My university is developing an Honors study abroad program that would allow me to spend eight weeks in China next semester. The information sessions aren’t until January, so I’m soliciting advice here.
I lived in London last semester, and I’ve traveled the Western Europe tourist circuit. I’ve been to Australia, Mexico, and the Carribbean. However, The idea of going to China gives me slight trepidation. I sound like a spoiled American, but I’m ambivalent about what I’ll call the “standard of living.” I’m sure the university would put us in decent housing, but I’d like to have an insider’s scoop about what it’s like to live in China. Oh yeah, I’d be in Beijing.
Are restaurants or markets or supermarkets sanitary? Could I buy Western hygiene products? What are the health risks? Is it easy to get around in Beijing without knowing much Chinese? (I don’t know any, but one of our courses would be the language.) What happens if I become very sick or injured-- how is the health care? I took off to Europe without giving this stuff a second thought, but I have absolutely no idea about what to expect in China.
I can bear cultural hostility or uncomfortable accomodation, but I don’t think I would want to live with uncleanliness. (I don’t care if the streets are clean or the air is dirty: what I mean is, do people wash their hands before cooking food? etc. The more I think about it, eating is my primary concern. I can handle almost anything except having to eat bad food.) Should I look into something else instead for next summer?
And, on another note, would “Honors in Beijing” really benefit a law school application? Of course I’m going to ask my university peeps these questions, but I’d like a wide varities of opinions, especially from people who aren’t trying to tout the program.
I can only give you anecdotal information from friends that have worked there.
An Australian woman who worked IT was given a small two-room suite and a maid who did the washing, cooking, etc. The factory owners were so committed to keeping their foreigners that foreigners were given more perks than they had in their previous positions.
Others reported dormitory-style living reminiscent of college; food, laundry and cleaning provided.
Since it’s only for eight weeks you should be able to take with you any hygiene items you need. Bring a bunch of those small Kleenex packages to use at toilets without toilet paper and restaurants without napkins. You can also buy these items in Beijing.
I don’t have a definitive answer about food stalls. I’ve eaten at them and had no problem; an American-Taiwanese woman gets sick every time she goes to Beijing on a buying expedition for her store. The best part is that the food will probably be the best you’ve ever eaten.
Check with your university regarding serious illness. They probably have a plan.
I’d say go for it no matter what. I get diarrhea my first few days in the Far East but it doesn’t deter me from the wonderful travel experiences I’ve had. I also get the runs in Mexico but have been there at least a dozen times.
Bottom line: no, the standards of cleanliness aren’t what you’re used to at home. Enjoy it anyway. This is the proverbial once-in-a-lifetime experience and you should take advantage of it.
I live in shanghai and not beijing, but you could buy just about anything you want in Beijing. I’m not quite sure what you’re thinking about and what kind of budget you have. Beijing has more foreigners than anywhere else, and caters to them more than elsewhere in China. You can dine at McD’s, Pizza Hut, A&W, Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks to name but a few.
Western hygiene products? P&G is really huge here, and much of their line is available. Medical care can be a street clinic to expat clinics. The local hospitals all have special sections that are still quite affordable and have pretty excellent medical care.
There are supermarkets, including the Carrefour Hypermarket, which should be stock with all sorts of stuff a spoiled western might want including good cheese, wine, and most stuff you find in a supermarket. Pretty reasonably priced as well. I don’t know where they are, but certainly Beijing has luxury supermarkets that cater exclusively to westerners. Of course, these cost a lot more but you can buy pretty much whatever you want. Your selection may be limited to 1-2 brands of salsa instead of 10 for example.
What university is it and where would you be staying? Around all the universities is a whole economy of cheap but good restaurants and entertainment. Much like any college town. You can get good food in Beijing at the local level. There’s the american fast food mentioned earlier. You can eat at fancy restaurants the whole time you are in Beijing.
If you speak Chinese, then it really stands out on a law school application, or at least it did 10 years ago. Dunno how they view camp Beijing.
One more thing, if you are there in the summer. Beijing is hot and humid and can have nasty nasty nasty dust storms.
No. Never. Although the Chinese are homo sapiens, they do not succumb to the same infectious diseases as the rest of the human race. It is considered a serious “loss of face” to wash any part of the body at any time.
:rolleyes:
Thanks Hemlock, I was thinking along the same lines about the OP. “Are restaurants or markets or supermarkets sanitary?” Ah yes…the Chinese are filthy, filthy people…:rolleyes:
Just a tip: never, ever, ever buy any meat from the open-air markets, no matter what the seller does to persuade you. But the veggies are OK, as long as you wash them verrrrrrrry carefully.
Considering that travelers are strongly recommended to be vaccinated for Hepatitis A (which is spread through food or water contaminated with feces) and typhoid fever, in addition sometimes to Malaria, Japanese encephalitis, Hepatitis B, Rabies, Yellow Fever, and occasionally Cholera, I thought it might be wise to inquire about the hygiene practices.
Hemlock and frinkboy, what have your experiences been like in restaurants or grocery stores in China?
BTW, thanks, China Guy and straykat23 for the info.
um, where did you get that immunization recommendation guide? Rabies? Assuming that you’re not going to Tibet or bordering areas, your chance of contacting rabies is pretty dang small. The immunization isn’t that effective (although my info is out of date). If you get bit by something that may be rabid, you still want to get your post bite shots.
I’m not an expert but it sure sounds like what you’re talking about getting immunized for is largely the southern border areas.
As for hepatitus, it’s probably a good idea to get immunized against that whether you’re coming to China or not. Hepatitus A is prevalent in the US as is hepatitus B. I contacted hepapitus non a non b about 15 years ago, but given the incubation period it could have been HK, Taiwan, Japan, China or Tibet.
Seriously… As with anywhere else outside the 1st world, there are places you would probably want to avoid. But you’re really not going to need to go to such places. If you want fast food, it’s all there. Supermarkets and 7-11 type stores are everywhere. And there are loads of standard, local, trustworthy restaurants.
I’ve never been sick in China, and I’ve drunk water out of the tap :eek:, tucked into stewed dogmeat in a rural market :eek: and so on. I have been ill in India (good place to go if you want to lose weight).
Chickenhead - I’m a lawyer working in Hong Kong. Mandarin speaking Western lawyers are as scarce as hen’s teeth, and command very good salaries: here, at any rate.
The toilets…[sub]heh heh heh. Boy will you find out.[/sub]
Who, me? It’s just an innocent little piece of advice… he’ll probably need it, seeing that most toilets in the less-wealthy parts of China are only holes in the ground… OOPS!
Nevermind, I didn’t say anything, honest! Uh, you just imagined it! Yeah! It was just your imagination! [sub]insert cute little cat-out-of-bag picture here[/sub]
Who do you think they serve? The foreign programs at various Beijing universities have spawned a huge service economy. Including the Camp Beijing summer study programs for foreign students. Although fast food depends on local chinese for a successful business, you can still get a pizza delivered.
This is pretty reassuring; I only ask these things because I have absolutely no experience with them. Unless a helicopter full of models lands on my roof between now and next summer and they say, “Come live in Fiji with us,” I think I’m going to go.
Not that I don’t believe your advice on the diseases, but it was the CDC web site from which I got my info.
After you’ve lived over there for awhile (I don’t mean my two months, but for people who have lived there, say, a year), can you eventually “adjust” and start drinking the water regularly and eating the foods in the markets without worrying too seriously?
Was this written facetiously? For some reason, that made me laugh pretty hard. And, I don’t know, I think I’d rather go in a hole in the ground in China than “the worst bathroom in Scotland,” if you’ve seen Trainspotting.
