A Blog about Education Abroad

Tag: China

  • Skye Breeze Petser at Xiamen University, China

    Skye Breeze Petser at Xiamen University, China

    Skye Breeze Petser

    Chinese Hons Student

    Semester Exchange in the Second Semester, 2023 at Xiamen University

     

    Pre-departure:

     

    I won’t sugarcoat it, the months leading up to my departure were rough. There were a lot of problems with my registration to the host university, but I was lucky enough to fight through it all with a fellow classmate who had also chosen Xiamen University. I had chosen Xiamen over the more popular choice of Beijing because I wanted to be closer to the sea and not directly in the middle of a busy and massive city (I’m not much of a city person). I did, however, find out that I would be on Xiang’an campus and not Siming campus which needs to be stated. The visa application was a process because we had to wait for our acceptance documents to arrive from China, but they had been sent through the post and only arrived two weeks before we left during a taxi strike. My nerves were shot by the time I was sitting on the plane. Between booking flights, getting my visa and online registration I was ready to make the most out of my exchange. It was my first time leaving the country and I was so excited to experience what was to come. 

    Skye with a fellow Hons student from Stellies.

    Experience at the Host University:

     

    Unlike the months before I arrived, my experience in China was amazing. I will say the registration and the first few weeks was difficult for us all. I had to run around with fellow students, during a typhoon, to finalise our registration and various other odds and ends. We were trying to get our student cards, SIM cards and bank cards sorted while also figuring out exactly what was going on. 

    Something that I had to get used to in China was the fact that you use an app called Alipay to pay for everything. Many people also use WeChat pay, but a lot of us exchange students couldn’t access WeChat pay, though this wasn’t a problem because you can get by with using Alipay. China also has tons of apps. There is an app for everything, such as buying electricity and using the washing machines in the dorms, selecting food while at a restaurant or even for public transport. 

    It took some getting used to how things worked in China, but it was worth it. Using the metro system or the buses to travel around made transport convenient and affordable. I was able to travel with friends wherever we wanted to go, and it would always cost us around R5 to R20. My friends couldn’t understand why I was so excited about being able to use public transport, but it was amazing to see the possibilities of what could be in my own country. 

    The actual experiences I had at Xiamen University were endless. I met the most amazing people there, from the girls living in my dorm (which only cost me around R1000 for the semester), to the fellow students in my classes, to the Chinese students I met through various activities like archery and even to the workers at my favourite little tea shop which was a five-minute walk from my dorm. The people around me made my experience what it was – sure, I attended classes and did every language elective provided, but I learned so much more outside of the classroom than I did inside.

     

    Skye at Nanputuo Temple

     

    I was able to improve my speaking and listening skills in Chinese by talking to locals, as well as learn so much about Chinese culture that I would never have learned from a textbook. I was invited by a close Chinese friend to stay in her family’s home in Quzhou to celebrate her birthday with her while experiencing more intimate parts of Chinese culture. I celebrated birthdays, Christmas and New Years with different nationalities who shared their own traditions and customs. We tried new foods at the street food market outside the campus’s West Gate or Dong Men. We were smoked out of our dorms by a fire drill at 6am and went for karaoke at night. There were Halli Galli tournaments with shop workers as spectators, picture wars where we became like the paparazzi, as well as becoming Santa Claus while giving foreign friends advent calendars and presents for their first-time celebrating Christmas. I even played badminton in the middle of the pavement for three hours against some friends who needed a break from work. I will never forget that I had all of these adventures while laughing so hard that my stomach hurt.

     

    Return to Stellenbosch:

     

    I’ve been back in South Africa exactly two weeks now and my time in China feels like a dream. To be honest, the actual academic part of my exchange barely crosses my mind. What I remember are the people and the things that we did and saw during those five months. The lessons I learned and the parts of myself that I discovered will forever live in my heart. Going on an exchange means getting uncomfortable and trying new things. I would never have experienced half of what I did or met the amazing people I did if I hadn’t taken opportunities and tried new things. My future has opened up and I’m excited to see where I will go. I know that I’m only better off for having gone on this exchange. One day I will return to China but for now the future is a blank canvas.

