​Thanksgiving is the festival for harvest and being grateful for being blessed in the past year. This is my first Thanksgiving in America. As an exchange student from China, I am really excited about this special festival, because we actually don’t have a special festival for being thankful.

​There are many international students like me who don’t have to go back to our family to enjoy holiday; either we choose to travel or stay. We actually have a really long holiday, from Wednesday to Sunday. Some of my friends even chose to travel to the East Coast with friends. For me, I stayed. The reason why I stayed is some of my American friends invited me to their house to enjoy the real, local Thanksgiving.

Getting together with friends for Thanksgiving has become such a precious memory for me, and I don't regret staying (local). Maybe I miss the beautiful scene of traveling, but it has been filled with all kinds of Thanksgiving food and laughter. Before the meal, we truly prayed for everyone and everything we have now. I was feeling how great we need to cherish the moments we have in everyday life. Being grateful is actually the core value of this festival and it gave me more meanings than just traveling.
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After the days surrounded by the nice smelling of pumpkin and turkey, here comes the “Dead Week”. Have you recovered from the holiday and are you ready for finals? 

I never thought a midterm could be so intense like what I have just been through! The competitiveness here is a burden, but also an opportunity to push you to make progress. The days [I spent] studying in Moffitt Library have already left a strong impression on me and will be an important memory of my study abroad experience for years to come. Studying at the library until 1 a.m. is something I have never done in my home university, even during finals week. (Berkeley offers a library, with room for resting, that you can stay all night in.) Even when I left the library, there were still many students still studying with full concentration.

What I have learned from this cruel midterm is never study alone! Keep in touch with the professor and GSI, send emails or ask questions during office hours. No matter what kind of way, solve all your questions before the midterm. Start reviewing as early as possible. Full preparation is the best way to disaggregate your burden before exams. Definitely, midterm period is tough and tiring! But it’s also a good reflection for period learning, which reminds you to make adjustments for the future. 

Having experienced the first midterm in Berkeley, I was feeling so tired and stressed. I urgently needed a break. A trip was definitely the best choice. Driving one hour towards south, we arrived in a very beautiful city near the Pacific Ocean----Monterey. We were so lucky that the weather that day was so great for hiking. The blue sea and sky almost melted together, looking at the scene like that. I was healed by the nature. I can’t stop praising the power of the creator and telling myself I cherish every second of my life. 

I can’t imagine that I have been in California for a month. The day I was in Hong Kong airport feels just like yesterday. The past month could be the most colorful and life-changing experience for me. 

I learned how to get around town

Berkeley is a university town near San Francisco, which is a 30 minutes drive away. “Bart” is the most convenient transportation connecting the whole Bay Area. For the reason that I arrived ahead of the program beginning time, I couldn’t take the shuttle SAF offered. But it’s easy to take Bart from SFO airport to Downtown Berkeley where the university located.

I learned how to be brave and ask for help -- in English 

Thanks to some of my American friends living in Berkeley, I stayed in their apartment for a night. I have to say that most of the Americans I have met they are so friendly and willing to offer help to strangers. Not only my friends, but also the Bart staff, passersby who showed me the way, and the staff of SAF. If it’s the first time you have been in America, just be brave to ask for help if you need. Don’t worry about your language; they won’t laugh at your accent or grammar. Being brave to talk could be the most important thing for your journey and daily life.  

I learned how to navigate a different approach to academics abroad

UC Berkeley offers every student an orientation which almost explains everything you need to know in the future, including academic and basic life tips. And teachers and assistants are willing to help you solve your problems/answer questions --  just feel free to email them. The first week is actually a little bit tiring for every student, because you have to take part in many courses you are interested in and then make decisions about whether the course is appropriate for you to enroll in. Even though we don’t have the priority to choose whatever courses we want, there are still many choices for us exchange students. I major in Finance at my home university, so I have chosen two courses from Haas Business School which is a very outstanding business school in the world. Even though I only take half the number of courses here, compared to the number of courses in my home university, I still feel fulfilled -- and some pressure -- from the coursework. Maybe it’s a result of language barriers or a different learning system, but it reminds me that I have to devote more time to my studying, which also means that I could learn more. 

