Housing

Your place of residence in China will become the main site of most of your cultural interaction. Where you choose to live in China can determine to what level you will immerse yourself in Chinese culture.

The majority of your language practice and communication will not take place in the classroom, or even during your travels. Rather, most of it will happen at home in your residence. At your place of residence, you will experience the most intense and personal form of culture-sharing, as the locals you will live with become your family, friends and roommates.

Just as it took getting used to living with your dorm or apartment roommate(s) in the United States, it will take just as much effort to adjust to your living situation in China. Your place of residence in China comes with challenges, perhaps even more challenges than you had to deal with when you lived with roommates at your U.S. home campus. You will face language and culture differences which can affect everything from when a person eats a meal, to what he or she eats, personal hygiene issues, study habits, likes and dislikes, etc… However, keep in mind that your own habits and views will also seem different to the person(s) you are living with in China.

When thinking about housing in China, the most important thing to remember is patience. Try to be patient with yourself as you try to adjust to living with others in China. Also, try to be patient with those you live with, as they will be learning to adjust to you as well. In the chance that things just don’t work out for you, or you just are not compatible with your roommates or host family, make sure your program offers you the right to change your place of residence. Ask your program’s administrators about your rights in regards to switching places of residence, and whether or not an administrator can help you find alternate housing should you need it. Your program administrators can act as conflict mediators to help you and your roommates or host family resolve any issues troubling you. If at any time you find your housing unsafe, be clear with program administrators and explain to them why it is unsafe and that you need to change housing as soon as possible.

There are three main types of housing options in China. However, not all programs will offer all three housing options. In many cases, you may only be offered one type of housing option. Also, your program may not provide housing at all, or may not be able to guarantee housing for you.

A Word of Warning: Natural gas in China is not scented to warn you of leaks, so carbon monoxide poisoning, especially from gas heaters, has been known to be deadly. Take your own carbon monoxide detector along with you, and ensure living spaces are properly ventilated.