Why You Should Study Abroad in China

You may be thinking about studying abroad, but the bigger question is, “where”? This contemplation is understandable, but if you go a step further you can recognize your study abroad choice even greater.  Instead of asking yourself: “Where do I want to study abroad?”, you should ask yourself what you want to do while studying abroad, what your goals are, and what you want to take away from your experience. Students often associate studying abroad with Europe and never consider non-traditional destinations like China.

China: Initial Thoughts & Feelings

When I was thinking about a destination for study abroad, I first thought about what type of experience I wanted to have. I wanted to go abroad somewhere that I would be challenged and that would give me the opportunity to explore a completely new culture. 

This destination became China. I would encourage students thinking about studying abroad to consider locations that initially seem challenging. In China, there is an entire new and exciting culture waiting for you to explore. There are three cities that especially stuck out to me during my time in China: Beijing, Guilin, and Chengdu.  

Beijing: The Capital of Culture 

Beijing was the first city in China to leave an impression on me. I arrived in Beijing not knowing a word of Mandarin, but kept my eyes, ears, and mind open. Getting yourself acquainted with a new country is easier to do if you approach it with a positive and optimistic outlook.  Beijing is a capital city of culture. Upon arrival, I visited different places of significance in Beijing to get a taste of this city. 

Pictured: Temple of Heaven

Places such as the Temple of Heaven, a historic temple complex, which is a place of worship, but also an example of beautiful architecture and gardens, which makes it an enjoyable break from the bustling city life. 

There are several historical sites to visit as well, including Tiananmen Square, one of the more famous cultural sites and Jingshan Park, an imperial park that has one of the best views looking out at the Forbidden City. Beijing is the perfect destination to immerse yourself in the history of the city, one that stretches thousands of years back.   

Guilin: The City of Stunning Scenery

In order to begin my journey with learning Mandarin, I travelled to Guilin in the southeastern province of Guangxi where I would consider a Chinese Language School my home for a month. Guilin is a city of endless beauty, a city surrounded by mountains. I had the opportunity to immerse myself in this city by going out into the community with my Mandarin teacher and having conversations with locals.

Guilin is not a large city for China standards, with five million people! However, it is small enough to not feel overwhelmed when first coming to China. One of my favorite memories was when I took a trip with other students from the language school to nearby Yangshuo. Riding bicycles throughout fields surrounded by beautiful mountains gave me a feeling of freedom and pure bliss. If you crave delicious local food and beautiful nature, Guilin is your place.

Chengdu: A Spicy Way of Life  

Once I gained a solid foundation with learning Mandarin, I felt more comfortable in the city of Chengdu, located in the Sichuan province. I quickly learned how to tolerate, but later love the taste of spicy Sichuan cuisine. I also quickly fell in love with the slower pace of life that Chengdu is known for. Whether it was relaxing with friends, drinking tea at a teahouse, playing card games, or exploring the city, I never struggled to find something that I enjoyed doing in Chengdu. 

While in this city, I also had the incredible opportunity to learn more about China’s education system. I visited numerous levels of schools, from elementary school to universities, where I learned about the educational differences between China and the United States firsthand.  The most rewarding experience was giving talks to high school students in Chengdu about the college admissions process and life in the United States.

I had meaningful conversations with students who had questions and concerns about studying abroad in the United States, and I was more than happy to give them advice and guidance with this life-changing experience. While Chengdu is famously known for their giant panda bears, there is more to this city that made me feel right at home.

What Makes China Special

Jake (pictured) with woman demonstrating using the stick to press down on herbs to make spices.

My experiences in these cities contributed to my overall positive impression of China. I learned that the power of language truly connects the world. This time abroad was my first time traveling to a country by myself and not knowing the native language. I wanted a challenge in my study abroad experience, and I received it, but it was not an impossible one.

Students thinking about studying abroad in China should acknowledge that their experience will rely heavily on self-motivation.  You must take the time to learn the language, culture, and customs. China is a vast and diverse country with endless opportunities for you to discover as a student. If I did this at age eighteen and solo during my gap year with no prior travel experience, so can you.

Speaking of cuisine, check out Jake’s past blog, “How Chinese Food in China Changed Me Forever” for more details on tasty opportunities in China! 

