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CEA Study Abroad in Shanghai, China

CEA Study Abroad
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CEA Study Abroad in Shanghai, China
CEA Study Abroad in Shanghai, China
CEA Study Abroad in Shanghai, China
CEA Study Abroad in Shanghai, China
CEA Study Abroad in Shanghai, China

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About

Study abroad in Shanghai and experience life in a city that's shaping the global economic scene. As China's largest city, major port town, and "Gateway to the West," Shanghai is a rapidly growing metropolis that many young Chinese consider a golden land of opportunity. Shanghai may be all modern on the outside, but the city's ancient past is tucked just under its iconic, modern skyline; just explore its many parks, canals, and bridges to catch a glimpse of Shanghai's rich history. Immerse yourself in local student life as you take classes alongside Chinese and other international students, while gaining language fluency, studying Chinese culture, and taking courses that meet your academic, personal, and career interests in subjects such as business, Chinese language and culture.

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CEA Scholarships
CEA Scholarships and Financial Aid

Studying abroad will change your life, improve your employability, and enhance your global competence. That's why we commit more than $2.0 million each year to our financial and scholarship programs.

Value
$400 - $3,000
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9 Rating
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  • Academics 8
  • Support 7
  • Fun 10
  • Housing 8
  • Safety 9
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Nakia
25
Female
9/10
Yes, I recommend this program

Study Abroad to Study Yourself

Oct 23, 2017

I study abroad in Shanghai for 6 weeks with CEA Study Abroad and I can honestly say it was the highlight and turning point of my undergraduate career. I had never been out of the U.S before and was nervous about what to expect traveling thousands of miles to a place I had only heard stories about from people who lived there or on the news. However, what you hear is not exactly the way things are, Shanghai was like a dream I never wanted to wake up from. CEA staff were very helpful in making the departure process as smooth as possible and the onsite staff were very patient and very understanding as I was not as fluent in Chinese as other students. One thing I learned is that its not easy learning Chinese and you wont get it the first few times but its all about dedication and how much you practice so you never forget what you learned. My on-site director was very nice and helpful in getting me extra tutoring sessions that made all the difference in the world to me.

Also during this time my parents were going through a divorce but I was not affected in the slightest by it because Shanghai kept me steadily enticed by its lights, people, food, and unique culture. I can honestly say it felt as though nothing else in the world mattered but where I was at that moment. The excitement I felt talking to locals, chasing trains and hanging out with friends around The Bund near the famous Shanghai Skyline. I found myself starring at that skyline every night during the ending days of my program knowing that I would never see it again. I wanted it to be embedded in my memory forever so I stayed for hours looking at it, trying to remember every detail about it. CEA has been the best program especially for someone who has never traveled outside of the states before. I would highly recommended any student who is interested in China to go to Shanghai with CEA and get in-tuned with yourself and make memories you will be talking about for years to come. Im still trying to find my way back to China, as a graduate student. The sad part about CEA is that they do not offer graduate level courses but its still an awesome program that changed my life and career. Thanks CEA!!!

What would you improve about this program?
Te study abroad course could be improved by making Shanghai available during the fall and spring months. Additionally have courses that pertain to Chinese literature or culture.
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Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Nakia Edmond

Program
CEA Study Abroad in Shanghai, China
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Why did you choose this program?

CEA was one of the few programs that were available at our campus to offer intensive Chinese in Shanghai. As a first-time overseas student, I wanted to have my pre-departure guide to be as helpful and simple as possible.

CEA was very organized and always had available representatives to answer any and all questions that I had.

What did your program provider assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

CEA was surprisingly more helpful than my home institution. They helped with my pre-departure procedure by informing me of the visa I was required to have and provided the necessary paperwork to make my experience with the Chinese consulate less frustrating.

Also, I received a partial scholarship to attend the program abroad. CEA was very helpful by allowing me to pay the remaining balance of my program cost after the program ended and my student refund came. I honestly don't believe any other program would have done that for me.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

One piece of advice I would give would be to go in with an open mind and a sense of adventure to try new things and go new places.

Going abroad I did not know what to expect being an African American in China, and it brought about nervous thoughts that I would not be accepted or looked upon with disgust. However, that all changed once I landed at Pudong International Airport. The locals wanted to take pictures and ask questions about my hair (I even got asked on a date!). This continued throughout the program and I actually started to feel at home.

Going overseas is a chance to gain confidence, make memories, friends, and even new life goals.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

An average week in the CEA program was like everyday New York City life. Everything is fast-paced and exciting. I typically got up at 8 am to be in class at 9 am for intensive Chinese courses.

Additionally, there were class activities outside of the classrooms such as food scavenger hunts in the nearby local malls and field trip excursions to nearby cities. This is to immerse students in China's everyday culture while helping to develop Chinese linguistic skills.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

My biggest fear going into the Chinese program was that I was not going to fit in as I do at home. The media and conversations people had about China were mainly filled with criticism and negative views on how the country operates as a communist nation.

Listening to this negative critical feedback I was fearful the first couple of hours on the flight. However, that all changed when I got settled in the program and started to enjoy where I was. I learned not to listen to the opinions of people and just to go and see for myself.

How has the program changed your life?

I was a criminal justice major who was unmotivated without clear career goals. My parents had chosen my career path as a lawyer without considering what I want to do, event though I had no personal goals.

That changed when I went abroad and started to feel a sense of purpose for the first time in my college career. I felt that for the first time I was in control of my life decisions.

This led me to abandon my parents' expectation of law school after I had received acceptance into two law schools. I took the GRE and got accepted to the International Studies graduate program of Texas State University.

Ever since then I have had a purpose to assist other students to go abroad and for myself to go back abroad to recreate my first-time experience that I constantly reminisce about.

Location

Location:
Shanghai
Currency:
Chinese Yuan
Weather:
Jan-Mar
57 F / 36 F
Apr-Jun
82 F / 54 F
Jul-Sep
90 F / 72 F
Oct-Dec
73 F / 41 F
Airports:
Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport
( SHA )

Shanghai is the largest city in mainland China and in the top 10 of most populous cities in the world. With the sheer amount of people that have relocated to Shanghai, you see a mix of different cultural influences, particularly in the architecture. Whether you are looking to travel or move to Shanghai, you will have plenty of opportunities but this city won't be slowing down on their growth anytime soon.

About CEA Study Abroad

With 22 destinations across 13 countries, CEA Study Abroad offers an ideal balance of academics, internships, and adventure to more than 4,000 students each year. Find out where learning abroad can take you by clicking the “Visit Site” button and exploring our many options.

Why study abroad or complete an internship abroad? Because as you study...

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