Getting Settled

September 2, 2009 –

Today marks my 10th day as an abroad student at Fudan University, found in Shanghai, China. Fudan University is ranked 3rd in China for it’s undergraduate program, ranked below two schools found in Beijing. The University was established over 100 years ago, and has around 43,000 students.

I was warned numerous times prior to my departure about the vast differences between the Western Culture that I am used to living in and the Eastern Culture, especially China. No amount of warning could have sufficiently prepared me for the cultural shock that I was to undergo. Every aspect and routine that I was used to in America has been tossed out the window, and I am now living a totally different life.

For example, the Chinese do not stop for pedestrians, and pay little attention to red lights. It is the pedestrian’s responsibility to not be hit by cars. Drivers use their horns constantly while driving, using it as a warning that they are going fast and will not be slowing down for much. The Shanghainese speak very little English, yet have a strong desire to learn about Westerners. It has become a regular occurrence for me to be stopped in the street by someone with a camera so that they can take a picture of the “white person." There is practically no such thing as a fixed price when trying to purchase something. Although the Chinese are less flexible regarding price-bargaining for some products, they are always ready to find a way to come to an agreement!

I have only been abroad for a week and a half as I mentioned, yet it has already come to be a wonderful learning experience. Orientation is almost over, and all classes officially start on Monday, September 7th, at which point the campus will be flooded with students from all over the world. Classes will certainly be different, yet for now I am simply going to focus on not accidentally eating jellyfish again.

Zaijian,
Ben