6 Major Program 2019 Highlights Across Our 5 Locations

As we close up shop on 2019, we’re excited to share with you some notable highlights, including amazing activities and famous sites, that groups of students and faculty were able to enjoy all around the globe! 

Here’s a closer look into our custom programs during 2019: 

Madrid, Cordoba, and Seville, Spain

A group of students visited Spain in March, 2019 for a Spanish Immersion program, full of rich cultural heritage. Students participated in a many interactive activities during the stay, such as a scavenger hunt in Madrid, where they explored an area of the city center and searched for objects within the area. The group absorbed Spanish art, culture, and language while touring the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, and incorporated the use of the Spanish language with Spanish artwork. Students also had the opportunity to visit the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, home to the soccer team, Real Madrid! 

Following Madrid, students were immersed into a variety of classes and instruction in Cordoba, Spain, as they attended school with their host brothers and sisters. Students had time to become acquainted with their host families and explore the city together. The group also visited Fundación de Banco de Alimentos, a non-profit organization that provides support to lower income families and serves the community. 

Students also learned about Spain’s ancient history during a visit to La Mezquita, the historic area of Cordoba. One of the best examples was the Mezquita-Catedral, which was originally constructed as a Mosque and now is a Catholic Cathedral. As the program came to a close, students put on their dancing shoes as they worked with a local musician to learn about the folkloric music of flamenco, its roots, and history in Southern Spain.

Rome, Italy 

March was a busy month for travel as an additional group of students and faculty visited Italy.  One of the faculty leaders for EdOdyssey’s Rome Program enjoyed a program inspired from the work Walking with a Palladio: A Passport to Rome that helped give students valuable insight into the history of Rome. After settling in, the group explored important basilicas, including Santa Maria Maggiore, San Giovanni in Laterano, and the Basilica of San Clemente. Following a long first day of travel, students enjoyed a group dinner with roman style pizza. 

Rome’s historic center is incredibly generous with its architecture and rich history, including some of the biggest attractions, such as the Pantheon, a nearly 2,000 year old former Roman temple that is now a church, and the Colosseum, Rome’s greatest gladiatorial arena inaugurated in 80 A.D. Next, students toured surrounding ancient ruins, where they traced origins back to Palantine Hill and spent time in the Roman Forum, known as the downtown district of temples. 

The group also ventured over to one of the most famous fountains in the world, the Trevi Fountain. Tradition requires that visitors toss a coin into the fountain to ensure a return to the Eternal City! St. Peter’s Square and St. Peter’s Basilica could not be missed! Students spent a full day in the Vatican City and visited the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museum, home to some of the world’s greatest art collections.

Students were also able to spend time with local students, volunteer, and gain insight into a typical italian school atmosphere. Another interactive, hands-on activity included a special group dinner prepared by the group with a local chef, and delicious samplings of famous dishes! 

“The best part of the trip was going to the school because we met so many new people and got to experience another culture with kids that were our ages. I would definitely recommend this trip to anyone and I would personally go back again.” - Cole, Student

Shanghai, Guilin, Yangshuo and Daxu, China

EdOdyssey also travelled to China in 2019 with students studying Mandarin to understand the importance of Chinese culture and their way of life. Beginning in Shanghai, students spent time with their sister school, Shanghai High School. Afterward, the group traveled to Guilin and engaged in intensive small group Chinese classes to strengthen language skills used during the remainder of the program. 

Additional interactive activities included Taiji Quan with a Taiji master. Taiji Quan, often spelled Tai Chi in the West, is a Chinese martial art practiced for defense training and health benefits. Students also met with local students to hike Chuan Shan, Guilin’s karst mountain scenery, and participated in a Chinese calligraphy lesson led by a local artist. To dive deeper into China’s religious roots, the group explored a Buddhist monastery, chatted with monks, and meandered through the underground prayer caves.  

“The mountainous view was gorgeous and unreal. We learned a lot about the religious culture as it [Guilin] was a more rural part of China compared to Shanghai but I definitely enjoyed both totally different experiences a lot.” - Ikwo, Student 

Students enjoyed learning about tea culture through a traditional Chinese tea ceremony and savored a hot pot dinner followed by karaoke with Chinese friends. The group also cruised down the famous Li River to Yangshuo and explored the famous shopping and cultural district. 

