"I had the amazing opportunity this May to be accepted into the Urban China Global Seminar and spend three weeks in China! I had no idea what to expect, as I had never studied abroad before. We had several classes before the trip began, where I met my fellow students on the trip and learned a lot more about what would happen and what we were learning while there. That was super helpful, and made me feel much more comfortable about the trip as a whole.
Our professor, Colleen Berry, had been to China 60+ times! I knew we were in good hands, and she was just the most wonderful throughout the trip. I would highly recommend any of her classes here at home, as well as in China!Â
We went to so many incredible places. My favorites were the Great Wall of China, Wanfujing Street (especially Snack Street) in Beijing, the Muslim Quarter in Xi'an, and the Yu Gardens in Shanghai. I had never realized before how rich and layered Chinese culture is. I came to a better understanding of how the Chinese live, although three weeks was hardly enough time to fully grasp everything! It was a wonderful and complex place. The food was incredible, and everyone was very friendly. The history and culture of China came alive for me in ways I didn't realize it could. This trip really helped me become a more well rounded person and more understanding of a culture so different from mine. I would highly recommend China for study abroad!!