Have you ever thought about traveling abroad, or even studying abroad? The chance of a lifetime at your doorstep and all you have to do is open the door. In the fall of 2017, I will be opening the door, grabbing my suitcase, and hopping on a 13 hour flight to Beijing, China.
A spring 2017 survey completed by TBC alumni shows that participants are overwhelmingly happy with their academic adventure abroad!
A big area alumni say is working for them is: Work. Ninety-five percent of respondents say they’re currently employed. Their specialties are diverse: They’re working in the popular fields of finance, education, law, government, and marketing — but also aviation, non-profits, technology, and journalism.
As I prepare to go abroad to Beijing next semester, I feel a wide array of emotions: excitement, hope, happiness, gratitude, and nervousness. I made the choice to study in The Beijing Center my first semester studying at Loyola University Chicago. The departure day looked very far away that first semester, and now it is two months away. There was a chance, due to my financial situation, studying two majors, or getting cold feet sometimes, that I wouldn’t study in China. So, now it seems a little unbelievable that I have my plane ticket and my classes already scheduled.
One day as I am sitting in class, I catch myself thinking about how nice it would be to go back to Europe and study abroad in Greece: frappes by the sea, devouring innumerable gyros, learning about Greek history and mythology, and reminiscing about the laidback European lifestyle I once lived. Soon my thoughts came to life, as I began a conversation with my classmates about travelling the world and cultural immersion. As it turned out, a girl in the group (Maria) was Greek, and soon we were laughing about My Big Fat Greek Wedding and how refusing meat is incomprehensible within the Greek mentality.
The idea of studying abroad for me dates back to sophomore year of high school. In Mandarin class, we were watching a series called Wild China, which was an informational video and narration that explored the immense and unique wildlife and nature of China. Before that, I considered college far away and did not give thought to what I wanted to do. After finishing the series, I knew. I had to explore this place, experience the people, and discover its secrets for myself.
I remember my first day arriving on the 18th floor of the Capital Mansion building in Beijing the same way I remember my very first day of school: eager, apprehensive, but also a strong intuition that I was out of place. Prior to the start of my internship at YouChange, I had already been living in China for about four months. Despite taking an intensive Chinese course, I felt that my progression/improvement was not nearly adequate enough to hold a meaningful conversation with my new colleagues.
Migrant Children’s Foundation (MCF) is a UK-registered charity based in Beijing, China. In order to thrive in China’s growing economy, many people from rural areas migrate to the city and bring their families along. Their children, who do not have the Beijing hukou, are denied the benefits of welfare: crucially, healthcare and education. MCF’s role in these children’s lives is as comprehensive as possible. Partnerships with hospitals and healthcare systems allow for periodic health checks as well as dental and optometric care.
It was never my intention to work for a non-profit company in China. I did not speak a word of Chinese, I didn’t know anything about the culture, let alone the business practices, and I did not want to add overworked intern to my list of epithets. It was series of happy accidents that led to my semester at Project Pengyou, and I am eternally grateful the universe gave me that gentle shove into the unknown. I had very few, but very false, notions of how a Chinese company would operate.
My internship during the Spring 2017 semester at The Beijing Center was with Jingdong.com. Jingdong (JD) is the second-largest online retail marketplace in China, and also a Fortune 500 company. Jingdong boasts about having its own delivery service as well, not having to rely on a UPS-type service in a partnership. The delivery service is extremely efficient, and if an item is ordered first thing in the morning, it is likely to arrive at one’s residence by the late afternoon. I’m proud to have been placed in such a dynamic and expanding business.
The first Saturday of March, April pushed at my shoulder, “Addy, wake up! He’s already waiting for us at west gate!”
I sat up, looking down at my jeans. “Do I have time to change my pants?” Back in Chicago, I rarely wear pants, let alone jeans. I brought this sole pair with me thinking they would be a good clothing item to potentially lose to Beijing’s smoggy atmosphere, and how right I was: earlier that day upon climbing machinery in the 798 Arts District, first the right seam followed immediately by the left seam of the inner thigh tore down to the knee. I wore tights underneath, thankfully, but I nonetheless looked quite ridiculous.