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Kitty Chu, Shanghai

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KittyatZhouZhuangI learned: I learned how to communicate better with my peers because I am usually very shy and quiet. It definitely improved my speaking skills both in English and in Chinese. I’ve made a lot of friends inside and outside the program. Coming to a Shanghai gave me a chance to speak to the locals and improve my listening and speaking skills.

I was surprised by: I never thought I’d be so attached to this program when I first came here. I didn’t know anybody except for two friends in the beginning, but everyone in the program got very close, especially the people in our class. It was such a friendly environment because the teachers, the tutors, and even the Chinese people were so welcoming and understanding. This trip made me want to come back to Shanghai again during my junior year for an internship and made me realize how much I really wanted to pursue a Chinese minor.

The hardest part: The hardest part of my experience was definitely communicating with the Chinese people. Because I am of Chinese decent, everyone assumed I was able to speak Mandarin. I can speak Cantonese, but I never learned Mandarin until college. People would walk up to me in supermarkets or stores and start talking to me really quickly. I often have to ask them to repeat it twice to fully understand them. When they found out I couldn’t speak fluently, they did not often understand why.

The best part: The best part of the experience was learning to become independent. I’ve learned to manage my time more efficiently. I would plan to wake up earlier to study before class, and cook breakfast for myself. Getting an apartment with only two other roommates also improved my communication and problem solving. If any problem arose, we looked for solutions together. Our teamwork kept the house tidy and clean.

My tips: The best tip for students coming here is to try and adopt to their culture. I think once you step out of your comfort zone and start stepping into the shoes of the locals, you’ll not only learn a lot more about the Chinese culture, but also broaden your knowledge and see the world in a different perspective. Also, don’t be afraid to speak in Chinese. Practice makes perfect. Getting it wrong will only help you improve.

Self-Employed Women’s Association – Week 6

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EDI-SEWA-group-photoI cannot believe that the internship has finished. I sit here in the EDI campus just a few hours away from my flight home and I am still trying to take it all in. I have had an amazing time, and I have met so many wonderful people here, from students and teachers to managers and RUDIben (self-employed women who sell RUDI products).  It has given me a completely new perspective on how businesses can work, and has shown me the true determination and power of the women involved with SEWA and RUDI.

I have personally found our last week of the internship the best out of all of them. It started off on Monday with the presentation of Tim’s and my 5 year business plan for the Surendranagar District of RUDI.  To finally show our finished product and receive such positive feedback made all the hours that we spent working on it worthwhile. In the evening we met up with Sharmishta and all of the intern’s supervisors at a beautiful restaurant to be served a feast of Gujarati dishes. Sharmishta had the chance to meet our supervisors to whom we had all grown very close, whilst we filled our bellies with some delicious and rather strange food.

But our work had not quite finished there. Tim and I were then informed we would be making a trip to another district that had just started up so that we could create a short report on it and come up with a few recommendations on how they can improve. So on Tuesday, Dimpleben, Tim, and I set off to Rajasthan for two days.

It was great to be out in India again, peering out into the countryside and visiting various centres that provide support to so many people. A few hours later we arrived at our destination and were warmly welcomed by a group of RUDIben and their children who took us on a tour of the village, stopping off at various houses to be served sweet chai and spicy food. When we returned to the centre, we gathered the information we needed, helped the RUDIben load the car, and went to stay the night at one of SEWA’s manager schools before setting off back to Ahmedabad.

On the Thursday I spent my time writing the report and playing football with the Indian students with Jordan and Addison. We had come to look forward to the 6 o’clock kick off like eager children on Christmas Eve.

Friday came quickly, the last day of the internship, who could believe it?! The SEWA interns had a meeting where we showed our work and discussed the internship with our supervisors. They were all impressed with our work and effort over the course of the internship, and us with their kindness and help along the way. We also had the chance to talk to a couple of people who had been brought into SEWA to come up with a strategy for the next ten years; one of whom was a professor from Cambridge who was from the midlands, so after a brief while of talking football about Birmingham (whom I support) and West Brom, we discussed our work with them. To get more praise for our work from such people made Tim and me even happier, it really made us proud of our work. But things weren’t all so positive… we then had to say bye to Dimpleben, with whom Tim and I had grown so used to going into work and seeing her smiling face and hearing her little jokes. But Dimpleben wasn’t the only person who we were saying goodbye to; Addison left that afternoon, followed by Jordan, Jamie, Harriet, Su and Alex who set off on their travels around India. Lola and Bradley left in the evening, leaving me alone for Sunday.

But it wasn’t all so bad; I went to a market with a few Indian friends I had made on the campus and bought a kurta for my little nephew, and I cannot wait to see him in it! I had my last meal out which consisted of plenty of chicken and rice and returned back to the campus to pack my bags and write this blog.

It has been a truly memorable 6 weeks and I can look back on my experience with a fondness for this crazy and wonderful country I never thought I’d have. India has been so welcoming and friendly, and I have gained so much invaluable knowledge and seen sights that you cannot see anywhere else. I know I will return one day, and sooner rather than later I hope.

SEWA women at work

Caroline Fernandes, Madrid

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Caroline_Madrid_Circulo de Bellas ArtesI studied in Madrid, Spain for six weeks in the summer of 2014. I took two classes: a Spanish art history class and contemporary Spanish culture class. The art class was one of my favorite classes I have ever taken so far in my college career. We learned about Spanish art throughout history and visited museums to see certain pieces in person. The contemporary Spanish culture class was all about the history of Spain since Franco’s dictatorship. I learned so much about Spain’s history, which allowed me to see how Spain has been shaped over the years.

I learned: Always put yourself out there and try new experiences because those are the moments you remember. I was nervous to study abroad because I had never been away from my family for that long. I always dreamed of studying in Spain and never thought I would do it, but I challenged myself and jumped on that plane to a new place and it was one of my greatest experiences.

Talk to strangers. Contrary to what you learned as a child, talking to strangers is the best thing to do when you are abroad. Locals tell you the best places to visit that may not be in a travel book. There are also so many people travelling around the world with whom you will cross paths and you can’t miss the opportunity to strike up a conversation and hear about their adventures.

I was surprised by: I was surprised by the amount of independence I had while abroad. I could explore the city as I pleased. It was like living on my own in this new city! I was able to make a trip to Barcelona that I was hoping for. Although there are group trips and activities, it is mostly independent exploration so make the most of it!

The hardest part: The hardest part of my experience was getting used to the cultural time differences. In Spain, lunch is in the late afternoon and dinner is really late. This is very different from the culture we have here in the U.S. Even though it was a struggle at first, I got used to it and embraced my new lifestyle.

Also, the classes are not taught the same way as at home, especially with a native Spanish teacher. There are different teaching styles and different expectations. I had to learn and adapt to the new styles, which required a little more effort. I enjoyed that the professors gave breaks during class!

The best part: The best part of my study abroad trip to Spain was my host family! I learned so much from them, and talking with them every night was very helpful in improving my Spanish. We played guitar, watched movies together, and bonded like a real family. I am going to miss my Spanish parents the most out of everything.

My tips: 

  • If you are a peanut butter lover, bring some with you. Peanut butter is hard to find in all grocery stores, and costs a lot.
  • Don’t bring unnecessary items because you will want the space in your luggage for the trip home.
  • Practice your vosotros form!
  • Talk to locals and other people traveling.
  • Get to know your host family.
  • Explore the city, because some of the best places discovered are the ones you stumble upon while walking around.
  • Take advantage of the cultural reimbursements!
  • If you have any questions about studying in Madrid, feel free to contact me at cof94@bu.edu.