A college internship in Beijing!

[JerseyJanice]

One of my adorable nephews is going to do an internship this summer at the Beijing bureau of a major cable news channel. How exciting is that! I swear I have the most wonderful nephews in the world.

I know it's a long-shot, but I have to ask if anyone here has ever visited Beijing or had a young relative interning on the other side of the Earth. If you have and have any helpful tips, I'd appreciate hearing them.

This boy will be 21 by the time he goes to China in June and will have just completed his third year at Fordham University. Major is International Studies. He is a fantastic kid--smart and sweet with a very easy-going nature. He's always a pleasure to be around.

I am thrilled for him. I think it will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience!

 

[golfgal]

My son went to China when he was 14 with the school band. He LOVED it there and has been wanting to go back ever since. They had an amazing time.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My dd went to China last summer and she did stay in Beijing for a time. She was 19.

She is finally recovering from the culture shock.

Cash is king and the use of debit/credit cards is pretty much non existent. So apply early to get him some cash ahead of time.

You have to mail off for that early. (Found that out too late).

Now she used her cell however geesh....it was an arm and a leg for the bill. We kept telling her to get a local cell but she never did.

He is going to have to figure that out because the cost is nuts.

We did contact our carrier and got some "international deal with texting/minutes" but that ran out real quick.

Since he is interning there he probably will get things figured out pretty well.

He will need a Typhoid shot if he has not already gotten one.

 

[JerseyJanice]

Those are interesting tips, Mystery Machine.

Can you tell me more about the money? Mail off for it? What does that entail?

You can't exchange U.S. cash for Yen (I think that's what Chinese money is called) the way you would for any other foreign currency, like at a bank?

 

[golfgal]

DS14 was able to use his debt card most places. They had one in both hotels he stayed in. There was a $2.50 fee on our side for using the machine, just like there is here if you use a non-bank ATM. There were 100 kids and 20 chaperons on this trip and none of them had issues getting money or using credit/debit cards. They also got cash at the airport when they first arrived. Most merchants LIKE getting US dollars too so having some dollar bills on hand is useful. He did get cash from the ATM's for use in the markets though. Things are insanely cheep in China too so keep that in mind.

Chinese currency is the Yuan. Yen is Japan.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

My dh goes to Beijing all the time. Last month he took ds21 and ds19 with him.

Culturally things are VERY different. He bought them Rosetta stone to help too.

I know there are always problems communicating and yes my dh cell bill was like $200 extra one time, but he was calling me alot due to a medical crisis I was having.

Money wise, my dh uses a debit card if he needs more money and bartering for things is common.

Things my ds commented on: boiling water, food issues, Its not like having regular chinese food here, think duck webbing, deer tendons and some blue ink squirting sea creature etc. My ds brought lots of nuts, granola bars etc, think protein.

They did use the subway themselves, took some paid tours, freaked out when they saw that people use the sidewalk in out of the way places as their personal bathroom.

The taxi drivers are crazy they said, worse than NY.

I will ask them more. My dh is going back again around April lst.

I am sure your nephew will love the experience.

Also have him bring an american gift for his hosts etc. Gift giving is big there.

 

[JerseyJanice]

Thanks everyone, for your suggestions.

Any ideas on a helpful gift for me to give him for the trip?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Those are interesting tips, Mystery Machine.

Can you tell me more about the money? Mail off for it? What does that entail?

You can't exchange U.S. cash for Yen (I think that's what Chinese money is called) the way you would for any other foreign currency, like at a bank?

We had NO place here in St. Louis to get cash same day. You had to go and actually apply for it at a bank ahead of time.

So double check that first to see how long it takes to get the currency at your bank. Not all banks do it, so do not assume there.

My dd's experience was the use of her debit/credit card was almost non existent, but then again she was only 1 week in Bejing, she went to other cities and remote areas.

As far as getting ripped off.....yes everyone in her group got ripped off, more than once for the guys. They were enticed by the "ladies" to go have "tea".

My dd was ripped off once. She bought something and bartered her price. Well she did not have exact amount so she needed change.

Well she got something back as change, was not Chinese currency and then the guy ran off as she was yelling at him. She learned her lesson there. When she was buying she would barter an exact amount.

Oh and since my dd knows some Spanish she would speak to the street vendors in Spanish and get a lower price for stuff. You can get a better price even if you fake it.

 

[kinntj]

I can see where Mystery Machine is saying in getting cash ahead of time. Our Credit union did a good job of getting over $5,000 in cash in new bills in a matter of a week. They love newer clean bills to exchange. Exchanging our currency for theirs over there is not hard. Every major hotel has an exchange desk or a bank inside.

Beijing is great and he'll have a good time. It's a great lifetime experience.

 

[Pigeon]

I've traveled to China a few times. I used credit cards with no trouble. It is a good idea to talk to your credit card company first and tell them what you are doing, because otherwise, they might freeze your account, thinking your cc number was stolen.

I was able to get renminbi at the airports. It's not the greatest exchange rate, but you can get enough to tide you over until you can get to a bank. Look for branches of the Bank of China.

I liked Beijing. It's not the most fun city, but there's lots to do. You encounter lots of people, especially young people, who do speak some English, and many are anxious to practice their English with you.

 

[Alphabetsoup]

Spending longer times there can be *ahem* interesting.

The best man from our wedding spent 3 years there, hired on to run a major hotel just prior to the Olympics. He and his wife HATED it there and were counting down the days until they could go ANYWHERE else.

Since they were there for an extended period, they were viewed as a potential spy or threat. The police would randomly show up at their home in the middle of the night to make sure they weren't having 'expat meetings'. They would be tailed by (very obvious) undercover cops when they would go out to meet with friends, or even for work functions. Cops would also randomly show up at work to verify that they were actually working and legal. This harassment occurred the whole time they were over there, despite the fact that they were working for a major international corporation.

They were there when the tainted milk thing happened -- and for the last two years they were there they were afraid to eat ANY processed foods as a result. Standards for foods, medicine, etc... like we know them here, do not exist over there.

 

[Pakey]

The hardest thing for me in Beijing was dealing with the air quality. And living without facebook.

 

[Imzadi]

Janice, that sound really cool!

The hardest thing for me in Beijing was dealing with the air quality. And living without facebook.

You're an old fogie. Facebook wasn't around when you went to college.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Janice, that sound really cool!





You're an old fogie. Facebook wasn't around when you went to college.

Facebook is blocked in China.

 

[Imzadi]

Facebook is blocked in China.

Wow!

After the Egyptian revolution, China will never allow Facebook now.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Some more comments:

Have your dn stay out of the tea rooms as another said. My 2 ds went in there. They were unaware of this tourist trap etc. I think that ended with my one ds knocking over a table accidently and the other one telling off the lady and her telling him, you are a very bad man or something like that. They just quietely walked out after giving what they thought was acceptable and on the street were police etc.

What the other poster said about being "spyed" on. This could happen to your dn in a subtle way. My dh works for the govt and goes into govt. places there so he is spyed on by the govt. there. Its just life. Years ago he used to have a constant "escort".

Medical stuff: My dh gets a little medical bag from his work anyway. I would suggest that your dn bring stuff like benadryl, tylenol, lots of imodium, and maybe a antibiotic in case he needs it. With the diet and his length of stay, probably a multivitamin too, cough/cold stuff etc.