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During the summer of 2024, I went on a four-week study abroad program in Shanghai, China, funded by an Honors TAG grant. On July 12 I flew 15 hours directly from Dallas, Texas, to the Shanghai Pudong International Airport in mainland China. Upon arrival, I checked into a $20 hotel in a local area an hour from my school and prepared to live in the country for a month. This included obtaining a second e-SIM for my phone, setting up the payment platforms of Alipay and WeChat, learning the metro route, and practicing conversing with shop vendors for meals. The day before the program started, I moved into the International Student Exchange dormitory at East China Normal University and met my South Korean roommate as well as numerous other students from all around the world. On orientation day, we were

introduced to the faculty, campus, and each other. 

Classes were held from 9-11:30 every weekday morning with program activities on Wednesday afternoons and class field trips on Thursdays. In my particular class, I befriended an Italian and German, and we regularly grouped together for class assignments. We as students discovered the ins and outs of campus, frequenting the 24-hour family mart and taking advantage of the hundreds of metered public bikes to traverse around the local area. My personal favorite location to frequent was Global Harbor, a seven-story mall attached to a Hyatt Regency that spanned three metro stations at a ten-minute walk from the front gates of the university. I spent afternoons exploring the hundreds of shops and bought most of my souvenirs from Global Harbor.

The highlights of my study abroad experience were the program’s field trip to Beijing and my friend group’s visit to Shanghai Disneyland. The Beijing field trip was not mandatory and required a $400 payment that covered transportation, lodging, and most of the meals during the four days. Thirty-five students and three faculty members took the four-hour bullet train ride from Shanghai to Beijing. Upon arrival at the train station in Beijing, we met our tour guide and were escorted to our first historic site, Tiananmen Square. In the following days, we would also visit Jingshang Park, Prince Gong’s Mansion, the Great Wall, and the Summer Palace. In each location, we were given a guided tour of the central area and then an allotted time to explore. I made friends with three British students and another American, and we stuck with each other during our time together. After the program had concluded with most of us passing successfully, we made plans to visit the Disneyland 14 metro stops away from the school. For $100 day ticket, we went to Splash Mountain, Zootopia, Pirates of the Caribbean, and the Disney castle. Long wait lines and high tourist expenses were small prices to pay for the overall experience. I greatly enjoyed their company and some of my favorite memories of all time were made with these people. 

The primary goal of my study abroad program was to earn credit hours for my language and Honors minors as well as expand my cultural mindset. Initially I encountered multiple obstacles, including a rather complicated program deferral from Taiwan to China and highly extensive paperwork to secure a travel visa and accommodations. These challenges were difficult, and I held out on the hope that the program would be worth all the trouble. By the end of the four-week trip, I had undoubtedly secured both goals and learned much about both me and the communities I associated with. Recovering from jet lag and major credit card debt, I concluded the pros of a lifetime experience and longtime memories far outweighed the preparatory cons. In addition to academic earnings, the trip set into motion my senior capstone for Honors which will use visual artistry to reconnect Chinese American adoptees to their native cultural origins. Despite the frustrations and occasional inconveniences, I could not have asked for a better way to spend my summer. I’m truly grateful to have been given this opportunity to study abroad in Shanghai and hope to return to the other side of the world one day. If any student is wanting to but unsure of international travel, I encourage them to take the initiative on the chance they find their people, future plans, and life purpose.

 

Desiree Cogdill

Public Relations 

Class of 2026