Passport
If you already have a passport, please ensure that it is valid until at least 6 months after your last day in China. If not, it must be renewed immediately. If you do not have a passport, the Blue Pages of your telephone book will indicate the location of the passport office nearest you. You may also visit www.state.gov for information about obtaining or renewing a passport. Your address in Beijing will be as follows:
Associated Colleges in China
Foreign Students Dormitory
Capital University of Economics and Business (CUEB)
Hong Miao, Chaoyang District
Beijing, P.R.China 100026
In addition to the passport application form, to apply for a passport you will need the original or a certified copy of the following:
· United States birth certificate
· Previously issued passport
· Proof of naturalization, if you are a naturalized citizen
· Driver's license
· Government ID card
· Previously issued passport
The passport fee is $67 for a renewal and $97 for an original. New passports are usually valid for 10 years.
If you are a U.S. citizen, we suggest that you register your passport with the U.S. Embassy immediately upon your arrival in Beijing. This will make it easier to have a new passport issued in the event that yours is lost or stolen.Important: We must have your passport number no later than March 15, 2008 for the summer and/or fall terms, and by October 20, 2008, for the spring term. This is absolutely necessary for the processing of your visa forms.
The visa process is as follows:
You will be responsible for obtaining your visa. ACC cannot assume any responsibility for providing visas to students, other than the securing the preliminary paperwork.
Please e-mail ACC once you have received your visa so that we may ensure that all students have the necessary documents in order to travel to Beijing. Our e-mail address is acchina@hamilton.edu.
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Students are responsible for arranging their own transportation to Beijing, and may phone or write the ACC office for recommendations on specific flights or travel agents. Students must notify the ACC office of their travel plans at least a week before arrival. Complete itineraries - including airline flight number, departing city, time and date of departure and arrival - must be e-mailed, faxed or posted to the ACC office.
Taxis are the most convenient means of transportation for getting to CUEB. They cost approximately 80-120 kuai (including a 15 kuai toll). Make sure to tell the driver that the university you are going to is Beijing Jingji Maoyi Daxue or Beijing Jingmao Daxue at Hongmiao. If you fail to specify this, some taxi drivers may take you to another campus in the far northeastern end of Beijing. If the taxi driver does not know how to get to CUEB, tell him/her to take Dongsihuan Beilu (East Fourth Ring Rd.) to Chaoyanglu, then go west on Chaoyanglu, U-turn in front of Renmin Ribao (People's Daily newspaper complex), and soon you will be at the front gate of CUEB. (Because CUEB is on the south side of Chaoyanglu and there is a barrier down the middle of Chaoyanglu, cars cannot turn left at the gate of CUEB.) At the airport, be sure to follow the signs to the taxi station to avoid illegal drivers who might come up to you in the airport. Also, be sure that when you go to the taxi station you ask the driver to put the meter on and also ask for a receipt. This is to prevent the driver from taking you on a roundabout way.
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Every organization needs some regulations in order to function effectively. The administration of the Program has tried to minimize these, since we plan to treat you as serious and mature adults who do not need a written rule for every occasion. Nevertheless, for your own protection, and to support the goals of the Program, some guidelines are necessary. We include these here so that you fully understand in advance the intensity of our program and what our regulations are.
Only Chinese will be spoken, especially with other members of the group, roommates, teachers and staff. This is the Program's most important regulation and constitutes the very backbone of its philosophy. The purpose of the Language Pledge is to help you become immersed in the language and to encourage you not only to speak Chinese but to think Chinese as well. When students speak English, full immersion into the language is not possible and the learning process is hindered. Only in the case of dire emergency, or if you must speak to someone who doesn't understand Chinese, should you consider reverting to English. Failure to adhere to this regulation will result in the following disciplinary action:
Students who are not able to observe this rule faithfully should not be with our Program. The ACC Committee is charged with confirming the expulsion of any student who does not conform to the Language Pledge.
Any form of academic dishonesty/cheating, falsification, misrepresentation, forgery, or plagiarism is a serious offense in any academic community. In the ACC program, such dishonesty will normally result in removal from the course, expulsion from the Program, or both. It is essential, therefore, that every student understands the standards of academic honesty.
Plagiarism is a violation of intellectual honesty. The practice of intellectual honesty is the foundation of an academic community. Effective evaluation of student work and helpful instruction can take place only in an environment where intellectual honesty is respected. Plagiarism represents a failure to acknowledge the source of ideas or language gained from another person when used in any paper, exercise, or project submitted in a course. All students will sign an Honor Code upon arrival.
