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IIEPassport's Student of the Month
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By Sara E. Savage
If you have ever considered studying abroad but don't know where you'd like to travel, let Monty McGee tell you how fascinating it is to study in China. He should know - McGee, a graduating senior majoring in political science at Virginia's Norfolk State University, spent a full academic year studying in China. Through study abroad programs sponsored by the School for International Training (SIT) at the Yunnan Normal University and at the University of International Business and Economics with the Knowledge Exchange Institute (KEI), McGee enjoyed the experience of a lifetime studying in China's Yunnan Province.
Think you could handle being dropped off in a foreign country and having independently to hunt down your study abroad host institution? McGee handled it just fine. And we had a chance to sit down with him and learn about his incredible adventures studying abroad in China. See if his stories don't inspire you to follow in his footsteps.
Q. Why did you decide to study abroad? Why in China?
A. I chose to study abroad in order to have a unique experience I otherwise wouldn't be able to have. When the opportunity to study abroad arose, I thought it would enhance my collegiate experience. China was not only a hot topic, but it was a culture I had been studying for about a year prior to studying abroad, which got me excited about the people. I believe the only way to gain an understanding of another country is to go and meet people and experience the culture.
Q. Can you provide some details about the programs in which you participated?
A. The program keeps students active and engaged in the culture - not just in the classroom eight hours a day. In a cultural immersion trip, students are dropped off at a designated site and must use their personal abilities to find their way back to campus. What set the programs apart from other study abroad programs were the unique location, and the ability to tour and see places I wouldn't be able to see otherwise.
Q. What kind of financial aid did you need?
A. I am a fellow with the Institute for International Public Policy, which is where I received part of my funding. I am also a Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholar. Money was really not a problem for me while I was in China. There were times when my family would send me a few dollars here and there.
Q. What opportunities did your programs give you to choose from?
A. Since they were cultural immersion programs, we had the opportunity to engage in many different activities, like Tai Chi, for example. The programs also provided us with free time which I used to engage with the locals. We chose what we would like to study for our independent research project. I chose to research hydroelectricity and its effects on the environment.
Q. How did your living arrangements work out at the village?
A. We had to hike a mountain to get there, and I really enjoyed my two- to three-day home stay. I stayed with the family of a local Shaaxi official, in housing that resembled a four-wall courtyard. The home had been in the family for generations. The father sends his children to the cities to study, and it was so interesting how important it was to have them come back after their education. The respect for tradition and culture was unique to the entire experience. It was great because it wasn't that glossed-up tourist experience.
Q. How easy was it to communicate in China? Are you a student of the language?
A. I had done no language study before I traveled, as Chinese language is not offered at my university. When studying abroad, I saw this as a challenge, and I accepted that challenge. It is one of the most difficult languages to learn, and I was excited about that. From the very beginning I made it a point to separate myself from the English-language speakers. While I was in China, my relationships grew and I met plenty of Chinese speakers, so I was forced to acquire the language skills at a swifter pace than if I had learned in a classroom.
Q. How intense were your classes in China?
A. They were very intense. The professors could speak no English. The small class size was so important, and it really felt like an intimate relationship. Professors were able to stop and work intensively with individuals without stopping the progress of others. Students were able to decide that they wanted to visit the markets and learn about the vegetables by seeing and touching them. It was a phenomenal experience.
Q. Besides going to classes, how did you spend most of your time in China?
A. There was so much time spent traveling with the program and with my local friends. I went to see Spiderman 3 with a local family, and we had planned to see it with English subtitles. We went at the wrong time, and the entire film was in Chinese with Chinese subtitles. I was getting the play-by-play from the family members. I also played basketball with my local Chinese friends.
Q. What was it like to be an American in China? How did you fit in?
A. When I traveled to the big cities, being a foreigner was not so special, as foreigners are in and out all the time. But in the smaller regions, some natives had never met an American before. Some of them still had the Cold War mentality, with the idea that all Americans are wealthy and happy all the time. I was able to educate the people about the real situation that exists here.
It was more of an issue being a person of color in these areas than being an American. In this way I think I had a different experience than those of some of my colleagues, because I didn't fit the stereotypes. I was more often mistaken as African or Caribbean. I was able to let my guard down and engage with more people, and I think that really framed my experience.
Q. Did any Chinese cultural issues cause you to feel uncomfortable?
A. Never uncomfortable. Sometimes certain aspects of studying abroad can smack you in the face, though, like the way you interact when you first see someone. There is also the idea of personal space, which can be a cultural shock to an extent, but I was never offended or felt uncomfortable. Studying abroad in China made me feel as if I was really outside of America and outside of the comforts we appreciate here in America.
Q. Did you experience culture shock or homesickness?
A. Not so much, because I was so busy with the activities I was interested in. It was my purpose for studying abroad to completely remove myself from my culture, and there was never any point when I wanted to come home early. At times I didn't speak to my family for more than a week.
Q. What were your conversations like when you returned home?
A. Everyone - professors, students and administrators - wanted to find out how I was received in China. There is a growing interest in study abroad here at the university. People want to know everything, like what the food, entertainment, air quality and study ethics are like. Part of my message to students is that no matter what your major or interests, you can benefit from studying abroad.
Q. How does Chinese food in China compare to American Chinese food?
A. Even before I left I didn't eat American Chinese food. It was interesting to see how much rice plays into food preparation in China, and I would go with my Chinese friends to those "hole-in-the-wall" places. The food was delicious, but it took time to adjust to your system. On the streets of Beijing you can try starfish, eel and scorpion, which was exciting for me. There were certain places in the south where you couldn't access American food, so you are forced to try things. My favorite dish was a very spicy beef noodle soup from south China.
Q. How has studying abroad affected your studies at home?
A. Studying abroad really challenged me, especially because being successful in language study can be more difficult than traditional coursework. It took more effort. When I got back, my classes seemed a lot easier. I learned a different study ethic which I brought back to the States.
Q. How will your study abroad experience enhance your education and experience?
A. My experience in general allowed me to be more accepting and to take great risks. I presented my research project to classes, and it seemed like I had professors asking me almost daily to present to their classes. I was able to talk about my experiences and the work I'd been doing.
Q. What advice would you give students interested in studying abroad? Would you advise them to study in China?
A. I would advise everyone to study in China! I would tell students to be open to experience. Students need to let go of all the things they hear in the media and the fears they may have about leaving their comfort zone. Since returning home I have encouraged so many people to study abroad. If students feel they missed an opportunity, there are still options, like studying abroad in graduate school.
As part of the overseas programs, McGee completed an independent study project which focused on hydroelectricity and its effects on Chinese culture. He spoke to people in a diverse array of social sectors to obtain a wide perspective of viewpoints on the subject. McGee managed to communicate with the natives without having had any prior or formal training in Chinese language. While he is still not fluent, he found that with time and determination, he could communicate with people in just about any social stratum by the end of his study abroad experience.
While McGee saw all the major cities in his Chinese travels, the smaller locations were his favorite, particularly the little Shaaxi village in which he stayed. When asked if he plans to continue his international adventures, he doesn't hesitate to say he plans to travel quite a bit in the future. "That is one of the components I am looking for in a graduate program and in my future career," he says. "I passionately believe in study abroad, and I am considering international education as a career option."