You.  Living in a foreign culture.  Speaking a new language.  Exposed to different traditions.  The center of more attention than you've ever been before.  But you're not doing this alone.  Evaluating and responding to culture-shock can best be done in community.  That's why the CSP emphasizes life together.  You connect with the group through Bible study, worship and discussion.  You talk about your faith, living in China and what this means for life back home.  Camaraderie can mean the difference between toughing it out on your own and piecing it together with friends. 

Interaction with the Chinese
An integral aspect of any cross-cultural experience is time to interact with citizens of the host country. The China Studies Program includes excellent opportunities for interaction with Chinese, especially faculty and students. Many CSP students make deep friendships with Chinese students and find it hard to say goodbye at the end of the program.

Frequently Asked Questions

Housing
Program participants reside in the recently-built foreign student dormitory at Xiamen University. The dormitory is a high rise building set upon a small hill, so every room has a great view.  Rooms for two students each have a bathroom, air-conditioner, phone and television. The building also houses a snack shop and two canteens.  Both the computer lab (with internet hookup) and student classrooms are located in an adjacent building. The dormitory is also within easy walking distance of local shops, bookstores, restaurants and student cafeterias. CSP students receive a food allowance to get meals on their own. 

CSP Community Life
The China Studies Program emphasizes life together by providing both formal and informal opportunities for participants to come together for Bible study, worship and discussion of issues concerning the integration of faith, living and learning in the context of China. The director coordinates visits to local churches when and where appropriate.

Safety
Although safety cannot be absolutely guaranteed anywhere, the China Studies Program will not invite students for a semester of study in China if we do not believe it is safe to do so. If the security of students is ever seriously in question, precautions will be taken to insure that they are kept out of danger. Our Chinese hosts are, if anything, even more concerned about the safety of CSP students, and they work with the staff and faculty to insure a study experience that is as problem-free as possible. 

Medical Services
Medical care in much of China simply is not equivalent to Western standards. Adequate health care and emergency services are available in the major cities in which the China Studies Program students reside. In the case of serious medical illness, a student will be evacuated to Hong Kong if at all possible, where American-level care and technology is available.

PLEASE NOTE: Participants are expected to cover any medical expenses that might be incurred and so must be covered by a suitable family or institutional health insurance policy that covers them while they are living abroad. This includes their own policy as well as supplemental health insurance provided through the required International Student Identification Card, which covers certain insurance needs unique to international situations (such as emergency evacuations).

IT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT, HOWEVER, THAT STUDENTS HAVE SUPPLEMENTAL INSURANCE WHICH WILL COVER THEM SHOULD THEY NEED TREATMENT IN HONG KONG. While Hong Kong has American-level care, it also has American-level prices.

Transportation
Transportation to and from China from a U.S. gateway city (most likely Los Angeles, Calif.) is arranged by the CSP and included in the bill sent to the student's college or university. All group transportation inside China is arranged by the director in cooperation with Chinese authorities. These costs are included in the tuition. Students are generally responsible for any other public transportation costs for their personal travel.