When I first became interested in studying abroad in China, I was not thinking about the practical side of my daily life. In the United States nut allergies are very common and restaurants typically do not use peanut oil or are specific about allergens on their menus. In China; however, this is not always the case. I have a peanut allergy, which impacts how I can go out and consume food in China. However, though my allergy is something I now have to think about in my daily life here, it is manageable with a few tricks. This week's blog explores some useful considerations to staying safe with allergies. 1. Know how to say your allergen correctly! The Mandarin characters for peanut are 花生 [huā shēng] and to express my allergy I say “ 我对花生过敏 .[w ǒ duì huāshēng guòmǐn] ” You can say “ 我对 [insert allergen] 过敏 .” Make sure you are pronouncing this correctly and get t...
Some HNC programs require prior Chinese language proficiency, while others do not. Applicants to the Master of Arts in International Studies, Certificate, Certificate + MAIR or Certificate + MAIA programs must demonstrate intermediate to advanced Chinese language proficiency at the time of application. Prior language proficiency is not required for the Master of Arts in International Relations or Master of Arts in International Affairs programs. To apply for any HNC program where Chinese is the language of instruction, you must provide Chinese reading and listening proficiency test results from one of the following language assessments: STAMP, HSK, ACTFL, CEFR, or ILR. Test results must be from within the last 12 months, and available for review before the application deadline. If you have not yet taken any of these tests, you can request to take the STAMP test via the online application . Should I even bother taking a language assessment? How could I possibly b...
Where do incoming students go once they land in China? As you start booking your tickets to Nanjing this fall, you should consider the following travel options: Getting from the Nanjing Airport to the Center Nanjing Lukou International Airport is about 40 km outside of Nanjing city. 1) Taxi: A metered taxi from the airport to the Center takes 45 minutes and costs about RMB 150, including one freeway toll (RMB 20). 2) Shuttle bus: The airport shuttle bus into the city takes about one hour and costs RMB 25. This bus, which is located outside the domestic arrivals exit, does not have a specific name or number. Unfortunately, the shuttle bus terminals in Nanjing are a substantial distance from the Center and require that you take a taxi or a combination of a subway ride and a 10-minute walk to get to your destination. The taxi service is your best choice for your initial trip to the Center. Getting from Shanghai to the Ce...