Since I grow up in Hong Kong, I am not really surprised when I just arrived China. For example, I understand the Chinese language and the Chinese characters. However, I found many things are different from Hong Kong and my host institution in Japan when the days passed. In the following, I am going to writing about the feeling and the experiences during the study aboard period.
First, the technology in China is very amazing. For instance, I can order the food and the transportation tickets through Wechat, Alipay or other applications on my phone. Also, no matter the chain stores or the small local stores, I can pay with Wechat Pay and Alipay. I can go shopping without bringing my wallet.
Second, the teaching methods which UIC and ICLA are different. For example, UIC focus on students’ cooperation skills, ICLA makes their students to independent. I had total 5 group projects need to complete throughout the semester, but I was just taking 6 courses. Moreover, the final examination of each course in UIC occupies a huge percentage of the final grade, which makes the student have too much pressure and forget the joy of studying. I think other parts such as the assignments and the class participation should be counted more.
Third, I want to talk about the administration of UIC. I am so appreciating UIC arranges a shuttle bus for picking up and dropping down student between Tang Jia Station and UIC new campus. However, the bus schedule and the place of getting on the bus changed a few times. Since I needed to catch the train in Tang Jia Station, I was perplexed when I waited for the bus for 20 minutes before knowing the bus would not arrive in the afternoon. Also, I wanted to change the courses when I arrived UIC during the add-drop period. I had submitted the add-drop form to the Administration Office, but they needed us to attend the courses which I was planning to drop until the adding courses are successfully added in. Due to this reason, I had missed classes for almost a week. Moreover, I think UIC should calculate the time of the contrasting works. Although I used to the contrasting environment after 2 months, I felt so unwell and sick of the environment. However, I believe everything in UIC will be better after the contrasting works. Nevertheless, the efficiency of the office is so well. When I had questions about my studying plan and life in China, the office gave me support and answer quickly. It really made me felt better.
To sum up, even though everything in UIC has some problems right now, I believe they are temporary. Since UIC is still developing, UIC will become a well and good liberal arts school in the future.
