IFSA Study in Shanghai: International Business

I think that, overall, the experience of studying abroad doe a lot more than just offer a rewarding academic experience. In addition to that, it offers students the ability to gain cultural awareness as well as mature and become more independent. As students who choose to go abroad will be immersed in a culture and language very different from that of their home country, the challenging experience helps one to become more culturally aware and also develop the tools to think critically.

I think that the most beneficial feature of this program is how it helps students to become more engaged in academic opportunities and cultural events around campus. The academic experience helped me to gain new perspectives on topics that I learned at my college in the US which helped to enhance my overall understanding of certain global economic,political, and diplomatic issues.

The time I spent in Shanghai is an experience I will never forget for all the best reasons. The support staff was amazing and without them in those first few weeks we would have all been totally lost. They supported us when we needed it , but also didn't coddle us allowing us to explore and adjust on our own. They were absolutely amazing and I can't speak highly enough of them! The neighborhood that we lived in was wonderful and allowed s to experience Shanghai as well as practice our Chinese daily. All of the excursions really allowed me to grow closer to the other people on the program and experience so many new things. This trip introduced to some of the most amazing people and I grew so much. I would highly recommend this program if your looking for an amazing experience.

I honestly don't think I could have picked a better program to study abroad in China. The Alliance does a great orientation to help you adjust to the new culture, which was huge for me considering I'm from the South and am not used to large city environments. The staff was great, caring, and available when you needed support. The housing situation was ideal and located in a fairly convenient area. The academic components were great. Classes were small so I was able to maximize class time to practice my Chinese. I really enjoyed all of my professors and the site visits gave me a great look inside business in China. The Alliance also set aside lots of travel (and will also help you set up outside travel), which is great for those who are nervous about arranging things for themselves. The Alliance does a great job of making sure that you can make the most of your time abroad. I learned so much about the world and myself, and would have studied longer if I didn't graduate. I assure you, if you choose this porgram, you're making a great decision.

On our first day in China, we entered from the front, main gate, but as we left to get dinner that evening, we walked out the back gate. At the time, there was absolutely no identifiable difference between the two. I had been plopped into this foreign world, it had seemed; everything was so different from anything I had ever known that it was unperceivable that there could be degrees to the visibility of Chinese culture.

3 months later, we were identifying out meals by the gate through which we exited campus. The phrase, "do you want to just do back gate," made us immediately aware of the kind of meal we'd be eating: local, authentic, quick and cheap. You could also get treats like fresh sweet potato chips or a youzi, a Chinese grapefruit. But out the front gate, on the other hand was our portal. In walking distance, at Chifeng Lu Station, you could find a KFC and other modern/Western delicacies. The front gate was also where we would go to hail a taxi to go downtown.

It seemed like 2 different worlds as we walked out of the two opposing gates. The local elementary students getting out of class near the back gate showed us the very local, familial side to Shanghai. It showed me that my semester abroad that sometimes felt like a vacation, was giving me unparalleled insight to Chinese life. Personally, I liked the balance of the 2 gates. But what I liked even more was the perpendicular streets that slowly transition the back gate to the front gate and vice versa. The craziness we sometimes saw in the back gate culture is not that far gone from modern China. And I loved every second of it.

I really enjoyed my time abroad in Shanghai, China with the Alliance program; it was the most memorable four months of my life. I will be honest though, in the beginning it was extremely difficult for me to adjust to the culture, being away from home, as well as living on my own. But luckily I had the support of my peers and the program, therefore I was able to overcome these difficulties quickly. Thankfully I lived at the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics (SUFE) dorms along with other students from around the world, which helped me so much because they were going through exactly what I was going through. I would usually have class from 10am until the afternoon and some days until 4pm, giving us enough time to roam the city and get familiar with Shanghai. As for the language difference, what helped me get over this fear were our weekly Chinese tables where we were forced to speak Chinese. Also, when ever I went grocery shopping, or purchased meals I was forced to speak Chinese in order to communicate with the locals. It was an amazing experience, I would highly recommend this program to students thinking about studying abroad.

The Alliance for Global Education's Business in China program is perfect for those interested in international business or relations. The staff and program are wonderful for learning about the amazing culture of China and Shanghai!

With weekly activities available, and a friendly staff a phone call or 5 minute walk away, you feel immediately at home and safe within the giant city.