The summer I spent in Shanghai was the most formative time of my undergraduate career. The Pitt in Shanghai program is an intensive study abroad experience that partners with CET Academic Programs. I spent my time in Shanghai living at Donghua University with my Chinese roommate, 喉预. There, I forged unbreakable bonds with her and others on the program. Together, we persevered through daily language lessons, an additional elective course, and internships with local Chinese companies.

My elective course was on Government and Politics in China, and I completed my internship with Energo Labs, a tech start up incorporating blockchain into the energy sector. In addition to these formal obligations, we traveled to the countryside to go hiking, spelunking, and white water rafting. I also went to Hangzhou and Beijing to experience life in other Chinese cities. Once a week, our language class ate lunch together, choosing a different regional cuisine for every meal. We also did fun cultural activities, like fan painting and Chinese movie night.

Most notably, this is when I conducted the research for my undergraduate thesis. I interviewed 16 educated middle class urbanites in Shanghai to assess public opinion on air quality. To read my thesis, head to the Papers & Presentations tab.

To wrap up my experience in Shanghai, I attended a dinner with members from the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, where my partner interned. We ate dinner and drank late into the night, cheering over the international bonds we’d made that evening. I am sure this was not my last time visiting Shanghai, and I anxiously await my next chance to visit!