Work Experience Abroad (China)

Jotun

Jotun

Jotun

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Joined
11 Jun 2005
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Liverpool
I got an email earlier about the possibility of work experience through my uni in China. I already have work experience and a company that wants me to work there after I finish my degree so that's not my main concern, however I do want to travel abroad a bit and get away from home for a while, although a foreign country for a year is a bit more out of my comfort zone than I was planning, however it seems like it might be a good opportunity. In the email it does say students will receive training in basic mandarin and cultural awareness which is what I could see having most problems with if I were to apply and be accepted to go.

What I was really wondering was if anyone here has done similar things and what their thoughts were on it and if they would do it again if they were in the same situation? I can see it being the sort of thing that I'd be really glad I did if it went well. On the other hand could turn in to a massive regret once I was out there if it went badly. But then if I don't go then I might end up really regretting that in a few years time. Any thoughts/experience/advice would be appreciated. :)
 
Go there and see what happens - if it doesn't work out come home!

Personally i would take the oppurtunity and give it a try, otherwise you may only regret it!

You only live once - could be the first step towards the rest of your life!
 
Go China, it'll be fun because they will fed you with all kind of things for you to eat. Which city will you be heading to?
 
I've been to China and it's an amazing country, I really loved it there. The main thing to make sure of is that it is an English speaking office you'll be working in (quite common, can you imagine the uproar if there were lots of Mandarin speaking offices in the UK:)).

It is a massive culture shock when you first arrive though and can be a bit daunting.
 
If I were to go I'd be staying at the Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University in Suzhou I believe. According to wikipedia all students study english during their first 2 years of a degree so I'd guess around the uni language wouldn't be too much of an issue, but to be honest I have no idea what to expect. I am staying at home while studying at uni and regret it now so thats part of the reason I am considering it, to just get away and live on my own, it is a daunting prospect, if it were for a month or so then I'd have less concerns about not liking it there for what not. I have a week to respond though and then will get a chance to ask some questions so I have a few days to think it over.

I just think that in a few years time I will probably think back and be thinking I wish I'd done it, so should just apply now anyway and see how it goes.
 
Jotun said:
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Trust me, that first 2 years of english for students there won't really help. They'll talk like they come out from poor dubbed kungfu movies :o

Su'Zhou industrial park is quite big and it is no where near the city btw. There will be a lot of huge companies factory there though, such as nokia, simens etc

My grandma lives near there.
 
bun said:
Trust me, that first 2 years of english for students there won't really help. They'll talk like they come out from poor dubbed kungfu movies :o

Su'Zhou industrial park is quite big and it is no where near the city btw. There will be a lot of huge companies factory there though, such as nokia, simens etc

My grandma lives near there.
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If I were to go I'd be given training in basic Mandarin, and it'd be in September I would be going so I'd have far less than 2 years worth, but as I said I don't know what to expect at all, and since it's a pilot for the scheme too I don't think theres students from previous years I can ask about it.
 
I would go, definately! That's a brilliant opportunity :)

If i go to the end of my garden, i can see the computer shop where i done my work experience! :p Slight difference in distances.
 
+1 for go for it, but then I would say that. I'm a big fan of leaping randomly in to unknown places and not being entirely sure what to expect, but I'm also fairly keen on China :)

Off to study over there for a year myself in September - though, I'm doing Chinese at uni, so it makes a bit more sense for me to do it. Still, go for it, I can't imagine how I'd feel later on having had an opportunity like that and not taken it...

My girlfriend taught over there for 6 months back in 2006, she only had a basic weekend training course and survived ok, with the aid of a phrase book. At least well enough to haggle (pretty vital), order basic foods and show a bit of effort. I didn't speak any Chinese when I went to visit her at the time and she managed to keep us both alive, though I think when she comes to see me out there next year, she may be expecting me to do a little more of the talking..

Can't advise on Suzhou specifically though, sorry :)
 
fifiov said:
Still, go for it, I can't imagine how I'd feel later on having had an opportunity like that and not taken it...
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Yeah thats the main reason I think I should go, as well as general experience, there is so many things I have regret not doing, I don't want this to be another!

Thanks for the advice guys, mostly what I've been thinking myself, going to write a CV now :D
 
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