Semester Abroad: China 学期在外国 : 中国 When doing a semester abroad in China there are multiple things to consider when planning, preparing and actually realizing ones stay. This document is supposed to guide you through all these steps and provide useful tips. We researched the topic and conducted a survey among former students who have traveled to China asking them to provide us with the following information: IN GERMANY How to prepare The most important thing for your stay in China is: Go in with an open mind. This cannot be stressed enough. The culture there is very different and adaptation is, of course, necessary. At the HFU we have all received Intercultural Communication training which also will prove to be helpful. Also, speaking Chinese will ease meeting locals and getting around drastically. Furthermore, it is recommended to travel to China one month earlier and engage in activities such as couch surfing. There you can meet Chinese people and make friends that will be glad to help you have a great time. Also, reading a bit about the local situation is worth doing. What to bring Basically anything can be bought in China: If it isn t available in stores, it can be ordered online on TaoBao (taobao.com). Chinese people are always happy about souvenirs, so bring some German stuff to give away. Also, bringing some medicine for safety reasons and cosmetic products if one needs certain brands is recommendable brands can get expensive in China. In the summer, insect spray might also be a good idea.
Besides that, a VPN provider can be installed on your laptop to get past the infamous green wall, which will not let you visit websites such as Facebook. Bringing your passport and other documents goes without saying. When packing for China you should include several pictures of yourself in your packing list. You will need these for forms and applications which you will have to fill out in China. Furthermore you should not take too many clothes and so forth as too much luggage will cost you extra fees on the plane and you can buy these cheaply after your arrival anyways. Medical prep Your usual vaccinations should be up to date. Also additional ones can but don t have to be taken. Check with your insurance to cover costs for these. If you plan on staying for longer than 6 months, you need to hand in a negative AIDS-test. While you are enjoying your stay, keep clear of rivers, as sick animals can decrease the pleasure you will have while swimming. Financial issues Monetary issues have become easier to deal with for tourists in China within the past few years. By now, basically any ATM will take your card and let you withdraw money from your account back home. There are several providers in Germany that you can turn to for opening an account to use when in China. One of the is the Deutsche Postbank which offers a Visa+ card that lets you withdraw money overseas up to 10 times without any fees being charged. Other banks provide you with similar offers, so go ahead and inform yourself which bank works best for you. When in China, avoid using the China Construction Bank's ATMs. It has occured before that those didn't return the card to its owner, who then had to go through a lot of hassle in order to get it back.
WHEN IN CHINA Bureaucracy After arriving in China you first of all have to register with the local police, which works similarly to becoming a resident somewhere in Germany. If you have problems you can normally turn to your University or fellow students for help. After about 4 months you can apply for a Visa extension which will require further medical checkups and, depending on your time of stay, also an HIV test. Whatever it is that is required, the most important hint for you is: Be patient. Expected expenditures Depending on the season the flight costs approx. 500-1000 both ways. The best way to find an apartment is to get an agent who will help you to find a stay for 6 months. Depending on where you are, the rent can cost 240 400 per month (always make sure that you ask whether the rent includes water and electricity, because in most cases they are paid separately; also don t forget to get a receipt, stating that you paid). Also you can find Chinese friends at your place of stay after moving into a dorm. After that you can move together to an apartment. That way you can improve your language, get to know a new culture and save money as well. Food in China is really cheap. Depending on what you eat, usually 150 per month is more than enough. Food and beverage If you are not allergic to anything, most foods in China will be fine. Some people believe that a part of Chinese food is extraordinary. However, be open minded! Try as much as you can. The only thing you have to be careful with is frozen stuff! The restrictions for frozen food in China are not as good as in Germany. If you know your stomach cannot take those kinds of food, don t eat them.
Don t drink tap water. In some cities tap water is fine, but in a lot of cities, it is not. Boil it before drinking. If you want to go out to eat, here is a tip: usually small, dirty looking street restaurants are the best. Make sure to go to a place that locals go to and not an empty restaurant. If you don t like Chinese food, China has a variety of western restaurants as well ( Mc Donald s; Subways, Starbucks, etc ). Be aware that your favorite Starbucks coffee in Germany might not taste the same in China. Medical concerns If you have serious problems, you can find foreign doctors in bigger hospitals. Sometimes, they have VIP treatments, which is recommendable. The cost for this special treatment is approximately 20. In smaller hospitals, take a local friend with you. The staff is usually very friendly and helpful. Never forget to make Chinese connections! They can always help you. Traveling Traveling in China is very easy and public transport is quite cheap. On www.elong.com or www.xiecheng.com one can find cheap flights for long distances. The plane tickets are offered for the Chinese price and if you have a good schedule, you can save some money. A cheaper alternative is the train. You can get train tickets at the train offices, which are usually all over the city. You can buy them earliest approximately six weeks beforehand. And be careful on holidays- book very early or you can t get a ticket anymore! Furthermore, there is a difference between soft sleeper trains (comfortable) and hard sleeper trains (adventure) or rather lowest class trains without beds. In the latter, people could also smoke and spit inside the train. For the bus tickets it s pretty much the same, but you generally have to buy them at the bus stations. Places worth seeing: Beijing (Great Wall), Shanghai, Kunming, Chengdu (Great Panda Park), Guilin, Yangshuo, Wuyishan (Fujian province), Huanghe (Yellow sea)
Leisure time There are different activities in each city. Widespread in China, and an absolute, must is KTV. In these KTV buildings there are so called karaoke boxes which are small or medium-sized rooms containing karaoke equipment rented by one or halfhour. Compared to public bars it provides a more intimate atmosphere. Beside the traditional bars and tea houses almost all cities have international or western bars which also supply beer, schnitzel and other typical German dishes, which could be helpful against home sickness. Going on a hash (like a Schnitzeljagd) is also something nice as you get to know the area a little bit more. It is worth trying everything! Contact afterward Staying in touch with the friends from abroad is possible due to, for example, Facebook. Many alumni still have contact with Chinese and other international people they met during their semester abroad. Due to the Facebook ban (green wall), the contact with the Chinese peers usually is far less though. Important recommendations Be open-minded! Almost everything will be different in China. But take off your cultural glasses and try to embrace the new. Thus, try also not to get caught up in complaining about the Chinese. Right in the beginning it is highly recommended to find some Chinese friends who will support you in bureaucratic and linguistic issues. In return, they are glad about a person who can teach them English or German. Do not take too much baggage along. Almost everything can be bought there and most of it is much cheaper than in Germany. Enjoy the people. Enjoy the experience. Enjoy the time in China.