  • Charissa Beukes at Xiamen University, China

    Charissa Beukes at Xiamen University, China

    Charissa Beukes

    Chinese Hons (Virtual Exchange)

    Semester Exchange in the Second Semester, 2022 at Xiamen University

     

    Pre-departure:

    I am part of the 2021/2022 Chinese Honours class, and a requirement of our degree is to spend a Semester at Xiamen University. Unfortunately, my classmates and I were not able to go to our host country, China, for our study abroad due to COVID-19 but virtually attending Xiamen University’s classes was definitely a different and interesting experience. For this it is very beneficial to make contact with your classmates or someone who has prior knowledge on studying abroad or travelling overseas in general. This really helps in the first steps to studying abroad because you are guided, instead of doing it on your own, which could make your study abroad lonely.

     

    The first step you should take, which really helped me, is to sit down and find out everything that needs to be done, and then making a checklist. For example, in our case we needed to fill in a lot of forms for Xiamen University, send our passports, work with our lecturers to help us with the forms, download all the necessary teaching platforms of our host university, become familiar with the new teachers and so on.  I think it’s very important to make sure you’re up to speed on anything because when you’re studying abroad, in-person or virtually, things can become lost in translation and quite confusing. I also strongly advise making sure you have enough translating apps.

     

    From my experience of travelling to China, Beijing and Xiamen specifically, with my lecturer and classmates in 2019, I learned that it is very important to work together as a team especially before departure or before beginning classes virtually, because you can then all be on the same page, and you know you have people that you’re familiar with and that you can rely on. Something that is also important is to always be as prepared for new things because you will be entering different countries and therefore different traditions and cultures, so make sure to familiarize yourself with these customs in order to gain knowledge on them and also respect. I always tried to be as prepared as possible as it wasn’t always known what our class schedule will entail because of the different in schooling culture. What I did notice is that countries appreciate when you know and respect their culture and way of doing things, so it is very important to be mindful of your actions and be respectful.

     

    Charissa with the Hons class in China

     

    Experience at the Host University:

     

    I really wish we could have been able to go to China, as I believe it would have improved our Chinese-speaking ability greatly and we also would have been able to do the SAGL short course more in-depth. This is because we would physically be able to experience things abroad and therefore be able to apply it to our journals in a much better manner. However, we were lucky enough to virtually attend Xiamen University’s classes and this was still a unique experience because it was very different to our normal classes with Stellenbosch University. China has a much different way of doing things, as their schooling schedule and work pace is much faster and is propped with much more work. It was therefore very difficult to keep up at first, and it very intimidating. However, once we got into a routine, though, things gradually became easier, and I felt more comfortable communicating with our lecturers. This was especially because of the teamwork with my classmates, we would always help each other out when one was confused or unsure of what we should do. I honestly am so grateful for their support, and I believe it is very important to try and establish a support system for yourself it your host university so that if you have any questions or problems, you can ask that person for help, and this will also develop your relationship and also your position as a global citizen.

     

    Charissa with her classmates.

     

    We had classes three times as long and three times more often than what we had at Stellenbosch, it was from 6:50 to 12:00 in the afternoon most days, one of my classmates even had class at 2am due to the 6-hour time difference between China and South Africa, as we did 5 lessons in one week. It was hard to keep help, especially with it being 99% in Chinese but eventually we became comfortable. Writing mid-terms and finals was also stressful because the test format and instructions were completely different from what we were used to but, in the end, we overcame our obstacles and got through it. What helped me through the experience was trying not to be afraid of asking questions because things can get very confusing with a study abroad, especially if you are physically in another country. However, it all pays off in the end because you’ve gained an experience that many others have not.