I learned how to make the most of my time as an SAF Scholar 

Many of my friends ask me how long I will stay here. I answer:“ one semester”. They always reply : ”That’s so short, but make it count !” Yes! They are right! Just make it count. 

Here’s the beautiful view of Haas! 

Eden Tian
Host: University of California, Berkeley
Home: South China University of Technology
Major: Advertising, Finance

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!

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! 

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:

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.

​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!

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.

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.

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.

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

After a stressful studying period, my friends and I decided to go to visit Taronga Zoo. Australia is very famous for its lovely kangaroos and koalas. Therefore, it was such a great experience for us to get close to those animals and relax ourselves. On August 27, we got up early in the morning and took a bus to the harbor. Then we transferred for a ferry and arrived at Taronga Zoo after about 20 minutes. Taronga Zoo was located not very far away from the Sydney Opera House and was built on a small hill on an island. It was my first time to visit a zoo which was located on a hill, and we even need to take a telpher to get to the entrance of the zoo. Then we started our fantastic trip with watching a few shows presented by those animals. That was really exciting! Even though there were all kinds of lovely animals, such as koalas, giraffes, wombats and so on, I loved the platypus most, which is a unique species existing in Australia. It was so strange because it had four webbed feet and a bill, but it belonged to the mammal species. A platypus may look cuddly, but don't plan on making one a pet. After about five hours visiting we ended our trip and came back to UNSW. Honestly, I really enjoyed this trip! In my opinion, having a short trip during a period of busy study is really a good choice to relax our brains and broaden our horizons. So you can also try it!

Xuefei Zhang
Host: University of New South Wales 
Home: Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics 江西财经大学 ​
Major: Accounting

At a graduation ceremony this month at Arizona State University (ASU), Mahiro Watanabe took center stage. The SAF Scholar, who had earned honor roll status in the Global Launch program, had been elected by his teachers to give a speech.

“He was outstanding! I’m truly not just saying that either,” said Claire McLaughlin, Lead International Educator at Global Launch for ASU. “It was so heartfelt that it gave me goose bumps.” -- So, we just had to celebrate and share his remarks:

Mahiro's highlights of his study abroad experience: 

Mahiro Watanabe 
Host: Arizona State University
Home: Keio University
​Major: Law

Why did you decide to join an SAF study abroad program?

Because I wanted to improve my English. I also wanted to gain new experiences in the world that I didn’t know. In my freshman year in college, I did a short study abroad at a language school in Australia for two weeks during spring break. However, it was very short, and I didn’t really have opportunities to interact with the local students, so I ended up going home not being able to improve my English so much. That’s when I thought “I want to try study abroad again, this time, in the environment where I can take courses with local students!” Until my sophomore year in college, I spent most of my time engaging in club activities, and I wasn’t studying so hard. When going from sophomore to junior, I looked back on my college life, and I felt unease because I realized the fact that I didn’t accomplish much. Therefore, I decided to do study abroad hoping that I will be able to learn a lot from my experiences of studying at a university and living in an environment which culture is different from Japanese. 
 
Why did you choose to study in Utah at the University of Utah?

Yes. Utah is very popular for outdoor sports, and since it was not a big city, it is less likely to encounter danger. I was born and raised in Tokyo, so having a campus which backyard is mountains and living in nature was such a fresh experience for me. During week days, I went hiking after school, and on weekends, I went to national parks. I also took a class which I got to do camping in a desert and went snowboarding so many times. I had a great time while I was there.
 
Please discuss the courses at your sending university. How were the classes different from those at your home university?

Taking courses at University of Utah, I was surprised how serious the teachers were towards the students. In most classes at Japanese universities, we have lecture style courses where teachers talk and students just listen. However, in American classes, classes are more interactive, [with] students asking teachers questions and everyone discussing based on these questions. It was very exciting for me to be able to ask questions and get answers in class. Although, I had a lot of assignments to do.

What was the biggest challenge during your study abroad, and how did you overcome it?
 
