Darrol in China

Cycling Association of Peking University	Chestnut vendor	Darrol

Hey Darrol~
My name's Katie and I'm a second year student at Chico. I'm really interested in studying abroad next year in Beijing and wanted to ask you some questions. I hope everythings going well!  How do you like China so far? Tasha gave me your email, and if you you don't mind, I had some questions to ask :

1.   How friendly are the students and other Chinese toward Americans? Do you feel welcome?
2.  Are you living with local students in the dorms or with other international students?
3.  Do you like the professors?
4.  How is the food? Is the water okay to drink? Was the food easy to adjust to?
5.  How's the weather?

6.  Have you traveled outside of Beijing yet?
7.  How are you applying the credits to a major or minor back in Chico?

Sincerely,
Katie

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Hello Katie,

 I am glad to hear that more students in Chico are interested in studying in China.  It is too bad that we do not really have a Chinese language program at CSU Chico.

Here are my quick answers to your questions:

 1.   The students are very friendly and welcoming to Americans as well as other international students.  They do not confuse our individual personalities with the actions of our government (past and present administrations).  When ever I need help, I always ask a Chinese student (complete stranger).  They are always ready to help us as they are curious about us, and like to practice their English.  Yesterday a Chinese student helped me to get my lunch card, because I didn't know how to do it.  Afterwards she took me to one of the cafeterias on campus and bought me lunch because my card would not work until later that day!

2.  Neither.  I am living off campus in an apartment with a young Chinese couple.  They are very friendly, and I am learning a lot about Chinese culture from them.  The downside is that it takes me longer to get to school, and I am sometimes out of the information loop.  Like everything both living on campus and living off campus has advantages and disadvantages.

3.  My professors are very kind.  In fact, I became so sick with the flu (my body was also adjusting to China) that I missed a few classes, including two quizzes.  The professors let me make up the homework and the quizzes!  Of course, I called them at home (they care that much about our studies here) to let them know my dilemma.

 
4.  I love the food, but some people don't.  As for tap water, DO NOT DRINK IT.  Chinese also don't drink the tap water.  I brought my water filter because I am an avid backpacker.  However, a filter is not necessary, and I do not know anyone else that brought one.  Water here is very cheap and can be found everywhere (including mountain tops and 5 hours hiking down the Great Wall!)

5.  You can do some quick research on the internet to find out Beijing's weather.  However, it does have 4 distinct seasons, like Chico, though it is colder in winter here (snow guaranteed), and the early summer is rainy.

 
6.  I have already fulfilled the requirements for my majors, so this is more for language experience for me, and to complement my majors.  I am a Geography (Human/Cultural and Physical/Environmental) and Asian Studies double major.  Most people would apply it to either a language requirement for a specific major that requires language, for the language requirement at our university, or to the upper division theme.  Tasha Dev and your advisor are the ones you want to talk to regarding that stuff.

You can read all of my email updates (they are supposed to go out every two weeks, but I have been terribly busy so I have not been that frequent yet) at the study abroad office, in the geography department, or at my CSUC webpage:  http://myweb.csuchico.edu/~dbutler1/

 I hope this helps you. Darrol

Darrol and Mike at Forbidden City	Summer Palace	Great Wall