Studying in China and a few other insane ideas: What to do before you go.

Here is the thing folks. Don't BE OR ACT like me. Choosing to study abroad should be a personal choice, a well thought out and considered decision. By all means, spontaneity should not be the governing factor. A little abridged version of the backstory of how I ended up in China. Boredom, curiosity, spontaneity, and it was sponsored. Kinda.

Anyway, it's 2016, and impulsive little Patricia, freshly out of law school, having absolutely hated most of it, decided to take up Mandarin classes. You know, as most people do. Six months into it, absolutely fascinated by this unchartered (personal) territory, she decides she's studied enough Chinese to board a plane solo and study abroad in China. This old war veteran wishes she could go back in time and have a conversation with little Patu, aided by a cosmic beating. Hindsight is 20/20, am I right?

So I'm in mainland China, at an airport in Changsha, Hunan Province at 23:00 pm, waiting for a cab from my university to pick me up, when my brain comes back online and goes, " Wait, what the f* happened?". Four years later, my brain is still trying to process it. So, here's how you should not do what I did before going to China.

A view of Xiangtan University where I studied

1. Study at least a year of Mandarin Chinese

Honestly speaking, you have to study at least the very basic, for survival's sake. Whether you will be traveling solo like me, or you already have a friend or relative who will set you up in China, or studying at a cushy International school. You have to learn the language, and depending on the route you are taking, certain university or scholarship applications will require that you pass the HSK or HSKK proficiency test to qualify to study. In most countries now globally, a Confucius Institute exists that offers Mandarin classes in preparation to take the HSK exam from levels 1 to 9, according to new Chinese regulations. However, the minimum level of proficiency required is level 4. But I should tell you this honestly. Unless you were consistently exposed to the language since early childhood, and are naturally proficient in speaking with native Chinese-speaking people, it will still be a challenge to grasp the language when living and studying in the environment initially. However, with time, you will get acclimatized to the way Chinese people speak, and eventually speaking and apprehension will follow. So don't let anything stop you from trying.

2. Research, research

The decision to study in a foreign country is brave, exciting, and daunting, especially if you've never been to the country of your study destination. But it is also a very personal decision, so getting intimately familiar with the country or region you will be studying in, is ultimately an intelligent choice. The topmost thing I regret the most about going to China to study would be how unresearched and under-informed my decision was. Granted, there is barely any reliable information on China (or Asia) in Uganda (thank you Westernised academic curriculums). I had performed a brief cursory look on the internet about the university I was to study at and the region, but this left me completely unprepared for other even more important considerations, like how would I get around, what the general geography of China is, what are some cultural and historical particularities to look forward to. I had read no literature at all on China and I had nothing intellectually to cushion the intense shocks I received in my first years and those following. I always felt like I was playing catch-up and my interest and mental health often suffered because of it. So prepare yourself for the decision you're making.

2. Budget

Now, this goes without saying. Travel is expensive. Unplanned travel even more so. There are several costs and expenditures that need to be accounted for your first year abroad that will eventually mellow out as time goes by and you settle into day-to-day life. Comparatively speaking, I would estimate that the cost of living in China is definitely lower than say Europe or most other developed Asian countries. Of course, this is dependant on the kind of financing you are receiving to support your studies, the city you will be living in, and your general expectations of what kind of life you will be living.

In mainland inland China, the cost of living is much lower because there is generally lower competition relative to the population and expenses of cosmopolitan cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, or Hong Kong. And if you are running on a Government scholarship or some other external sponsorship, these expenses can be significantly moderated. Chinese government scholarships usually cover tuition, accommodation, basic living expenses, medical insurance, and first-time travel tickets. I would suggest looking out for these kinds of scholarships and take full advantage. On average, the scholarship allowance will provide between 2500 yuan to 5000 yuan about 380 to 780 USD, monthly. But outside this, other costs must be considered. These include safety insurance, costs associated with immigration when you are settling in for instance processing student visas, mandatory medical checks, banking charges, etc. I will write a post in the future breaking down some of these costs.

3. Contact person

Or several contact persons. One in your home country like a travel agent, an academic supervisor, the Confucius Institute, or someone who will know to look for you if you suddenly go missing. Another contact in the country of your destination at the Student Exchange or International Office, an academic supervisor, a friend, or relative already in the country is crucial. Someone to know to pick you up at the airport or at least to advise you on how to go around and someone to have deep consultations with pre-departure ( and I do encourage you to have very deep conversations, bordering on offensive questions about expected life in China). When you arrive, promptly adopt this contact person as a new family member, the type of person you have mandatory monthly contact with. It's for your own good. Trust me.

4. Have a basic study plan

Now, this is why you are going to China right? At that moment of making your decision, have these four basic considerations in mind; you will be studying more mandarin (keep practicing), you will need to study some sort of Chinese ideology or philosophy outside of your major (Culture, Marxism-Leninism), and of course, your chosen major. And even if you might not necessarily be required to provide initially a research proposal at the level of a master's degree or bachelor's degree, have in the back of your mind an idea of the final project or thesis you will write. This will become clearer to you as you go along with your studies, and your plan might even change. And that is ok. It is the nature of learning and opening up your mind to new ideas and experiences. Your academic supervisor will be instrumental in helping you craft a tentative study plan. Obtain a study timetable, and look at the subjects you might be required to study, and if possible ask if there are any books you might be required to read. Avoid the shocks of all shocks I received when I arrived in China and I could barely find a textbook in the library in English, let alone one on the law in English.

5. Get a little tech-savvy

Life in China is fast and this is aided and made convenient by technology. There are more things you will be able to do with just your smartphone than you thought possible, and I suggest you get as comfortable with this as soon as possible. Now to pay full attention to that large white elephant in the room. The infamous Chinese internet firewall. No google, no Facebook, no Twitter, no WhatsApp. This problem can be fixed by investing in a pretty good VPN before you even set foot in mainland China, making sure it is installed on all your devices. As time goes by and you get accustomed to the language, you will be able to take full advantage of some of the other more exciting Chinese apps. However, a no-brainer app is WeChat. It is crucial to have it installed as it is the most basic form of communication you will have with anyone while in China. Also, encourage your close family to get it to communicate with you. Eventually, Wechat will become not just a mode of communication but your bank, health check, travel agent, GPS, public transportation pass and so much more.

A few images from around my student residence at Xiangtan University.

So those are the major things I wish I knew before going to study in China. A lot of people who know my story think I was brave for choosing to go to China, especially for an African girl (...?). Truthfully, so many other Africans have gone before me, so many are studying now and there are more who will go in the future. I don't know their stories, I hope I can someday. It was a strange bumpy ride, but it was my ride and I will always treasure it. I wish I had been as wise then as I am now, though. If you did go or want to go, let me know what your thought process is about China!

I wish you the very best!

PAT.