Lima and Cusco, Peru 

During April of 2019, a group of students traveled to Peru for a Solidarity & Service Trip. They improved on their Spanish language skills through authentic immersion and service with local communities. Corazón de Jesús, a K-12 school located in a low-income area of Lima, was the students’ first immersive experience where they played with children and had lunch in the school cafeteria with local students. 

Upon arrival to Cusco, the group got acquainted with a city tour, then visited a local ceramic class and made their own Torito de Pucará, which is well known in Cusco due to its representation of the Peruvian South-Andean identity.

The group rode PeruRail Train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, the base town of Machu Picchu, and explored the ancient ruins with a local guide. After a short bus ride to Amaru, the group lived like the local community, prepared their own food with the help of Amaru friends, and visited other local residents, such as the alpaca and vicuña. 

Their return to the States included one last stop in Lima, and students spent the afternoon exploring the center of Lima, along with it’s beautiful architecture. However, their program wasn’t complete without taking part in a Peruvian cooking class!

The final service project in Lima was in Pamplona Alta, a special community EdOdyssey has maintained a close bond with. There, students worked together with leaders to build stairs up in the hills where access to water and electricity is limited. 

“This trip was one that I will never forget, and one that I would never change. This trip changed the way I view the world. It also allowed me to connect further with who I truly am as a person. Throughout this trip I gained a deeper understanding of how other people around the world live everyday. The amazing people in Peru who accepted us from the moment we arrived to our departure showed me what it meant to embrace your culture and where you come from.” - Grace, Student 

Quebec and Montreal, Canada

As the fall semester began for students, French language students visited Canada in October, 2019 to focus on the past and present of Quebec. At the beginning, the students were welcomed by their host families and spent time getting to know them. Students also attended French language classes at a local school to utilize the target language as much as possible and had lunch in the cafeteria with the locals. 

Students participated in a scavenger hunt in Quebec City and visited a local Sugar Shack to learn how maple syrup is collected and sampled the delicious sweet. In addition to learning about Canada’s sweet traditions, the group also had the chance to taste a traditional speciality known as Poutine! 

After a short journey to Montreal, students had time to discover the historic neighborhood and see sites such as the Notre-Dame Basilica with a local certified bilingual guide. Students also prepared traditional Quebec cuisine with a local chef for dinner! Their program concluded with an entertaining workshop about local graffiti art where students created their own masterpieces!

Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, Lima, Peru

Groups of our study abroad students arrived in Lima, Peru for spring, summer, and fall semesters, where they met up with the EdOdyssey team in preparation for their semester or academic year abroad at PUCP. During their first month, our students began to familiarize themselves with the area, visited other districts in Lima, volunteered with local organizations to serve their community, got to know their homestay families, and attended an 80-hour language booster course to become comfortable with Spanish as their primary language of communication. 

Additionally, our groups of students went on in-depth journeys to explore Peru’s incredible diversity through excursions to Iquitos, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Cusco, and Huacachina, and Ica. All excursions displayed different landscapes and components of Peru, including the cuisine and history, in hopes of students continuing to seek out adventures during their travels. 

As this fall semester comes to a close, we hope our current study abroad students can enjoy their last few weeks in Lima and reflect on all of the enriching experiences Peru has brought into their lives. 

“Soon Peru became like a home to me, thanks to the program coordinator and the other staff who constantly went above and beyond what was expected of them to ensure that we all were well accommodated. The additional trips that were offered throughout the semester and the volunteer opportunities were definitely a huge part of my experience and I am grateful to have been a part of such a beautiful thing.” - Yarlenis, EdOdyssey Study Abroad 2019 Alum 

Some of these EdOdyssey 2019 highlights have made for a fun-filled year! We look forward to all of our programs happening in 2020! 

Interested in designing your own custom program with EdOdyssey? Visit our webpage for more information on how you can get involved with immersive international experiences with your students during 2020. Below is a video highlighting EdOdyssey and why we believe travel changes people!

Check out our new welcome video!