Will I be interacting with local people?

All the time.  The CSP is designed to give students almost constant exposure to the students at Xiamen University and the people in the city of Xiamen. CSP living quarters are right on campus, and many of the program's activities are designed to push students to develop relationships with locals. One example of this is English corner.

English Corner is a venue at almost all Chinese universities where local students gather in the evening to practice their English.  At Xiamen University, English Corner is every Tuesday and Friday evening (except during holidays). CSP students are required to attend English Corner four times. Frequently, past CSP students have attended English Corner all semester. It is the place you are most likely to make Chinese friends, who will be of immense help to you. CSP alumni often maintain contact (via email) with their Chinese friends, and occasionally have come back to Xiamen to see them again.

The academic program of the CSP is designed especially for CSP students, primarily because of the language issue.  In classes, CSP students are with each other, but they are often taught by Chinese professors. You will also spend a lot of time with Chinese during the arranged Service Project.

The experiential components of the program, such as trips and site visits, are designed to provide maximum exposure to daily life in China, including things such as overnight train travel. You will many opportunities to interact with the Chinese around you.