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My Summer At UCLA

10/15/2017

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From Zhuhai, SAF Summer Correspondent Diya Liu is chronicling her experience at UCLA Summer Sessions. ​
I really appreciate SAF for helping me get the chance to experience campus life at UCLA. This 6-weeks' experience will definitely be my lifelong memory. I want to share my story and true feelings with other students who also have the dream of studying abroad. If my blogs could help others, I will be very happy.

10/15  MY Reflections on an Unforgettable Summer 

This summer, I applied for a six-week academic program at UCLA Summer Session C. During this period, I completed eight credits, including four credits of principles of accounting (ii) and finance. What I have learned most from this academic project is the difference between China and Western countries from various aspects, including study and life.

As for academic study, our relations with the professor are more equal. Professors will pay special attention to the whole class and patiently answer questions from each student. The local students are always active. Although it is only a six-week course, the content is the same as those in one semester. There are many personal and group assignments. Teamwork is also very common.

I wanted to exercise communication skills and joined a group of native English speakers. During the process, you can find everyone involved in this assignment. I also engaged in the whole process and helped to revise our work. Most of all, I really appreciated my team members for helping me polish up my part of the paper. As for the result, I got As in two classes!

During this period, I met a Japanese girl who attended the same class with me and established a profound friendship. We went to Disneyland together. In addition, I went on a three-day trip to San Francisco, the financial center of California, where the city was very busy. There were homeless people along the road and rainbow flags, all of which are part of the culture of San Francisco.

In the fifth week, I was especially homesick. So I made a DIY hotpot with my roommates and took a taxi to the night market near Chinatown to eat BBQ and feel the taste of my hometown. Our American friends tried our hot pot and praised it a lot. Some feelings are the same around the world.

I felt that this exchange was very meaningful to me. This was the first time I went out of the country and went to a strange country alone. I lived alone for a month and a half, but I lived a very fulfilling life every day. On the one hand, I had a very compact academic schedule. On the other hand, many differences in life forced me to quickly respond and adapt to them.

I miss the experience so much. I have been back for one month. Nowadays, I am working on the application for a graduate program. I hope that I can remember these days at UCLA which made my life different!

9/11  My Labor Day Weekend Getaway 

our Last week, I experienced the Labor Day weekend. Outlets, Disneyland and Night market made my week! I will explain them as follows. On September 1, I went to Disneyland with my Japanese friend Nagisa. We met each other during the Finance  class  this  summer  and  became  good  friends. She is my first foreign friend and I cherish our friendship  a lot!  We  spent  whole  day  in  Disneyland  and  visited  all the  attractions. Moreover, we saw the incredible Fantasy Show  at  night. Disney’s fairy tale characters and plots were mapped to a water fountain. I was totally shocked. Although it was a tiring trip, we enjoyed a lot and got to know each other better. During Labor Day weekend, I went to the Outlets and the 626 Night Market with my roommates. We bought gifts for our parents and friends in China. Due to Labor Day, most of the shops had sales. Girls from anywhere love shopping very much. After such a nice shopping day, we went to the 626 Night Market next to Chinatown. To be honest, we both miss Chinese food very much. This night market was first built by some people from Taiwan. We met lots of foreigners there and enjoyed the delicious food. Photos below! Next week, we will try to DIY Chinese hotpot! I am looking forward to the cooking time! In the meantime, I am fighting for the final exams which will come soon. See you at the next blog post! 

8/30  I'm Winning at Midterms 

Busy week for midterms! Time flies. I have been at UCLA for three weeks. Half of the summer session has passed, and I experienced my first midterm exam and group assignment. As for the midterm exam in America, what is different is that here we can bring one piece of paper in case we forget the formulas. Fortunately, I got a great score due to my hard work in my Finance class. Moreover, I experienced my first group discussion with local students. They made a reservation in the Young Research Library, where the facilities are quite convenient. Those people are really nice and patient. I am happy to be involved in such an international group. At first, I was a little shy. But with their courage and help, I became more familiar with this pattern and made much progress during this process. I am really appreciative of my group peers and nice professors! Next target is the final! In the meantime, I'm exploring all that Los Angeles has to offer:

