This week, TBC was pleased to welcome Fall Semester students Mars, Jen, and Thomas! We are thrilled to have them join us this fall as they embark on an exciting academic journey in Beijing. Their introduction to TBC began with a comprehensive orientation led by Simon, our executive director, and Queenie, our VP of student affairs. They covered the academic program of TBC and the essentials of student life at the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE), our host university.
After the orientation, we provided them with a welcome package, including TBC merchandise, SIM cards, and student IDs. They toured TBC headquarters and participated in ice-breaking activities to discuss their motivations for coming to China, ranging from business to culture and art. Later, we toured the UIBE campus and stopped by the delivery lockers, where they learned how to take their items out. This tour allowed them to familiarize themselves with their surroundings and key facilities, giving them a sense of the history and community they are now a part of.
In the following days, orientation focused on setting expectations and gathering their first impressions of China. With the guidance of TBC staff and interns, the students successfully set up their bank accounts and linked them to China’s payment platforms, WeChat and Alipay, making their stay in Beijing smoother. During their follow-up orientations, they also discussed academic policy and regulations as well as the credit and grading system.
Later in the week, we ventured out to nearby malls. First, we visited a store where they can find different foods and snacks. For lunch, they tried different dishes like curry and beef noodles. Although it was pouring rain, that was just part of the adventure, because later they visited a popular supermarket with two floors to explore. They found exciting fruits and veggies they hadn’t seen before. Also, they found some items they needed for daily use and familiarized themselves with the area around the school.
The 5th Forum of European Researchers in China, co-organized by the EU Delegation to China, EURAXESS China, and the Europe-China Partnership Facility (ECPF), recently convened 13 European scholars based in China for a series of academic exchanges in Beijing.
Over spring break, I was given the opportunity by TBC to take a scholarship-supported trip to Macau, and from there, enjoyed just over three days in Hong Kong. Lamma Island, a small island in Hong Kong, is where most of my mom’s China stories take place.
Recently, Thomas Michael, a professor at The Beijing Center (TBC), was interviewed our staff and shared with us his perspective on studying Daoist thought and living in China. Professor Michael is a researcher at the School of Philosophy at Beijing Normal University.
Five Loaves and Two Fish is a volunteer organization centered on providing support and international education opportunities to the local migrant children who comprise its student body.