     

    Return to Stellenbosch:

     

    We of course did not get to go to China, our host country so this will not be a long section. When our Xiamen University classes ended, it was a big shift from every day 4-6 hour classes to no classes. This of course can be seen as a very good thing but because we were so fully focused on our host university’s busy class and exam schedule, we were not able to fully focus on what we had to do for our own university, which was to complete our thesis. Of course, we completed it and handed it in by now, but to shift from busy virtual study abroad to focusing on our thesis, was a bit difficult but I think I speak for all of us in saying that we benefited from our study abroad as it helped us complete a big part of our degree – our thesis. It also helped us grow, along with all the knowledge about being a global citizen, our position in the world, SDGs, inter-cultural competence etc. that we learned in our SAGL sessions.

     

    Us not going to China definitely changed my future plans because I relied heavily on the fact that being in a constant Chinese-speaking environment and attending classes every day would increase my Chinese-speaking ability and also listening comprehension. As hard as I’ve have worked so far, it is difficult to become fluent in language when you are not always in that speaking environment. I definitely want to go abroad, whether to work or study, as I believe Stellenbosch University, Xiamen University and this SAGL course specially helped me gain the skills and knowledge to do so.

     

  • Natasha Smith at Renmin University, China

    Natasha Smith at Renmin University, China

    Pre-Departure

    Preparation is key. China is not like any other country and if you have not been there yet, you will definitely experience some culture shock. You will be extremely dependent of your phone, so make sure you have enough space/storage on your phone for all of the following apps. I recommend you download these BEFORE going to China, as you might struggle to download some of them there.

    • Wechat – this will be your main form of communication and payment. China does not really work with debit or credit cards, they use WeChat pay and Alipay and occasionally cash. This app is A MUST HAVE.
    • Alipay – another form of payment
    • Beijing Metro – this is an app with all of the metro lines and routes, this is the easiest and cheapest form of public transportation, also very safe.
    • Microsoft Bing – when your VPN does not work, this is the closest you have to Google
    • TripAdvisor – not a must have but nice to have to see where the nice places in Beijing are
    • Didi (The Chinese Uber) – this is the Chinese Uber, very effective and safe also
    • Translating app / have a google translate shortcut
    • Mobike, OFO, Meituan – you will make use of public bikes a lot, the more apps you have the easier you can get bikes, it is very cheap and very effective.
    • Taobao / JD – this is the ebay/ take-a-lot of China, super cheap and super-fast delivery. Everything is in Chinese though, so you will have to get a Chinese friend to help you.
    • VPNs – have at least 3 or 4 VPNs on your phone, China blocks apps like Whatsapp, Instagram etc. I would recommend ExpressVPN, you have to pay for it but it is most reliable.

    In terms of packing, I am going to give my advice as a girl, so this might differ for guys, and will probably be easier for them. If you use any chronic medication, take enough supplies for the time that you are there. I recommend taking things like pain medication, flu medication and other basic medicine, because it is a real struggle to get medicine in a pharmacy because of their lack of English and they only use traditional medicine, which some people do not prefer. All of the foreigners I met here struggled with their stomach the first month, because the food is quite a big adjustment for your stomach. If you are gluten sensitive or have a sensitive stomach, come prepared with the correct medication!

    China does have brands like Nivea, Pantene and other popular brands that we have in SA, so do not worry about taking all your toiletries for the 6 months. But for girls, I would recommend taking your sanitary products if you have enough space in your luggage, because it is quite expensive in China and also difficult to get “normal” ones. Other basic things to remember are plug adapters and a portable charger (if you have one, because the VPN’s really drain your phone battery). If you have the opportunity to learn some Chinese before you go to China, DO IT. Beijing, unlike Shanghai, is not very accommodating to foreigners. The people in Beijing speak very little to no English and it can be very difficult to get by if you don’t understand any Chinese. Shanghai on the other hand is more international and accommodating.