8/23  My MEMORABLE Bus Tour of San Francisco

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Diya Liu at the San Francisco Visitor Information Center.
Thanks for the help of SAF, I have been in UCLA for two months. Everything in UCLA and Los Angeles is perfect in my mind. To be more specific, I am strongly enamored by the breathtaking view around the city and the study atmosphere on campus. I will definitely recommend the summer experience in UCLA to my friends.
Last weekend, I went to San Francisco for a three-day trip via USA student tour. The appealing views such as Twin Peaks and Golden Gate Bridge really attract me a lot. The most memorable of all is the skyline of San Francisco which we saw twice from Treasure Island and Twin Peaks. Both of the night view and the day view are beautiful scenery, although the weather is a little foggy. 
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Diya Liu at Twin Peaks, San Francisco.
Moreover, we also enjoyed the food in fishermen’s wharf, the bustling scene in the financial district and familiar feeling in Chinatown.
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Pier 39 at Fisherman's Wharf by Diya Liu.
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Downtown San Francisco by Diya Liu.
​Last but not the least, I really appreciate our tour guide Michael and driver Jimmy who were so friendly and humorous. Michael taught us a lot about the history and system of United States and secured our safety  all  the time. He also encouraged us to experience American culture and be brave to think and practice in English. 
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San Francisco Civic Center by Diya Liu.
Thanks for this enjoyable trip! I think the photos of mine will tell more of the great trip!
Diya Liu
Host: UCLA
Home: Central University of Finance and Economics 中央财经大学
Major: Accounting

​About Diya
My hometown is Zhuhai which is a seaside city next to Macau. My major is accounting. My research interest is about auditing and financing management.  As for personal interests, I have played piano for 12 years. And after learning volleyball in university, I like it so much. Moreover, I enjoy watching movies, travelling and making friends. 
I really appreciate SAF for helping me get the chance to experience campus life at UCLA. This 6-weeks' experience will definitely be my lifelong memory. I want to share my story and true feelings with other students who also have the dream of studying abroad. If my blogs could help others, I will be very happy. Sharing may change the world!

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Inside UCLA Summer Sessions

10/2/2017

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A Shanghai native, SAF Summer Correspondent Zhuofan Zhang is reporting from UCLA Summer Sessions.
Once I went up the to the front of the class to present how a problem is solved. It was kind of an easy one, but my English is just not good enough for me to present fluently. The classmates just waited for me to finish my presentation patiently and even applauded for me after finishing. It’s just so warm.

 10/2  Top 3 Things I Learned at UCLA

​This is a leaving entry I wrote on my plane back to China, after my summer session at UCLA. There are so many things I want to talk about. In general, this has been a great study abroad experience.

First, classes are really intense. Even it’s just summer session, UCLA requires that you understand what they always teach during normal quarters. Professors all have different habits but they are all concerned about you. They all have multiple office hours. You may go and ask them questions during their office hours. You may also email them your questions even if it’s not their office hours. During classes, you may ask questions as long as there are some things you don’t understand. Professors always clarify them for you. One thing you should know is the syllabus is always the most important for every class. It has all the important information you need and all the important deadlines you need.

Second, life at UCLA is super convenient. Although it’s in summer session, you can also enjoy the fantastic dining service. During normal semesters, UCLA has nine open cafeterias serving food from all over the world. There is also a fantastic gym which is open 24 hours a day during the week. Swimming pools are also available. Housing buildings are also comfortable. There is a study hall in our building, and also a study lounge, on every floor, which is bright and perfect for self study.

Third, U.S. students are welcome and kind. They really helped me a lot during my stay in the United States. Whenever I have questions about classes or exams, they always answer my questions patiently, and give me as many details as possible.

In a word, I’m totally looking forward to going back again!

