CAPA WORLD

Studying abroad means positioning yourself to receive the best, yet sometimes unexpected experiences. In this post, Jennifer Conner talks about observing the Chinese culture firsthand, interning at an English language school, and building long-lasting relationships with her friends.

Now that’s she’s been in Shanghai for a few weeks, CAPA Blogger Imani Wilson is learning a thing or two about the time management skills you will gain (out of necessity) while studying abroad. In this blog she shares some tips and anecdotes for mastering time management while abroad to ensure you can make the most of your experience!

Are you ready for student life abroad in Shanghai? In this week's post, Imani shares her take on the dorm accommodation and facilities around the ECNU campus. From finding what you need around campus to a look inside her dorm room, she gives more insight on what to prepare for and what she already enjoys about living on campus.

Before I arrived in Shanghai, I was given instructions to get me to the East China Normal University (ECNU) Zhongbei Campus (not the Minhang Campus). There are about 10,000 students here, which is huge compared to Hood College. There are many metro stations and malls nearby.

“Connecting Global Cities” is a monthly column written by Colin Speakman, Resident Director for CAPA Shanghai.

With the impending Brexit referendum approaching, the principles and effects of globalization in the UK are up in the air. CAPA Shanghai Resident Director Colin Speakman sheds light on the history of the European Union and several impacts that the UK could face. He also covers perspectives from Shanghai and looks into alternative models of trade agreements.

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This is a relevant article, I hope. By the time readers are seeing these words, it will be March and, in principle, on March 29 the UK is supposed to leave the European Union (EU). Yet, such are the complexities of this event that it could be postponed—at the time of writing we do not know.

“Connecting Global Cities” is a monthly column written by Colin Speakman, Resident Director for CAPA Shanghai.

This post appears as China approaches the end of its Spring Festival; CAPA students arrive in Shanghai and, at universities all over the country, local students are making their way back to campus—after the long break between the Fall semester ending mid-January and the Spring semester starting at least a month later. Students are one of the biggest beneficiaries of the Spring Festival period which includes a week of Chinese New Year National Holidays but is much longer than that. Officially the Spring Festival ends with the Lantern Festival 15 days after Lunar New year, which would fall on February 20 this year. It is good timing as most locals are back on the week of February 18 so crowds can visit the special Lantern Festival displays in Chinese cities. CAPA Shanghai students are taken to one.

The day she has been waiting for is finally here! In her first post, Imani shares her excitement and anticipation about heading to Shanghai for a semester abroad. This experience has been years in the making! From transforming into a Chinese culture aficionado and learning Mandarin for the past four years, Imani reveals why she can't wait to immerse herself in this global city and her academics abroad. 

I always knew that I was going to go to China. I just didn’t think it would happen like this. I never thought that I would ever study abroad. I find that when people think of travel, they think of vacation or traveling for work. We all know that studying abroad is a possibility, but college students might not be able to because of timing and/or money. Miraculously, Hood College and CAPA made studying abroad more affordable and I decided to take a chance because chances like these are hard to come across for most students. If they weren’t, everyone would do it.

“Connecting Global Cities” is a monthly column written by Colin Speakman, Resident Director for CAPA Shanghai.

In his final vlog, Dan tells us about his top 5 favorite moments he had while studying abroad in Shanghai. From city tours to walking by dog parks, Dan shares why these moments made an impact on him and how he got to have a real experience with the people and culture of China.

In this week's vlog, Dan shows us what he kept in his backpack for daily use while he was studying abroad in Shanghai! 

For China watchers, 1978 was a pivotal year—after nearly three decades of a planned economy under Chairman Mao, the famous leader’s passing, in 1976, was a prelude to China’s “Reform and Opening-up” led by Deng Xiaoping after he became the new leader in 1978. Thus 2018 marked the 40th anniversary of that reform, marked in part by the launch in Shanghai of the first China International Import Expo (CIIE) in November.

However, December 18, 2018 marked the precise date that “Reform and Opening-up” was launched and the Shanghai authorities marked this by a short exhibition of “China stuff” from 40 years ago onwards—held in a specially erected steel tent near Zhongshan Park, one metro station from CAPA’s Shanghai campus. Starting just before the weekend to facilitate attendance, it ended on Tuesday, December 18 to commemorate the special day. I was privileged to get a ticket to attend and I did not see any other foreigners while there. I will discuss some of the exhibition highlights below, but first a bit more background.