In all cases, the Field Director reserves the right to suspend a student whose academic work or social conduct warrants such an action.
Only the most serious circumstances should prevent you from completing daily class preparations and attending every class. Our instructors have been advised that you are an extremely hardworking group, so they will expect you to be serious and conscientious students. We intend to enforce the regulations concerning attendance and class preparation strictly.
Please note any travel that entails missing classes will not be allowed.
ACC students are subject to the regulations of the Foreign Student Dormitory, which are posted in English and Chinese in a brown folder inside each room. These regulations include, but are not limited to, rules pertaining to visitation hours and overnight guests. Failure to adhere to the "overnight guests rule" will result in fines by the host institution as well as the following disciplinary action by ACC:
Possession of illegal drugs may result in official action by Chinese authorities. The right of "habeas corpus" does not apply abroad and pre-trial detention can last several months. Also, Chinese officials may conduct searches at customs entry and exit points for drugs and other contraband. Anyone found with contraband is subject to punishment as specified in Chinese law, and neither ACC nor the US Embassy can interfere with the work of the Chinese legal system. For this reason, ACC strictly forbids drug use among students enrolled in our program. If the ACC resident staff finds a student using or carrying any illegal drugs, including marijuana, the student will be immediately expelled from the Program. The ACC advisory committee reserves the right to dismiss from ACC any student who violates the laws of the host country, including those that relate to use, possession, or distribution of drugs.
So that we may provide you with assistance in an emergency, we ask that you notify the Field Director whenever you leave Beijing for any reason.
The Field Director reserves the right to expel from the program any student who does not comply with the aforementioned rules, is physically aggressive or destructive of property, violates the dignity or rights of others, disrupts the educational function of the Program, is otherwise harmful to its operation or its relation with the host country and affiliated institutions, or demonstrates inability to participate constructively in the Program.
The Field Director is responsible for disciplinary action. The Field Director may issue a written warning or place a student on probation if he or she judges that the circumstances do not warrant immediate dismissal. Expulsion is accompanied by notification to the student's home institution and parents.
While a glance at the above might suggest a rather rigid structure, it is not our intention to put you in a police state. Living abroad, in fact, requires considerable maturity and self-discipline, which we have come to expect of ACC students.
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The credit information that follows is provided so that you may check with your Registrar's office to make sure that Hamilton units are transferable into your credit system.
Usually, one Hamilton unit is equivalent to four semester hours. However, it is very important that you verify this with your Registrar and Chinese Department chair well before your departure. This is the responsibility of the student, and not of ACC. Because every school places a different value on courses and units earned, we are unable to give a direct translation of what you will earn while in ACC.
For the Summer Session, all ACC students will receive 2 Hamilton units. For the fall and spring sessions, ACC students will receive up to four Hamilton units per session. Summer & Fall session students will receive up to six Hamilton units, while Fall & Spring session students will receive up to eight Hamilton units.
Following Hamilton College policy, ACC students are permitted to take one course per semester on a credit/no-credit basis. Students who choose to take advantage of the credit/no-credit option must notify the Field Director of their decision within the first four days of the semester. To qualify for a credit, a student must earn a grade of C- or better. If the student receives a grade lower than C-, the transcript will show the designation NC (i.e., no-credit).
ACC students may also opt to withdraw from a course. Should a student wish to withdraw from a course, he or she must discuss the option with the Field Director prior to the following deadlines:
Important: A student who wishes to withdraw from a course should also check with his or her home institution to ensure that drop/withdrawal timeline requirements of that institution are met. It is recommended that the student check with an advisor or study abroad director before considering withdrawing from a course.
In the case of a serious emergency, a student will be given an Incomplete.
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Tuition & Fees (not including airfare), and Payment Schedule
Summer: $5,560
Summer/Fall combined: $17,150
Fall or Spring: $11,880
Fall/Spring combined: $23,470
Spring/Summer: $17,150
As outlined in the acceptance letter, the non-refundable deposit is due within two weeks of acceptance. Tuition should be paid in full one month prior to departure. We cannot allow anyone to join the program whose payments have not been made in full. To be properly credited, all payments must be addressed to: Associated Colleges in China, Hamilton College, 198 College Hill Road, Clinton, New York 13323.
