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Well, I'm FINALLY writing this blog about being a foreign exchange student in China...after the semester ended. Think of it this way: I got the FULL experience before I wrote this.
Where do I start? Well, for those of you that don't know, this past semester I was studying at Peking University (Beijing Daxue or Bei Da). PKU is the Harvard or Yale of China. The difference is, there are multiple Ivy league schools in the US; PKU is the Ivy League of China. There are no others. The closest runner up is Tsinghua University as number two. For housing this semester, I stayed in a dorm on campus. Ok, technically it was the international hotel on campus. In China, foreign exchange students are not allowed to live on campus with Chinese nationals...due to specific laws that I will not touch upon. Anyways, I was surrounded by many people from the States and other countries across the world. So, because it was the international hotel, we had western toilets and showers and to top it off, someone who would clean our bathrooms and make our beds every day and also change our sheets every week. It was wonderful; I can't
explain it. I've kind of gotten used to having my bed made and ready for me at night (Yes, Mom, it is a good feeling; you win haha). So, we will see how long this lasts (except I don't have a mattress right now...more on that later). My roommate was cool; she was from Minnesota. There is not too much to say about the dorm, as it was a typical dorm room (except with a "maid").
My typical weekday was filled with classes or work of some sort - pretty much just like home. This semester, I had a Hanyu (Chinese writing/reading) class, a Kouyu (speaking/listening class), a yufa (grammar) class, a Zheng Yin (pronunciation correction) class, and a Fu Dao (tutor) that I met with twice a week. I loved all of them except for grammar (I don't like grammar, in general; so, grammar plus Chinese = not fun). All of my classes were in Chinese; all of my books were in Chinese; all of my notes were in Chinese (with English captions). If you didn't understand, the professor explains the things to you in Chinese. They could use the random broken English words few and far between,
The Library
This is one of the most famous libraries in China...actually, I think it is the most famous...so essentially, it was all in Chinese. My classes were also filled with people from around the world trying to learn Chinese. Obviously, the Chinese students of the university do not need to take our classes haha. I absolutely loved everything about my Hanyu and Kouyu class. Hanyu met 4 times a week and Kouyu met 3 times. I loved my Zheng Yin class also, but I only had that once a week (because I'm so Chinese and speak impeccably....ok no, it just only met once). My hanyu class was comprised of 4 Americans, an Australian guy, a British guy, a Korean girl, a girl from Thailand, a guy from Laos, a girl from Japan, and a girl from Spain. Kouyu was filled with 4 Americans, the same Australian and British guys, another Australian guy, a Canadian girl, a French man, the same girl from Thailand, and a girl from Austria. I love meeting people from all over the world; I always have. But, this semester, I met so many people from so many different countries in class and outside of it. Honestly, it just reinforced the fact that I was to travel the world and I will. If you
want to go with me, let me know - now I have people to visit too!
Originally, Chinese professors come across as very strict. The first 2 weeks of class, I was dreading going and very afraid of the semester. I wasn't sure if I would be able to keep up with the work and the whole "everything's in Chinese" thing was very intimidating. Fortunately, my teachers came to like all of us and class was tons of fun and very worth going to. The work didn't really slow down at all, but because we enjoyed class and liked our professors, it didn't bother us too much. ...Funny how that works haha. (I can't say the same for my grammar class. After the semester was half-way over, the directors of our programs told us that people always complain about the grammar class....thanks for that....really...) Homework included vocabulary quizzes, essays, questions, presentations, etc - you know, the typical "learning a language"' homework, I guess. Anyways, it was a good semester and your professors would even go to dinner or to the bar with you sometimes (during dinner hours, not way late at night). It was definitely an experience.
I
Community Showers
.......for EVERYONE on campus....in the SAME building....luckily we didn't have to use that ever. would say that, in general, there were about 150 foreigners on campus this semester. I don't know how many kids in total there are on campus, but we were still a minority. But, everyone on campus can at least speak a little English. It is actually required of them to get into college. So, being on campus wasn't a huge shock. Granted, you had class, ordered food, and talked to people all in Chinese. But, when all else failed, a Chinese student was nearby to help you out. Over time, as with any college campus, you grow to love it. I think that when the program ended, many of us had trouble leaving Bei Da. We only spent 3 or 3.5 months together on that campus, but in that time, many of us experienced equal or more than we had in the 2 or 2.5 years of college in the States. Granted, it was the same idea in many ways, the completely different in others. I'm officially moved into my apartment now and it was weird leaving campus and it's going to be weird going back to IU. I still love IU and I'm excited to go back, but I
will miss Bei Da. I didn't think that I would ever be so attached after such a short amount of time. I met some great people from all over, including some that were my best friends but I might not every see again. It's a strange feeling really. We were definitely living in the moment, there is not other way, but it went by so fast. At the same time, I don't know if we would have liked it had it been any longer - I'll never know. But, we will keep in contact with each other and one day, I will go back and visit campus, etc.
Ok, enough of the sentimental reflections haha. Off-campus was really where you needed Chinese to get by. That is the "real" China. Out there is where no one speaks English. To be honest, the night-life for students at Bei Da is, quite literally, non-existent. It is one of the biggest honors here to be studying at Bei Da (which is why people are so impressed when you tell them you study there). So, there is no messing around for them. On the weekends, they study and go to bed at 10:00
or 11:00. On occasion, they watch a movie somewhere, but not often. I can't say for sure, but I think China planned the nightlife around their universities. I came to notice that the further that you get away from the nightlife/downtown, the more prestigious of a university it is. My university was the furthest university. Right before that was Tsinghua University, then the 3rd ranked university and some more scattered along the way. So, you can see where I'm coming from...but who knows. There's not much to say about the night-life as it is pretty much exactly the same (except in Chinese). However, my favorite part about the night-time are the street food vendors that come out. The chuanr guys (meat on a stick) is the best thing known to man; the chocolate fish; the fruit, etc. It's seriously great. You don't need to order late-night pizza here in China...it's better (granted, none of them would be open in the States due to the FDA - which is sad, because they're amazing).
Well, for now, I can't think of anything else to say. It's 11:45 at night and I have to be up for work in 5.5 hours. If
Parking Garage
........for bikes I think of more, I will add it to the next blog and if you have questions, please feel free to leave a message. I know a lot of people were intrigued to know about this - I hope that it was sufficient. Like I said, I have officially moved into my apartment. There's 4 of us in a 2 bedroom, so it's a little packed. But, we save money and it's fun/worth-it. We are literally on the one of the best streets to live on for people our age and within walking distance of so many things. I've added pictures of my dorm room, campus, and my new apartment, so enjoy!
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Aunt Donna
non-member comment
Very Interesting!
Thanks, Lauren for putting this on your blog. I think it was the most interesting yet! Looks like a beautiful campus and lovely digs. Good luck with the job. Love, Aunt Donna