    Experience at the Host University

    I did my exchange semester at Renmin University of China’s Business School. It was an amazing experience, but not what I expected at all. They have a complete different approach to academics than Stellenbosch University, and this took some time getting used to. You will do a lot of presentations and “small tests” and projects like we are used to at Stellenbosch. The difficulty level was lower than I expected, which allowed for a lot of traveling during the semester. However, class attendance is compulsory, and just because the difficulty level is not as high, doesn’t mean you won’t have to put in some work!

    I was really lucky to have met the most amazing group of friends while I was on this exchange. Most of them were also exchange students from different countries. I came to China expecting I was going to make a lot of Chinese friends, but Chinese people are extremely shy and don’t feel comfortable talking to foreigners as most of them are not confident speaking English. So be aware of this when coming to China, nothing is wrong with you or them, it is just their culture.

    Do as much traveling and sightseeing as you can in the beginning of the semester before all the deadlines and exams start! China has so many amazing places to see (make TripAdvisor your best friend), and it is really easy to travel on a low budget by staying in hostels (make use of hostelworld.com) rather than hotels. China also has a bullet train which makes traveling between cities really easy, cheap and fast! Make a list of the places that you want to see before going and try to prioritize seeing those places first, because time really does fly when you are on your exchange and before you know it you are on your way back!

    As mentioned, the language barrier can be a very big problem if you cannot understand or speak any Chinese! However, there are many local people on campus who are willing to trade English speaking classes for Chinese speaking classes! Make use of this opportunity, take my advice on this, it will make your life 10 times easier in China if you can understand even just the basics. I also experienced that Chinese people are more willing to help or assist you in stores or when you are lost when you are trying to speak Chinese to them. If you ask for help in English the chances are they will walk away because they don’t understand you. If you ask for help in broken Chinese, doesn’t matter how wrong it is, they will usually try their best to assist you even if it is just with hand signs. You will gain a lot of respect for speaking or trying to speak Chinese.

    Return to Stellenbosch

    Reverse culture shock IS A REAL THING.

    Coming back to Stellies has been bitter-sweet, more sweet than bitter though! The first week or two is extremely overwhelming because you will be asked the same question 10 times a day, “How was the exchange!?”, and they will expect you to summarize the experience in one sentence, because the reality is, they only want to know if it was good or bad, they don’t want to know everything. This can be extremely frustrating and a big anti-climax. You just (hopefully) experienced the best few months of your life where you saw so many things and grew so much as an individual while meeting the most interesting people, while most of the people at home just went on with their normal lives and routines. Unfortunately this means that they won’t necessarily share in your excitement and relate to any of your stories. This is neither their fault nor yours, and it is extremely important to be aware of this before even going back to SA. It helps so much to keep contact with the people you met there or the other International Business students that went on exchanges because you will be able to relate and talk about your experiences.

    In terms of academics; haha wow. As I mentioned before, the difficulty level in China was not very high, so it was a very big academic shock being back in Stellies and adapting to the heavy workload and difficulty level. It is however manageable, and you get used to it quickly.

    Coming from China, which was extremely safe and I never experienced any problems in terms of crime and safety, back to South Africa, was probably one of the most difficult adjustments. In China I was dependent of public transport and got use to not being overly cautious when walking alone, etc. It has been difficult to adjust my mind-set to be more aware and careful. When you are abroad you sometimes forget about all of the bad things happening in South Africa, because you miss the good things so much.

    One of the most important things I have had to focus on is maintaining my self-growth. I experienced a lot of self-growth while on the exchange, so coming back to an environment where the people around you have mostly stayed in the same mental space as they were before, can be very difficult. That’s why it is so important to make a conscious effort to keep growing and not to regress and fall into your old ways of doing things.

    This exchange is one of the best things to have ever happened to me, it changed and broaden my perspectives on so many different levels.