Travel to and from Beijing is not included. Students should plan on spending between $1,400 and $1,650 for a round-trip flight.
The ACC policy on the refund of payments to students who withdraw voluntarily or due to illness, or who are dismissed during any semester, is stated below. Tuition and fees are refunded as follows:
Anyone holding transferable financial grants must notify the Program in writing of the amount of scholarship aid expected this year. Please ask your Financial Aid Office to either e-mail us or fax us your tentative award package. It is not the Program's responsibility to solicit this information from the granting institutions. If you do plan to transfer your financial aid to Hamilton College, write to the proper authorities immediately, requesting that your scholarship be transferred to the Associated Colleges in China, Hamilton College, 198 College Hill Road, Clinton, New York 13323.
Students who are unable to transfer loans or financial aid may wish to use an installment plan by consulting one of the following tuition management services:
Key Education Resources: 1-800-KEY-LENDYou should call them as soon as possible, well before your full tuition balance is due. If you do decide to use this service, please notify us regarding your contract arrangements.
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All participants of the Program must submit proof of proper medical insurance coverage for their stay in Beijing. If you are currently insured and have ascertained that your coverage extends to Asia, that should be indicated on the health insurance form that is sent in the acceptance packet.
If you need to purchase insurance or need additional coverage, we recommend HTH Worldwide Insurance Services. For more information, you may refer to the HTH brochure that was included in your acceptance packet. Alternatively, you can find them on the web at www.hthworldwide.com. Be sure to mention that you are a participant in the Associated Colleges in China program at Hamilton College.
In the packet you have received, there is a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that addresses the issue of inoculations as well as a variety of health matters. You should read this report carefully.
At this time, no immunizations are required for travel to the People's Republic of China from the United States. If you are traveling to China from an infected area (many southeast Asian and African locations are considered infected areas), immunizations may be required.
Although inoculations are not mandatory for travel from the United States, ACC strongly recommends the following vaccinations (approximate cost follows in parentheses):
Please be sure to schedule the vaccinations as early as possible since many of them are administered in a series with three to six months between shots. Also, some immunizations may have slight side effects.
You should also ask your doctor for advice regarding immunizations, including tetanus and flu shots. You may also call the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta (404-639-3311), log on to their website at http://www.cdc.gov for the most current information, or call the U.S. Department of Public Health Disease Control in Maryland (301-443-2610).
You should bring a copy of your immunization record with you as well as an adequate supply of any prescription or non-prescription medications that you might require. Any pre-existing medical condition, especially upper respiratory and gastro-intestinal problems, may be exacerbated by life in China. If you become ill, you should seek medical attention immediately. It is a good idea to find out if you are allergic to penicillin, as it is often prescribed.
Medical services on a par with international standards, at costs comparable to the U.S., are now widely available in Beijing. Some of these clinics and hospitals will bill certain foreign medical insurance companies directly. The following clinics and hospitals are recommended:
Vista Clinic (Wei2shi4da2 Zhen3suo3)
B29 Beijing Kerry Center
No. 1 Guanghua Road
Chaoyang District, Beijing
Tel: 8529-6618; Fax: 8529-6615
(a comprehensive medical facility, including dental and ophthalmology departments, 20 min. from CUEB on foot, or 5 min. by taxi; 24-hour urgent care)
International Medical (Guo2ji4 yi1liao2 zhong1xin1)
Beijing Lufthansa Centre No. 50
(Office Building, Main Floor)
50 Liangmaqiao Rd.
Tel: 6465-1561/2/3; Fax: 6465-1984
Asia Emergency Assistance Center
2-1-1 Tayuan Diplomatic Office Building
14 Liangmahe Nanlu
Administration: 462 9199
24 hours: 462-9100
Clinic: 6462 9112; Fax: 6462 9111
Offers a broad range of medical services.
A number of English-speaking doctors and nurses.
(A little more expensive than Sino-German Clinic, but better service. Cash/Credit card.)
Beijing United Family Hospital
#2 Jiangtai Lu
Chaoyang District, Beijing
Tel: 6433-3960
In case of an emergency, you or the authorities should call the ACC office at CUEB (6595-9258) or the Field Director (6597-6260) after hours. Family members who have concerns or wish to get more information should call the ACC office or the Field Director.
