Hi! My name is Esther Han and I’m a rising Medill junior currently in the Media & IMC program at Beijing’s Peking University. This is my first time studying abroad, and I’m excited to be here.
A week’s already passed in China and I can confidently say that I’m thriving in this new, foreign land. Can’t say that our daily three-hour Chinese class in the morning is necessarily fun, but the jianbing a few of us eat for breakfast makes up for it. It’s so good and so soft and so cheap!!
Don’t forget to try jianbing before class!
There’s a mall (EC Mall) near campus and an underground supermarket (Carrefour) next to it so my wallet’s been thinning out pretty quickly. Lots to see, lots to eat, lots to buy—little time to be bored.
I was in Seoul for a week before coming to Beijing so jet-lag wasn’t a problem. But I know it took other students at least three to four days, or more, to adjust to the time difference. The key is to sleep! A lot!
Weather’s been a bit unusual because of the rain. For a girl who only brought shorts and forgot an umbrella, it wasn’t the greatest experience in wet, cool weather. I would suggest bringing one or two long-sleeve, thin shirts and a pair of jeans just in case. Oh, and don’t forget to pack an umbrella/raincoat! But if you do, no worries. Umbrellas are cheap here and when it’s raining, you can find them pretty much anywhere you go.
Having fun in this weather by taking photos
Overall I’m very happy to be here and excited for all the adventures to come! There’s still so much to explore and experience, to learn and enjoy. And most importantly, so much more to EAT!