How I studied in Beijing: 10 tips you must know before studying in China

Are you planning to go to China? I hear you. I don’t regret my choice for going there one bit. It was an awesome experience, where I got to see a world that isn’t western centric and a way of being that is just different from what we’re used to. Here I’m talking about everything, from the culture, to the priorities, from the food to the flirting.

At the same time, though I enjoyed plunging in without really having a clue what was going to happen (or what I should do when it did) I think I might have been a bit better off had I had a bit more of an idea. For that reason, here are the most important tips you need to consider when you’re planning to go.

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The Toilets

A lot of people swear that squat toilets are far healthier for us than the western sitting toilets we’re all used to. No doubt that’s true. It is somehow more natural. At the same time, they can go stuff themselves, because I prefer to sit when I do my business.

Still, when you go over that way, you’ll have to get used to the squats because in many places there isn’t any other option. So, make sure you get some leg training in there at the local gym! That way, you’ll do the falling over when it’s not quite so filthy.

Also, learn to always have toilet paper with you. Seriously. You can’t imagine how many times I’ve had to rush from establishment to establishment because I didn’t have any white satin to clean myself with.

The clothes

Are you going for a while and are you a bit bigger than average? Then get extra shoes, pants, gloves, and whatever else you might need. Because these things are a lot harder to find out there. And that’s not really that surprising. After all, they’re just not as big as us. So most shops aren’t going to carry our-sized versions of things.

Of course, when you go back home you can always stock up again. Still, sometimes that can be a long time in between and if you don’t have an extra pair of shoes that can lead all sorts of problems when the ones you’ve got break.

So buy backups and leave your sizes with a family member or friend who has some idea of your style so that if there is an emergency they can send you something through the mail.

If you’re not careful you won’t end up hanging out with Chinese people

I have to admit, I didn’t spend half as much time with people from China as I’d originally planned. My idea would be that I’d have a wide group of friends from across the country. That didn’t really happen. Why? Because it was so much easier to hang out with people from abroad who already spoke English.

Of course, that shouldn’t really be the goal. We should mingle with the people from the country. But that’s often easier said than done. There are a lot of reasons for that. The language barriers, the cultural differences, the lack of shared interests. All these things make it a lot easier to opt for the easier route. But if you go that way, you will struggle to not just find yourself in expat circles.

The food is different

Do you enjoy Chinese food back home? Good for you. If that’s the food you want to eat, then you better stay there, because the food in China has nothing at all in common with what we think of as Chinese food in the west.

I love their food. It’s phenomenally varied, with each region having its own kitchen. None of it, however, is anything like what you’d eat back home. If you want to eat that, then you have to go to special restaurants and then often you’ll get their interpretation of what western food is (and that’s often as different as our interpretation of their food is).

And if it’s good? Then it will be expensive. And as you’re probably on a budget, that’s a bad way to spend our money.

So get ready for that. Take a book of western-style recipes if you’re going for longer, take spices that you’re not sure they will have and make sure the place you’re going to stay at actually has a decent kitchen. Many of them won’t.

It is really, really, really (really) crowded

China is about the same size as the US, but has four times as many people living in that area. Most of those people are packed into some of the biggest cities in the world. So yeah, it is crowded. You’re going to have to get used to that. The streets are always full, the apartments are small, the restaurants are crowded and streets are jammed.

There are wide open spaces, but they’re generally not near the universities. So get used to the idea of always being near people. If you can’t take that, then find a university a bit out of town. Otherwise that will be your reality for however long you’re studying there.

Last thoughts

Going to China was an eye opener. It is a vast place with some vastly different ideas about how things are supposed to work. I loved it dearly (I was going to say ‘every minute of it’ but that was not true) and it made me a better person.

At the same time, it was hard sometimes. But I guess all the things doing in life are.

I think the best advice I can give you is to expect the worst. Then when you arrive you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Of course, you still won’t see everything coming. And that’s alright, really. Life’s more fun that way. But at least with this list, you’ll see many of them coming and that will help you navigate the place until you get grounded.

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