In addition to the health insurance mentioned above, ACC suggests that all students consider obtaining the International Student Identity Cards (ISIC). These cards provide students with Sickness and Accident Insurance as well as a 24-hour toll-free ISIC Help Line. The Sickness and Accident Insurance covers the cardholder for basic accident, sickness and emergency evacuation (up to $25,000.00) outside the U.S. The Help Line provides students with medical, legal and financial help and/or advice in the event of an emergency. These services are provided to you for $20. For more information on the ISIC, visit www.statravel.com.
Students with a history of mental illness of any kind should make sure that they are emotionally prepared and sufficiently stable to join the program. Such problems are inevitably aggravated by the new demands and personal responsibilities of a foreign setting. If you, your parents, or your physician have not been entirely candid with us, we ask you to call us immediately. The Field Director, with the approval of the ACC Board, reserves the right to withdraw a student with mental problems from the program.
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Orientation
At the beginning of each term there will be an orientation period for new students. These orientation periods include an informational meeting and city tour. In addition, short excursions are made to neighborhood restaurants, the post office, bank, medical facilities and shopping centers. The three- to four-hour informational meeting covers studying, eating, living, health care, some safety tips, transportation and travel. Of course, there will also be opportunities for students to ask questions and bring up individual concerns.
CUEB is located in the east- northeastern part of Beijing, near the Embassy Quarter, which has a large number of western hotels, restaurants, shopping centers, and office buildings. Getting around in Beijing is very cheap and convenient with the subway, city buses, private mini-buses, and taxis all available in the area surrounding the University.
All students will be housed in CUEB's Foreign Students' Dormitory, in doubles. Each student will have a bed, desk with chair, lamp, small closet, and a safe (for storing valuables). The room is equipped with air conditioning, heating, a telephone, a television, and a bathroom with shower, sink and toilet. Hot water is available 24 hours a day, with very occasional interruptions. There is a reception area in the lobby; a café and reading room on the first floor, and an Internet Café in the basement (a fee is charged to log on to the Internet).
You will be assigned to a host family, with whom you may be spending some weekend time. Please keep in mind that you will be entering into, and participating in, another culture. You will find that the Chinese have different values and ways of life from people from other cultures. The Chinese are frugal with water and electricity, and their meals may be drastically different from what you are used to. You must be prepared to be accommodating, courteous and patient. Because of language and cultural barriers, you may not "click" right away with your family. It may take some time on both sides to get used to each other, however if you are open-minded and willing to delve into the host family's ways and customs, it will surely be a rewarding experience.
The first time you visit your family, you should present them with a small gift (items that have been popular include music tapes, T-shirts, pens with college names, and other typically American products). It would also be a good idea to bring with you half a dozen or so small gifts for friends you may make later during your stay in China.
Host families also enjoy seeing photos of you, your own family, your home or college in the U.S. and the like. Generally, your life at home is quite different from theirs, and getting an idea of where you are coming from is often helpful in bridging cultural gaps and can be very entertaining for host family members.
Most host families are willing to answer questions about themselves and their lives as well. We feel that this provides a unique opportunity to understand China from a personal perspective.
One word of caution: often, while visiting with your host families, teachers, or friends, you may find yourself in situations where you are invited-even strongly encouraged-to drink alcohol. Please know that you may refuse such invitations without offending your companions. You can say "Dui4bu4qi3, wo3 bu2hui4 he1jiu3" or "sorry, I don't drink alcohol." It is also important to know that Chinese "white liquor" can be as strong as 120 to 130 proof, and could lead to dire consequences.
Please make sure that your parents or guardian have a copy of the CUEB address and telephone number. The ACC's phone number at CUEB is 011-86-10-6595-9258, which is also the FAX number. The Field Director's home number for emergencies during off hours is 86-10-65976260 and her cell phone number is 86-13910020019. You will be given your room number and individual phone number prior to departure. You should give these numbers to your parents or guardian. Your telephone line is direct, so your parents or guardian do not have to go through a switchboard operator in order to reach you.
