Undergraduate Learning Abroad

Craving Niu Rou Mian

Posted September 28, 2015 by Linda Yu

After spending an additional four weeks in Guangzhou, I felt ready to return to Chicago (you should have seen the big grin I had upon seeing the beautiful skyline on the plane; I’m sure I scared the passenger next to me). I was eager to go back and missed the familiarity and comfort we all

Comfortable With the Uncomfortable

Posted September 25, 2015 by Francesco Guerrieri

I grew a lot in China. While I was checking out on my last day, the lady at the front desk asked me, in Chinese, about some of the junk my roommate left in our room.  I responded, in Chinese, without hesitation.  I didn’t ask her if she could speak English; I didn’t ask anyone

Back in Evanston

Posted September 22, 2015 by Jessica Hua

It was an amazing experience to spend 8 weeks studying and living in Beijing, but I’m still glad to be back in the United States. It’s nice to see clear, blue skies almost everyday again, though there were actually periods of good weather and little pollution. Beijing is notorious for the smog so it was

From the U.S. to China and back to the U.S.

Posted September 22, 2015 by Lisa L Chen

It has been approximately three months since I left for Beijing, and about one month since I have come back. The few months of summer have passed by so quickly that it feels as if it were only a week long. But when I sit down to truly reflect over what has happened in this

A Reflection

Posted September 21, 2015 by Elizabeth Marie Waring

Hi everyone, last blog entry. It’s been two weeks since I got back to the US, and I’ve had some time to reflect about what happened this summer. My trip lasted longer the program, and I traveled in China for 3 weeks and Japan for 2, then finally left Asia. There was so much and

A look back at Beijing

Posted September 14, 2015 by Yue Wen Deng

It’s crazy to think that just a few weeks ago I was in the capital of China, eating ridiculously cheap (and delicious) meals, taking advantage of one-kuai bus rides, and sightseeing all over the city. In the month that I’ve been back in the States, I’ve realized that there’s definitely some things I will miss

Reflections from the Teddy Bear-Covered Couch

Posted September 4, 2015 by Aayush

So here I am, back on the couch from which I wrote my first blog post. It’s been almost three full months since then, three weeks since I came back from China. One of the things I’ve noticed since coming back is having a bit of a rapport with other people who have been to China,

Talent Show!

Posted September 4, 2015 by Aayush

Last week of classes in China are finished, finals have been taken, and all that’s left now is the talent show. Every year the Northwestern study abroad students who spend their summer in China come together to have a talent show at the very end. It’s a great opportunity to reflect upon the experiences we have

Great City, Amazing People…and American Horror Story

Posted August 19, 2015 by Linda Yu

During my last few nights in Beijing, I managed to find a Chinese website to watch American Horror Story on and then promptly watched and finished the fourth season (this story is relevant, I promise). As I watched episode after episode, I noticed something wonderful; I could read most of the Chinese subtitles! Having learned

Eating My Way Through China

Posted August 17, 2015 by Jessica Hua

As my study abroad time wraps up, I want to return to the one thing I’ve always looked forward to during my time in Beijing: food. Food is very important in Chinese culture and each region has its own flavor and specialty dishes. For the most part, I’ve had Chinese food here but I’ve also