American students and colleagues. This change has challenged me to expand my abilities to more effectively relate my knowledge of China and its culture to students and colleagues. The China-US relationship is without a doubt one of the most important global bilateral relationships, and I feel working with CET has improved my ability to act as a "bridge" between the two cultures, and to better communicate the fascinating facts on the ground about China and its changing future.

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

One of the greatest joys of teaching with this program is teaching those special students who, during their time in the program, get "bitten by the Chinese bug", and begin to look for ways to come back and build a career in China. One such student, Jesse, sought me out to learn more about Chinese humor. I supplied him with some contacts in the media and academic world, as well as some advice about how to go about studying this subject. He won a Fulbright award to study humor in China, and since returning to Beijing, I've been amazed by his tales of success: performing Chinese standup comedy in Beijing nightclubs, appearing on Chinese TV doing comedy skits, and traveling to universities throughout the US to conduct seminars on learning Mandarin through humor. It's gratifying to see how far a student can go with just some inspiration at the outset.

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

I could experience China as a student again, I would love to take the CET Harbin program. To me, this program provides one of the most effective learning and immersion environments for the most dedicated and talented students. In addition to very rigorous and well-designed language classes, and a strict language pledge, the students are able to pursue a focused path of study that highlights exactly the language and cultural knowledge that they will need to effectively advance their careers. Students choose an area of academic study, and work with an assigned faculty mentor to develop a syllabus and research agenda. The entire program enables the student to focus like a laser on exactly the professional skills they need, and from what I've seen, the students make remarkable progress in a very short amount of time. If I had the time, I would go study there myself next semester!

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

CET offers quite simply the best all-around overseas study programs in the world, and its China programs are especially strong. We've been a presence in China since 1981, and part of our strength is the depth of our connections and collaborative network here. Our language programs are among the most rigorous and effective for students at all levels, and we have developed great frameworks for cultural and language immersion. China is a fascinating and volatile country, and I have been especially proud of our team in providing great educational and life experiences during times of dizzying change and unpredictability, such as during the 2008 Olympics, or the 2003 SARS epidemic. Whatever changes China goes through, we are able to flexibly work with our collaborators and expert to give students an incredible learning situation.