9/6  Art and Artisan Noodles 

Classes and quizzes continue as usual. However, we made it to Hammer Museum. It’s such a wonderful museum, showing amazing artwork of the best artists. It’s my first time to see a real Vincent Willem van Gogh painting ever! It’s really mindblowing and beautiful. And the museum’s slogan is “Good for free”. I have to say the museum is totally worthy of those words. Even the walls there are full of art. After Hammer Museum, we had froyo which is really delicious. We also went to an amazing Japanese Ramen restaurant. The Ramen is just so good that I can hardly find any words to describe it, and as usual the service was fantastic. Here is a simple suggestion: Guys, studying abroad is not a joke. Please work hard. There are much more things to do than in China.

8/27  My Week of Contrasts

Taking an open-note midterm

Last week was kind of a tough week. I had a midterm exam. This was an open note exam -- I never thought we could actually bring notes to a math exam. Although it’s open note, the exam was still hard. It really tests how you understand the course, not only how well you can make calculations. I think the main difference between Chinese university courses and U.S. university courses is that in the United States the professor will provide you with everything they have, and when testing you really need to make sure you understand the course, not only how to calculate. One important thing I learned here is that American students also work really hard. And they don’t work hard for an exam or for their parents -- they just work hard from the bottom of their heart. They love what they are doing.

Exploring LA as Shanghainese sophisticate

I explored LA a little bit: Hollywood, Universal Studios, Griffith Observatory and Beverly Hills. They are really beautiful. The good service and hospitality really impress me. My favorite is Universal Studios, where they built a Harry Potter Wizarding Land. I got myself a wand there, drinking the pumpkin juice, eating the jumping chocolate frog. I truly had a great time. Santa Monica is where I visit the most. It’s quite a cute place. Although it’s not as fancy as Shanghai’s shopping malls, the music covering every corner of the street every night and the passion it has makes you feel as though you just couldn’t love it more.

Attending an American birthday party and lunch with a professor 

This week, I also got invited to a birthday party for my American roommate. That night was fun, and I got to know how U.S.  citizens celebrate their birthday. The most interesting experience I had was with a professor I accidentally met at a Starbucks in Santa Monica. She is going to teach in China, so she needed some help to prepare for her trip. So, I helped to advise her and ease the stress of her confusions and anticipated problems. In order to thank me, she invited to me to UCLA Faculty Center and her house for lunch. UCLA Faculty Center is just so beautiful, quiet and elegant. It’s definitely a pure joy if you can have meals there everyday. Her house is beautiful, and her's is the first American house I have ever visited. Thanks to my roommates’ advice, I brought a carrot cake for the lunch. The Professor was really glad I brought a cake and the cake was also really delicious. I really love my roommates! I hope we can be friends forever.

8/17  My First DAys at UCLA

Arriving in Los Angeles
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I arrived in Los Angeles on August 6, and with the help from SAF, I got to school without any difficulty. I was really impressed by how beautiful UCLA is and how passionate and helpful everybody is. Fortunately, I got two American roommates which really helps me get to know more about American life. They are also really hospitable and kind. I’m also invited to one of my roommate's birthday [party] which will be on August 24.
Presenting to the class

Classes are also cool. As requested, I signed up for two classes. Each class has a syllabus from which we can clearly see what we are learning and what we’ll get by the end of the class. You also have a clear deadline which helps you plan your days at UCLA well. The professors are so kind. They just don’t care about how your English is and whether your answer is correct or not. The only thing they care [about] is if you are fully participating in the class. But of course, during exams, answers matter. And the professors will explain everything clearly and patiently.
Once I went up [to the front of the class] to present how a problem is solved. It was kind of an easy one, but my English is just not good enough for me to present fluently. The classmates just waited for me to finish my presentation patiently and even applauded for me after finishing. It’s just so warm.
Eating at the cafeteria 

​Cafeterias are also good. They change the menu every day. The workers there are so kind. And, the words on their shirts are impressive, ”Good food. Good time. Good life.”,  which can not be felt in China. But don’t expect too much of American food; Chinese cook the best food.
Moving into the dorms 

​Dorms are just so comfortable that I felt like I’m living in a five-star hotel. The housekeepers are so hard-working and polite that you just feel like you are home. Now, I just hope 2017 UCLA Summer Session C never ends.

Zhuofan Zhang
Host: UCLA
Home: East China Normal University
​Major: Physics 
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