Why did you choose your study abroad program?
I chose the IFSA Shanghai program because I was very interested in visiting China while also learning about the culture and attending school at the same time. Additionally, I have roots in China, and even though Shanghai was not where my family is from, I thought this was a great opportunity to immerse myself in the culture.
What did you learn about in your favorite class?
My favorite course was Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Firstly, they don’t offer this course at Lafayette College, and I was interested in learning about holistic healing, so I was immediately drawn to this course. We learned many interesting topics like acupuncture, medicinal herbs, and more. I also liked how we got the chance to visit a TCM hospital. It was such an interesting experience being able to see how differently a hospital works there.
What was your favorite local food or drink?
I don’t have a favorite local food because they’re all so good. My favorite local drink, however, is probably a grapefruit drink from Mixue, which is the biggest and cheapest boba chain in China.
What was your experience interacting with the local culture and people?
I would often interact with the local community and culture. When I go out shopping, eating at restaurants, and doing many more things. They usually ask me why I’m so good at speaking Chinese, or they’re interested in where I am from, when I’m out with my group of friends. However, when I’m by myself, I don’t get questions like that. I completed one assignment where we had to visit a park to interview people in Chinese about their lives. I learned that a lot of the people working out at the park are elderly folks, and they are all healthy-looking.
What's one of your most cherished or favorite memories?
My most cherished memory about my abroad experience is that I got to travel to Fuzhou during one of the breaks. Fuzhou is where my family is from, and I got to discover my culture and my roots while I was there.
What's an important life lesson you learned?
The most important thing that I have learned is how to navigate things by myself, like flying by myself, going to the hospital, and learning how to manage homesickness since I was so far away.
How did you grow as a person?
I got to learn about myself more and became more confident in my abilities to do things on my own, which is really important to me, because I used to doubt myself a lot.
What tips do you have for students interested in going abroad?
Don’t be afraid not to do everything. By allowing yourself to rest at times, you can avoid burning out when traveling a lot and not taking breaks.
