Jennifer Wong | UCB Study Abroad

“The most memorable part of time abroad is the people that you meet, and the places that you visit with those people. Because everything is so new and it's the "first time," the feeling of awe you have is amazing.”

What led you to study abroad? Why did you choose your country/program?

I wanted to study abroad to experience a new perspective on life and to also learn things about myself and the world that I wouldn't be able to if I didn't have a new environment.

What was the most interesting cultural experience you had abroad?

I think day-to-day interactions with people, even if they are like small conversations or interactions with them, makes the entire experience interesting and different. But if I were to choose an experience, it would be the crowds.

What was the biggest challenge/concern of your study abroad experience? How did you respond?

One of the challenges I had was trying to learn enough of the language and do away with this "accent" that made it hard for local people to understand me. I think with time, and some practice, the accent you have will get better.

Describe a typical day for you abroad.

Usually I would wake up in the morning and go to class (if I had classes that day). I would usually eat at the university cafeteria and maybe go to a cafe on DaXue Lu to chill or study with a friend before the later classes. For dinner, I would either go out to eat nearby, or eat at the cafeteria again. I would usually do schoolwork in my room or at a cafe with a classmate.

What coursework did you take while abroad? How did courses abroad compare with Berkeley classes?

I took a mandatory class called "Debating Globalization." I think the readings in that class have a similar workload to some of the classes here. I took a “History of Diplomacy” class, which I thought was structured a bit different (the instructor's lecture method). The classes are smaller (20-30 max) so it depends what you like. Two other classes I took were a Chinese language class and literature class and both had a smaller class size.

What was the most memorable/meaningful aspect of your time abroad?

The most memorable part of time abroad is the people that you meet, and the places that you visit with those people. Because everything is so new and it's the "first time," the feeling of awe you have is amazing.

What impact did studying abroad have on you personally?

Yes, I feel like because I was able to live and navigate by myself (and with some help from my friends), I feel like I am more independent.

What would you recommend to students considering studying abroad, especially to your country or program?

I would recommend them to try it out because they would learn a lot about themselves and other people that they won't have the chance to meet if they didn't. For China, because there is so many people and it's a bit different from American culture, you will learn a lot about living in a new place and adapting to it.