Student Journals: AIFS in Nanjing, China

Gina Fanelli
Bloomsburg University, PA
Nanjing University, Nanjing

For me, nothing is better than new friends, good food, and an entirely different culture.  I arrived in China about three weeks ago.  I was petrified to enter a communist country, especially since I do not speak much Chinese.  I arrived at Shanghai Pudong Airport and was greeted by 7 other Americans who would study along with me.  We all clicked instantly, and were ready to spend the 4 best months of our lives together.  We toured Shanghai for the first 3 days.  The accommodations were awesome, along with the tours.  I was extremely nervous to try the food, but I was pleasantly surprised by its deliciousness.  Jeffrey, our tour guide, took us to various places in Shanghai but my favorite place was the silk factory.  I was able to hold a silk worm and see how silk is made from scratch.  It was so interesting for me to see the amount of work and effort that goes into a dress or scarf. 

From Shanghai the 8 of us piled into a van and drove to Nanjing, the place where I would call home for the next 3 months.  Our dorm is run like a hotel and the view is magnificent.  I have met people from all around the world here: our dorm is a melting pot.  There are people studying here from many countries.  I met people from Iceland, Spain, France, Chile, Italy, England and many more places.   I learn about so many cultures every single day, but I learn the most about Chinese.  The Chinese culture is extremely different from America.  The police do not run their society like they do in the states. The driving is insane.  There were about 4 times I almost saw people get hit, but they just honk and keep driving.  There is no such rule that says pedestrians first, because if you are in there way, they will not slow down or swerve!  We eat out for every meal because we live in a dorm.  In China, you do not tip your servers or bartenders.  In the states, we tip almost everyone for anything they do.  That is a huge difference for me because eating out is so inexpensive.  Everything in China is inexpensive.  I can get a whole meal for 2 dollars.  The shopping is extremely cheap as well, but unfortunately the boutiques do not have a size over a 4!  

As for classes, I take 16 credits at Nanjing University.  I take 4 hours a day of Chinese 5 days a week, and then 3 additional classes.  The Chinese classes are extremely hard for me.  I have to study and work very hard in order to keep up.  Since I have taken Chinese before, I was put in a more advance class and that is why I struggle more than everyone else.  The additional classes are interesting.  The teachers all are Chinese and teach us from their viewpoint.   Since there are people from all over the world in our classes, everyone has different views and different governments which lead to intense debating and conversations.  I have only been in school for less than 2 weeks and I have already learned so much.  I look forward to embracing this different but wonderful culture.