When I just started my study abroad, it was hard for me to speak up in class. Even when I was talking to someone one on one, if it was in a group, and I was the only international student, it was hard for me to follow what my classmates were saying. Sometimes, I couldn’t follow simply because I had no knowledge [of] the TV shows that they were talking about. However, I didn’t give up. I talked with my friends who have done study abroad before and international students from other countries, and got an advice. They said, “Not saying anything is bad, so say a word at least; get their attention and tell your thoughts at your own speed.” I tried that. I also started asking questions when I didn’t know or understand. My classmates kindly answered my questions and helped me out, so I stopped hesitating. Since then, my classmates started seeing me as their friend, and my relationship with them has gotten better. I learned that speaking up with confidence is very important in American culture.
 
Did you attend any activities outside the classroom? 

I didn’t belong to any organizations while I was there, but I hosted a big “Japanese and Korean food party,” inviting 80 people including my friends. Also, my Japanese and Korean friends made some Japanese and Korean food, and we tried to spread our culture. I also volunteered in Mexico and [worked as a] TA in Japanese classes at the University of Utah.

Tell us about your dorm life...

I had a Japanese roommate and two American suitemates. My American suitemates were very nice inviting me and my Japanese roommate to events, helping us out correcting our English papers, explaining about American politics on the election day. When I had my birthday and times I was feeling down, they wrote some messages on the bathroom mirror, and they made me very happy. Also, one of my suitemates took me to her parents’ house in Georgia for Christmas, and I could experience the real American Christmas. In terms of cleaning, we wrote our roles on the whiteboard and took turns. When it [came] to meals, every day we ate at the school cafeteria, and sometimes on weekends at restaurants near campus.
 
How do you think you will use your study abroad experience in your future career? 

Through my study abroad experience, I think I became a person who is not afraid of challenge. I gained confidence going through a lot of difficulties and learned how important it is to be active making friends and studying and everything. Nothing happens, and there is nothing you can achieve if you don’t take any actions. I was good at listening to others but not so good at speaking up until I did my study abroad. However, I became able to speak up and tell my opinions and thoughts based on my own standards after learning and accepting a lot of cultures and different values. I think I will be able to use these skills [in the workplace] and pretty much anywhere in Japan in the future. While I was job hunting, companies gave me [positive] feedback on my experiences and challenges and [for] improving my English during study abroad. I felt that the fact that I had to stay for one more year at college to do study abroad was not a big issue for the Japanese companies.
 
How was the support from SAF?

The staff from SAF Japan office gave me a quick response whenever I was worried about something. Their support was good so that I could do study abroad feeling at ease.
 
Do you have any messages for future study abroad students?

If you are thinking about studying abroad or have a chance to do study abroad, I strongly recommend that you do. First, I was worried about leaving my friends in Japan and staying for another year in college, and I wasn’t so sure, but now I would be horrified if I hadn’t done study abroad (laugh). During the 10 months of my study abroad, so many things happened that changed my life and my values. I feel lucky being able to do study abroad while I was in college. If you’ve already decided to do study abroad, I want you to spend every day with 120 percent energy before you leave Japan. I also think it would be a good idea to set a goal and start working toward it. If you do this, I think you will also be able to feel your own growth. You might think that the time during study abroad is forever, but actually, it will be over in a second. Interact with foreigners in Japan, go to places and absorb a lot from experiences, and I think you will have a wonderful time during your study abroad. Cheers!

Name: Asami Umehara
Home University: Keio University
Host University: University of Utah

SAF scholar Chie Yoshida captures the annual International Festival at California State University San Marcos.

Finding the right-fit university for you is about identifying and sharing the informal characteristics of the community you will join. From their differing teaching methodologies to the prominence of their extra-curricular activities, the institutions that make up our top-tier International University Network offer wide-ranging approaches to successful study abroad experiences.

In a survey of 443 U.S. colleges and universities, College Factual identified schools that provide “quality educational outcomes and a supportive community to students from other countries," then ranked them based on student body caliber, educational resources, total number of international students on campus and more. We’re proud to see so many of our member universities topped the list. 

But remember to look beyond the rankings. With our expert advice and international education knowledge, we can help ensure you get into the program that best suits your academic ambitions, qualifications and interests. 

by Erika Woodward