A group of international students spent five weeks at Donghua University this summer. On the last day of class, they stood up and talked about life in Shanghai — in Chinese. They spoke about what they had seen, heard, and felt over the past month. For many, the experience had turned an unfamiliar city into a place they were reluctant to leave.

First Impressions

"Shanghai is convenient and beautiful. It's a big city with lots of tall buildings and good public transport." That was how Taiya, who arrived in March, described her first impression, a sentiment shared by many of her classmates.

Jiaxin summed up Shanghai in three words: humid, convenient, and full of good food.

When it came to life at Donghua, students had plenty to say as well. "The classes are really interesting." "The teachers are very kind." "The campus has everything we need." "The Chinese we've learned is actually useful." One student mentioned that "we've met so many people who have helped us here." They also made friends from different countries along the way. In five short weeks, Donghua had become a home away from home.

Exploring the City

Over the five weeks, students made their way across Shanghai — to the Bund, Wukang Mansion, the Shanghai Museum, Zhujiajiao, Zhongshan Park, and even Disneyland.

 

"I visited a lot of museums, like the Long Museum, the Tank Shanghai art center, and the Pudong Art Museum. Student tickets were cheap," one student said. Museums became a popular weekend choice for many. Others went to the Shanghai Symphony Museum and the Shanghai Textile and Costume Museum, discovering a different side of the city through history and art.

Some students took high-speed trains to Hangzhou, Suzhou, and Beijing on their days off. "The day I went to Hangzhou, it was so hot — over 40 degrees," one of them recalled. In Beijing, they visited the Temple of Heaven and the Forbidden City, and tried authentic Peking duck. "Beijing has so much history and culture. I found it really fascinating."

A Taste of Shanghai

Food was one of the most talked-about topics in their presentations.

"I tried so many Chinese dishes — xiaolongbao, hotpot, Peking duck, Shanghai crab noodles, and Yunnan cuisine," one student said. "Hotpot was my favorite, because it's delicious and it's a great thing to share with friends."

They also fell for Chinese milk tea. "My favorite drink here is yogurt smoothies — I had so many," another student shared. Some made a point of visiting local food spots — RouRou DaMi (a popular rice bowl chain), a noodle place where one student ate beef noodles seven times in a week, and a barbecue restaurant called "A Long Time Ago." Every meal, it seemed, brought them closer to the flavors of China.

Growth & Gains

Five weeks is not a long time, but the growth was real.

Mina put her classroom Chinese to the test when she got sick and went to the hospital alone. She described her symptoms, followed the doctor's advice, and picked up medication, all in Chinese. Another student, Wenyou, said the biggest change was confidence. "Now I don't get nervous when taking a taxi, asking for directions, or ordering food. I can stay calm even in unfamiliar situations."

What mattered just as much as language progress were the people they met. Nearly every student mentioned friendship in their presentations. They found friends to take photos with, to chat with, to share meals and go shopping with, to help each other in class. "I made so many new friends in Shanghai," one student said with a smile. "Taking photos and hanging out together is one of my happiest memories."

Mina's closing words probably captured what everyone felt: "Every day in Shanghai was wonderful. I made so many friends and tried so many new things. Life here has been amazing."

The five weeks were about more than just Chinese. The phrases they learned in the classroom came alive on the streets of Shanghai. They told their stories in Chinese, and in doing so, saw how far they had come.

Source: Donghua University