East China Normal University

For me, chinese was not a problem since I grew up with it as my second language. Although I wasn't too focused on my studies, my language abilities did significantly improve towards the end of my duration, mainly from the constant usage.

The beauty of the backstreets did not unveil itself to any of the other students that I was with. I personally did not affiliate with them at all...in doing so, a whole new world invited me in. I acquired language sponsors; backstreet restaurant owners who would pull me in off the streets, sit me down, put food in front of me, and make me listen to/speak with anywhere from 2-30 native Chinese speakers speaking nothing but Chinese and Shanghai-hua. It was a truly wonderous and unequivocal experience.

Host university separates the international students from the local students. International dorm quality is much better than for the local students.

Unforgettable experience

For bars and cafe, Hengshan Lu. Nanjing Lu for shopping. XuJiaHui for Technology. The Bund for the view of the Pearl Tower. For restaurants, everywhere, you can find.

we stayed in the rooms that visiting professors usually stay in, which were more westernized than the dorm rooms where students stayed