John Moy

John Studied in China on the CIEE: Shanghai, Business, Language and Culture Program during the Spring of 2015.

If you could give only one reason, why would you suggest other students study abroad?

The way it changes how you think. When you have to live in a foreign country that isn’t English speaking it forces you to leave your comfort zone. You have to solve problems differently and you get more out of it that way. You look at the United States through a foreign perspective and change how you view other cultures. It allows you to not just accept stereotypes but encourages you to see a culture and country for how it really is.

If you could go abroad again, what would you do differently?

If I could go abroad again, I would travel to Europe. Having been to multiple countries in Asia already, I would like to explore and learn more about Europe.

What specific factors influenced your decision to go abroad?

The desire for exploration, the resume building, and the unique opportunity to do something many others haven’t done. I wanted to challenge myself.

What concerns/fears did you have about studying abroad, and how did you overcome them?

I had never been outside of the United States before traveling to live in China. I overcame this once I got there and met all of the awesome people in my program. I also kept telling myself that it would be worth it when its over, but once I got there I didn’t want to leave. My other concern was that my classes wouldn’t transfer over to my degree audit. After talking to the people in the registrar office and following the procedure, everything was able to fit where I needed it to.

What was it about your program specifically that fit your personal goals over other programs?

The fact that this program allowed me to not only focus on the language but also about the culture of the area enticed me to go with that program. Also it was the only program of its kind in Shanghai and I really wanted to go there.

How have you used the skills you learned abroad now that you are back; either in job searching, or in other activities?

My time abroad has helped me greatly in job searching. I had an internship lined up when I got back and the big thing they told me that got me the job was that I had international experience and spoke the language. I just accepted a full time position with that company this month. It also helps with making international friends here on campus.

Did you participate in any service projects while on your program? How did that enhance your study abroad experience?

I taught baseball and English to local kids in the Shanghai area. I loved every minute of it because it showed how great sports is at connecting people. Teaching English was challenging at first but I loved it.

What experiences did you have while studying abroad that you feel you could not have had if you had stayed at Penn State?

The constant adventure in a city the size of Shanghai, the interaction with people in a different culture in their language, and the friends and incredible people I met while abroad are all things I could have never done while here at Penn State.

What advice would you give to outbound study abroad students to help them make the most out of their study abroad experiences?

I would tell them to go everywhere and try to immerse yourself in the culture. When I was in China I didn’t go to McDonald’s I went to small family owned food shops where you could see what real Chinese food is like. I would also tell them to travel as much as possible. When I was abroad I went to 9 different cities in China and 4 other countries in Asia. Especially if someone goes to Western Europe where it is so compact they should constantly visit new places.

Share an experience where you interacted with someone in your host culture in a way that taught you something.

When I went to the Great Wall, I wanted to see the un-restored part of it. I needed to take 3 buses, a taxi, and walk 30 minutes there. I then had negotiate with a cab driver to bring me back to the nearest Beijing metro stop. All of this traveling was done in Chinese and I had to navigate and negotiate in a foreign language in unfamiliar area. This showed me how much studying abroad has helped with my confidence and problem solving.