Please refer to the following chart should you or your parents forget your phone number. Bear in mind that all calls placed to Beijing from outside of China need to begin with 011-86-10. To reach a student's room, first dial 6597-6, followed by the 3-digit number that corresponds to the student?s room number:
|
Room # |
Phone # |
|
103 |
251 |
|
104 |
254 |
|
105 |
252 |
|
106 |
253 |
|
107 |
255 |
|
108 |
257 |
|
109 |
271 |
|
1010 |
256 |
|
1011 |
258 |
|
1013 |
272 |
|
1014 |
328 |
|
203 |
241 |
|
204 |
249 |
|
205 |
250 |
|
206 |
248 |
|
207 |
273 |
|
208 |
247 |
|
209 |
242 |
|
210 |
246 |
|
211 |
243 |
|
212 |
245 |
|
213 |
244 |
|
301 |
260 |
|
304 |
268 |
|
305 |
275 |
|
306 |
267 |
|
307 |
261 |
|
308 |
266 |
|
309 |
269 |
|
310 |
265 |
|
311 |
262 |
|
312 |
264 |
|
313 |
263 |
|
Coffee Shop |
349 |
Detailed information about phone charges and long distance calling to the U.S. will be given at orientation. You may obtain calling cards once in China to make international calls. Should your family wish to obtain phone cards to call you from the U.S., we have had success purchasing reliable calling cards online at www.1st-phone-cards.com.
Address in English
Your Name
Associated Colleges in China
Foreign Students Dormitory
Capital University of Economics and Business
Hongmiao, Chaoyang District
Beijing, P.R. China 100026
Letters with the address in Chinese may be delivered faster (please write both the Chinese and the English address in this case). It is also useful to photocopy the address in Chinese and simply paste it on the envelope alongside the address in English.
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Renminbi (RMB), the basic unit of Chinese currency, is also called "yuan" or "kuai", which is divided into ten "jiao" or "mao", which is in turn divided into ten "fen". The recent average rate of exchange has been between 7.8 and 7.9 RMB to the dollar.
China, but you will be able to exchange currency in the airport lobby (at either an ATM or a bank window) upon arrival. When you leave China, your excess Chinese currency may be reconverted to U.S., Canadian, or Hong Kong currency, or you may take it out of the country with you (for use in a future trip to China). To reconvert Chinese currency into foreign currency, you must present receipts for the original exchange from foreign to Chinese currency, so be sure to keep these receipts in case you need them upon departure.
Currency upon arrival and departure: You cannot secure Chinese currency outside of China and selected luxury hotels in many major cities. ATMs are becoming more common in China, but not all foreign ATM cards work on these machines (even when the banks at home insist that they work in China) so don't count on them. We recommend that you use only American Express, as it is the best-known company in China.
Access to funds in China: If you have an American Express card plus an American or Hong Kong checking account, you may get cash (U.S. dollars or RMB) or purchase traveler's checks for up to that company's limit (currently $1,500 each 21-day period) at the Bank of China in the China World Trade Center (Guo2Mao4, a 20-minute walk from CUEB) or the Citic Bank. Cash may also be gotten using an ATM card, which is the preferred method for most students.
Money can be wired to you in China through a bank. In China it normally takes a day or two for wired money to clear. In an emergency, the person sending you money should check with Western Union or with American Express (if he/she is an account holder) for possible ways of wiring money more quickly.
We recommend bringing adequate funds with you in order to avoid requiring emergency funds being sent from the United States. The best way to do this is to bring extra money in the form of traveler's checks (the unused portion may be redeposited into an account upon returning to the United States), or bring an Visa or Master Card with personal checks.
As stated in the previous section, we suggest that you travel to China with an adequate supply of money in the form of traveler's checks. Although all room, tuition, textbooks, and travel costs have been included in the Program fee schedule, participants are responsible for paying for most meals and all incidental costs, e.g., personal entertainment, shopping, etc. Each dorm room is equipped with a safe so that any unused traveler's checks may be kept safe there until needed.
Please keep in mind that it is wiser to buy gifts for family and friends back home later during your stay in China. It may be tempting to start shopping right away, but most students find that they are able to spend money more wisely as they become more accustomed to their surroundings, and more familiar with price ranges, quality of products and stores.
The amount of spending money you should bring depends on the amount of shopping and independent travel you wish to do in China. While prices have not increased significantly in recent times, higher-quality goods and services, and travel opportunities are becoming increasingly available, so it is a good idea to bring more money than you think you will need. Students who participated in last year's program have reported that for the summer session, $600-$900 is a sufficient amount of spending money. For the fall and spring sessions, most students agreed that $2,000-$2,500 was a good amount to have on hand per semester. Students who plan on doing extensive traveling or who plan on buying many gifts may wish to have more money on hand.
Students are not required to eat together as a group except for Friday noon, which is our "language table day." Students have their choice of either eating in the foreign students' cafeteria, Chinese students' cafeteria or going out to eat at various restaurants. The main purpose of this arrangement is to encourage students to experience Chinese culture. Thus, unless prevented by medical, moral or religious restrictions, all students are expected to experience all aspects of Chinese cuisine, which is a significant aspect of the culture.
The amount of money you spend on food varies greatly depending on the kind of restaurant you choose. As of this writing, we have found that an average of $10-$15 is the typical expense for three simple meals a day, assuming that you stay away from four star hotels and Western restaurants.
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Clothing
Durable, washable, comfortable clothing is best for all seasons. Aim to stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Style is not as important as comfort and general tidiness.
Beijing is quite hot and humid during the summer. Use your own judgment and dress accordingly. Sandals are common for men and women. Also bring sneakers and walking shoes, cotton socks, a bathing suit, cool pajamas, and loose summer trousers.
Summer:
Dark colors are recommended, and you should think in terms of dressing in multiple layers for warmth. For outdoors, you'll need warm socks, pants, jacket, hat and gloves. The building where you live and have classes is very warm, so even in the wintertime, you will need some summer clothes for indoor wear. In March, the weather begins to become warmer again, but it can be very windy at times.
Fall, winter, and spring:
A pair of good sunglasses (available in some Chinese retail stores) will protect your eyes from glare and the ubiquitous dust and grime, especially if you wear contact lenses.
All types of clothing are available in Beijing, and at much better prices than elsewhere in the world, so unless you are a very odd size, you don't really need to bring too much with you. Note: don't bring or buy clothes you would be upset about ruining. Keep nice clothes down to one or two outfits for special occasions, the rest should be fairly casual and dispensable.
American and many joint-venture products such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, soaps, shampoos, tampons, and other toiletries are available in joint-venture stores and even some local Chinese stores. Based on reports from last year's participants, however, we do recommend that if you have a strong preference for a specific brand of toiletry, bring extra since some students found it difficult to find an adequate supply while in China. It is also a good idea to bring your own deodorant, since it is very expensive and difficult to find in China.
If you wear contact lenses, bring some solution. There is a Bausch & Lomb branch office (and Lens Crafters) in Beijing where saline solutions, contact lenses, and other eye products can be purchased. Bring a pair of glasses in case your eyes become too irritated to wear your contacts. There is a lot of dust in the Beijing air. It is also wise to bring a copy of your eyeglass prescription.
When traveling around China, it is a good idea to carry a small first-aid kit equipped with aspirin, antibiotic ointment, and Band-Aids.
Standard desk supplies like paper, paper clips, pencils and sharpeners, file cards, and envelopes can be found in Chinese stationery stores (though supplies are irregular). All international post offices provide boxes/packaging services for a small fee, and because all the contents of your package must be screened by a post office official before it can be sent, they prefer that you use their packaging services.
Preparation for your very first class will require you to listen to CDs. A CD player will also come in handy for relaxation. Bring your own CDs and head cleaner.
The electric current in China is 220 volts, 50 cycles. Therefore, if you bring appliances from the U.S., you will need a voltage converter to convert U.S. equipment from 110 volts Electrical outlets in China are also much different from outlets in the U.S., so you may need adapters for your various appliances. These are widely available in China, but you may also find them at Radio Shack and most stores that specialize in electrical appliances.
An alternative is to buy Chinese-made electronics, though the quality is less consistent. Walkmans, small cassette players, and various sized batteries are all sold in China.
There are three PC computers available to students, which are adequate for class-related tasks. However, if you anticipate using a computer extensively, or wish to do e-mail from your room, it is recommended that you bring your own computer. Since most notebook computers have adjustable power, students should not have trouble with the difference in voltage. Students should, however, check their computers to make sure that 220 voltage is acceptable. Internet access through the telephone line in your dormitory room is available for under $10 per month. Your computer will need to be equipped with a modem.
MS Office 2000 or XP used on PC's is Chinese-capable without any additional software, though the Chinese capability needs to be activated. It would be best if this is done before you depart for ACC. If your computer equipment is different from this, and if you anticipate using your computer for Chinese, you should consult with your Chinese teacher on your home campus before departing for ACC. You should bring your computer's purchase documentation with you in case your computer needs servicing while in China
The Internet "Bar", an alternative to bringing your own computer, is in the basement of the dormitory. All the computers there are PC's. As of spring 2004, the rate for Internet access was 8 RMB (about $1) per hour, or 2 RMB per 15 minutes. There is also an off-campus Internet café nearby that costs only 3 RMB per hour.
Beijing is now a cosmopolitan city where just about everything is available, and at better prices than elsewhere in the world. The items in the following list are most likely available as well, but perhaps not in your favorite brand, style or size.
Backpack for outings and field trips
Deodorant
CD for class purposes (listening & language learning CDs)
Music
USB Memory Stick
Tampons
Traveler's checks
Contact lens solution
Credit cards
Dental floss
Pictures of family & U.S.
Vitamins
Cold medicine
Earplugs
Aspirin
Good socks
Kaopectate/Imodium
Sneakers
Pepto-Bismol
Insect repellent
Cough drops
A portable alarm clock
Sunglasses
China guide books
Sunscreen
Camera (and film if you use slides and faster speeds)
Waist pack
Passport-sized pictures for IDs-about 4
Gifts for host family
For fall students, American holiday/Christmas cards to give out
Plastic (Nalgene) bottle for the hot water dispensers
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Please attend to the following as soon as possible:
1. Obtain a passport and send us the number before March 15, 2004, if you are enrolled for the summer, summer & fall, or fall & spring terms. Spring students must submit their passport numbers to us by October 20, 2004.
2. Make arrangements for remaining payments to be made according to the schedule outlined above.
3. Obtain appropriate medical insurance and send policy number to ACC, if you have not already done so.
4. Notify us by March 31 (summer and summer/fall students) if you wish to travel to Beijing separately. If you are doing so, fax or e-mail your travel itinerary to us before May 1. Entering fall students should send itineraries by July 15, and spring students by December 1.
5. If appropriate, make arrangements for outside financial aid to be transferred to Hamilton College for your stay in China.
6. Finally, since simplified characters are most widely used on mainland China, ACC strongly recommends that participants become conversant with this system as soon as they are accepted into the program. Mastering simplified characters as soon as possible will make for a smoother transition once you are in China.
Finally, be sure to consult your e-mail on a regular basis from now on. We will be keeping you updated with information about visas, traveling, preparation, etc. via e-mail and it is quite important that you do not miss these messages. We regularly use school e-mail addresses. If you tend to use an alternate address more frequently, please notify the office so that we can change your address on the mass mailing list.
This concludes the information we want to share with you for now. We ask you to reread all the preceding pages carefully and be sure that all information mentioned is sent to the ACC office in a timely fashion. Consult carefully the summary above.
Later notices will relate to traveling, lodging, miscellaneous information, or, if necessary, items missing from your file. Please do not hesitate to call the ACC Program Coordinator at 315-859-4326 with questions. Because of the number of matters involved, it is extremely important that we keep in close touch between now and the day of departure.
Meanwhile, best wishes for a successful semester.
Hong Gang Jin
Professor of Chinese
ACC General Director
Lijia Zhang and Calum MacLeod, China Remembers. (London: Oxford University Press, 1999)
Jung Chang, Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China. (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1991).
Cheng Li, Rediscovering China: Dynamics and Dilemmas of Reform. (Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 1997).
Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl Wudunn, China Wakes: The Struggle for the Soul of a Rising Power. (New York: Vintage Books, 1994).
Orville Schell and David Shambaugh, eds. The China Reader: The Reform Era, (New York: Vintage Books, 1999).
Warren I. Cohen, America's Response to China: A History of Sino-American Relations, 4th edition (New York: Columbia University Press, 2000).
Patrick Tyler, A Great Wall: Six Presidents and China (New York, Public Affairs, 2000).
James Mann, About Face: A History of America's Curious Relationship With China (New York: Vintage Books, 2000).
Robert E. Allison, ed., Understanding the Chinese Mind: The Philosophical Roots (Hong Kong, Oxford University Press, 1989).
Paul S. Ropp, ed., Heritage of China: Contemporary Perspectives on Chinese Civilization (Berkeley, University of California Press, 1990).
W.Hu and C. Grove, Encountering the Chinese, 1991
C. Blackman, Negotiating China: Case Studies and Strategies, 1997
J.K. Fairbank, China: A New History, 1992
Perry Link, Evening Chats in Beijing, 1992
A. Thurston, China Bound: Revised, 1994
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